From Dick Jordan
New driver/car combinations are expected to be highlights of next week’s 2012 USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car openers at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla.
“Bubba’s Winter Dirt Games” presented by eBay Motors will showcase USAC’s finest in three consecutive nights of racing on the one-third-mile dirt oval and a healthy list of entries has already revealed some new combinations.
Dynamics, Inc. of Milford, Ohio, the winningest team in USAC Sprint Car history, will seek wins #79, 80 or 81 and will field a pair of entries, driven by Oklahoma hot-shoe Brady Bacon and USAC Pavement Midget Champion Darren Hagen. Hagen has six career USAC Sprint wins and Bacon two.
Scott Benic of Fairmount, Ind., returns as a full-time car owner with driver Bobby East, whose 14 career wins include his first on dirt which came last year at Bechtelsville, Pa. Benic earned USAC’s “Chief Mechanic of the Year” honors in 2005 as he orchestrated the first of Levi Jones’ record five USAC titles.
Jeff Walker Racing of Noblesville, Ind. has selected Dave Darland to pilot its Ocala entry. Darland has 34 career USAC Sprint feature victories and won the series crown in 1999. Dave is one of only five USAC “Triple Crown Champions” who own championships in all three USAC National racing series.
Another newcomer to watch at Ocala will be C.J. Leary of Greenfield, Ind., the son of 1997 Hoosier Hundred winner Chuck Leary, who will make his series debut in a family-owned car.
“Bubba’s Winter Dirt Games” presented by eBay Motors unfolds Thursday through Saturday (Feb. 9-11) following an open practice session at the track on Wednesday night and a special Wednesday pre-race party at the Ocala WingHouse restaurant.