By Dick Jordan
Jon Stanbrough will lead the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car series to June 23 and 24 Wisconsin races at Wilmot and Sun Prairie after emerging from the recent Eastern Storm swing with a 10-point lead over defending series champ Levi Jones.
Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. parlayed back-to-back victories in the two Eastern Storm openers into the Eastern Storm title, beating Jones by 28 points after the four events.
Clauson opener the swing Tuesday with a 40-lap win at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa. Clauson passed Jerry Coons Jr. on lap 19 in his Curb Records/R & B Truckers Maxim/Fisher and led the final 22 laps to beat Jones, Kevin Thomas Jr., Chris Windom and Coons.
In race two at New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway Thursday, Clauson led the final 16 laps after passing Dave Darland. Coons took second ahead of Darland, Damion Gardner and Jones.
Chris Windom of Canton, Ill. returned to the site of his first USAC Sprint win on Friday and led all 30 laps at Big Diamond Speedway in Minersville, Pa. in his Fox Paving/Claxton Engines Maxim/Mopar. Tracy Hines, Chase Stockon, Gardner and Jones rounded out the “top-five” at the checkered flag.
Gardner, of Concord, Calif., closed out the tour Saturday with a 30-lap win at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway. He assumed the lead when Darren Hagen crashed on lap 24 and led the final seven laps in his Pace Lighting Eagle/Shaver. Hines was again second ahead of Stanbrough, Robert Ballou and Darland.
2012 AMSOIL USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS
1-Jon Stanbrough-634; Levi 2-Jones-624; 3-Dave Darland-609; 4-Damion Gardner-600; 5-Tracy Hines-599; 6-Bryan Clauson-528; 7-Chris Windom-495; 8-Robert Ballou-492; 9-Hunter Schuerenberg-485; 10-Darren Hagen-478.
2012 USAC EASTERN STORM FINAL SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS
1-Bryan Clauson-255, 2-Levi Jones-227, 3-Dave Darland-211, 4-Damion Gardner-210, 5-Tracy Hines-208, 6-Jerry Coons Jr.-200, 7-Chris Windom-196, 8-Jon Stanbrough-180. 9-Hunter Schuerenberg-174, 10-Robert Ballou-165.