By Dick Jordan
Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind., whose 2010 USAC National Drivers Championship earned him a $40,000 cash bonus and propelled him to third, fourth and fifth-place finishes in 2011 Firestone Indy Lights oval competition, finds himself back on top of the National Drivers Championship points.
Clauson is 61 points ahead of Bobby East in the latest standings, heading into Tuesday night’s Casey’s General Stores “Ultimate Challenge” AMSOIL National Sprint race at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
The NDC continues with AMSOIL National Sprint races Friday and Saturday at Dodge City, Kans. and Sunday at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo.
Clauson has averaged just over a fourth-place finish in his best 25 performances, while East has averaged just under a fifth-place finish in his 25 best. Tracy Hines is third in the new standings, averaging just less than a sixth-place finish.
A driver’s best 25 feature performances count toward the title.
USAC NATIONAL DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (As of August 8)
1-Bryan Clauson-953; 2-Bobby East-892; 3-Tracy Hines-832; 4-Levi Jones-773; 5-Chris Windom-754; 6-Jerry Coons Jr.-681; 7-Kyle Larson-676; 8-Darren Hagen-535; 9-Tanner Swanson-530; 10-Jon Stanbrough-509.