By Dick Jordan
The Silver Anniversary edition of “Indiana Sprint Week” commences Friday at Gas City I-69 Speedway, the first of seven races in nine nights leading to the crowning of the champion at Haubstadt, Ind. July 21.
Jon Stanbrough of Danville, Ind. stands 26 points ahead of defending AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Champion Levi Jones in their battle for the 2012 series title, which will be severely impacted by the seven-race series at hand. Jones is seeking to join Kevin Thomas as four-time ISW champs. Jones won titles in 2004, 2008 and 2009. Dave Darland is also seeking a fourth ISW title, having won championships in 1998, 2001 and 2007.
Stanbrough won the ISW title in 2006 and 2010 but the defending ISW king is Chris Windom, who currently is sixth in the AMSOIL rankings.
Darland is the winningest driver in ISW history, with 15 career wins. Stanbrough ranks second with 13 and Cory Kruseman has 12.
Following Gas City on the calendar is Saturday’s race at Kokomo Speedway and Sunday’s race at Lawrenceburg Speedway. The series continues with races at the Terre Haute Action Track July 18, Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville July 19, Bloomington Speedway July 20 and Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt July 21.
Windom, in defense of his ISW title, will be looking to add to his only previous ISW victory, which came last year at Terre Haute. He started last year’s ISW with a trio of second-places in the three opening races at Gas City, Kokomo and Lawrenceburg!
2012 AMSOIL USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CAR POINTS: 1-Jon Stanbrough-767; 2-Levi Jones-741; 3-Dave Darland-700; 4-Damion Gardner, 5-Tracy Hines-673; 6-Chris Windom-609; 7-Darren Hagen-579; 8-Robert Ballou-571, 9-Bryan Clauson-568; 10-Hunter Schuerenberg-566.