By Dick Jordan
The AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Cars are headed to the Razorback State this weekend for races at Little Rock, Ark. Friday night and West Memphis, Ark. Saturday night. The races mark only the second appearance of the series in the state of Arkansas. Mike Ward won the 1985 race at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis.
USAC’s Arkansas racing only included two other events ever, a 1986 Late Model race at Fort Smith in 1986 won by Gary Wright and a 2009 Midget race at Yellville won by Matt Sherrell.
A new point leader is imminent after the announced departure of defending five-time champion Levi Jones due to season-ending neck surgery.
Jon Stanbrough of Danville, Ind. trails Jones by 26 points entering Friday’s race at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock. His margin over Dave Darland of Lincoln, Ind., though, is just 12 points going into this weekend’s competition. Stanbrough is seeking his first USAC title, while Darland, a USAC Triple Crown Champion, won the Sprint title in 1999.
Darland will be seeking his 40th career USAC National Sprint win at Little Rock, while Stanbrough has 29 career wins.
USAC National Drivers Championship point leader Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. ranks fourth in the current series standings and has six wins this year, including the recent “Sprint Car Smackdown” at Kokomo, Ind.
Races scheduled last Friday and Saturday nights at Pontoon Beach, Ill. and Terre Haute, Ind. respectively were postponed due to rains from tropical storm Isaac. Both are rescheduled. The race at Tir-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach will be on a date yet to be announced in October, while the “Jim Hurtubise Classic” at the Terre Haute Action Track is reset for October 12.
2012 AMSOIL USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CAR POINTS
1-Levi Jones-1,615, 2-Jon Stanbrough-1,589, 3-Dave Darland-1,577, 4-Bryan Clauson-1,487, 5-Tracy Hines-1,370, 6-Damion Gardner-1,350, 7-Hunter Schuerenberg-1,242, 8-Chase Stockon-1,235, 9-Robert Ballou-1,230, 10-Kevin Thomas Jr.-1,216.