By Dick Jordan
Tony Hunt and Geoff Ensign claimed USAC Western Sprint Car Championships Thursday night by virtue of their finishes in USAC’s 2011 series finale at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale. Calif.
Hunt, of Lincoln, Calif., came from behind to win the 2011 AMSOIL USAC Western title and also claimed the Western Classic Pavement crown after finishing fifth in the 40-lap Sprint race held as part of the “Turkey Night Grand Prix.” Ensign was eighth at Irwindale and earned his first USAC driving title in the Western Classic Sprint Series.
Hunt’s titles are the seventh and eighth in his illustrious USAC career. He emerged with the championship after title contenders Audra Sasselli (the leader entering the race) and Cody Gerhardt were involved in a crash at the start which ended with both cars upside down. Gerhardt was taken to a local hospital for treatment of an arm injury and a concussion.
Car owner champions crowned Thursday included Mike Phulps (Western) and Ted Finkenbinder (Western Classic).
Tanner Swanson of Kingsburg, Calif. and his brother Kody were involved in first-lap spins but recovered to finish 1-2 in Thursday night’s race at Irwindale. Tanner eventually led all 40 laps in his Lyons Transportation/Wawona Packing & Frozen Foods Wysong/Losorwith Brodix to beat Kody Swanson, Mike Murgoitio, Scott Pierovich and Hunt.
FINAL USAC AMSOIL WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1-Tony Hunt-668; 2-Audra Sasselli-653; 3-Tim Skoglund-651; 4-Cody Gerhardt-612; 5-Luis Ramos III-555; 6-Scott Pierovich-492; 7-Geoff Ensign-390; 8-Tim Barber-362; 9-Johnny Geisler-340; 10-Shauna Hogg-304.
FINAL USAC AMSOIL WESTERN CLASSIC SPRINT CAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1-Geoff Ensign-887; 2-Tony Hunt-878; 3-Scott Pierovich-807; 4-Tim Barber-670; 5-Shauna Hogg-655; 6-Jerry Kobza-211.