By Dick Jordan
Ryan Bernal of Hollister, Calif. leads the 2012 USAC Western Classic Sprint Series, which returns to the Madera (Calif.) Speedway May 5 to conduct the “Gerhardt Classic.”
Bernal opened the 2012 USAC Western Classic Series with a 30-lap feature victory at Ocean Speedway Friday night. Driving the King Racing Products/A & A Precision Machine Spike/Raney, Bernal took the lead from Kyle Hirst on lap 13, lost it on lap 15 but regained it when Hirst got up on the crash wall on a restart at lap 27. He led the final four laps to post the win over Brent Kaeding, who led the first eight laps, Taylor Simas, Markus Niemela and Marty Hawkins.
Bernal was also the fastest qualifier and now leads both the Western Classic and West Coast Sprint Series standings.
2012 USAC WESTERN CLASSIC SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS
1-Ryan Bernal-74, 2-Bud Kaeding-63, 3-Taylor Simas-60, 4-Markus Niemela-58, 5-Marty Hawkins-53, 6-Shauna Hogg-52, 7-Geoff Ensign-49, 8-Matt Mitchell-46, 9-Zach Tyler-42, 10-Tom Baker-39.