By Dick Jordan
Tony Hunt of Lincoln, Calif. leads the USAC Western Classic Sprint cars to Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. this Wednesday night for the opening night of the track’s “Gold Cup” activities.
Hunt has a 20-point lead over Shauna Hogg in the standings and is 30 points ahead in the Western Classic Dirt points. He is trying to add to the eight USAC divisional titles he already owns.
Hunt finished 10th and 12th in the “Louie Vermeil Classic” races at Calistoga (Calif.) Speedway Saturday and Sunday nights, while Hogg was eight and 10th respectively in the two 30-lappers.
Ryan Bernal of Hollister, Calif. wheeled Keith Ford’s entry to victory in Saturday’s USAC/CRA and Western Classic Calistoga feature, leading the final 18 laps after passing Chad Boespflug on lap 13. Boespflug took second ahead of USAC/CRA point leader Mike Spencer, Danny Sheridan and Brody Roa.
Kyle Hirst of Elk Grove, Calif. led all 30 laps to win Sunday’s race in the Rod Tiner machine, beating fast qualifier Spencer, Matt Streeter, Boespflug and Roa.
Spencer’s lead in the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series after the two Calistoga races stands at 303 points over Roa, the new runner-up in the standings going into a September 15 race at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.
2012 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS
1-Mike Spencer-1,090, 2-Brody Roa-787, 3-Ryan Bernal-776, 4-Nic Faas-769, 5-Austin Williams-706, 6-Rip Williams-696, 7-Cory Kruseman-613, 8-Cody Williams-519, 9-Matt Mitchell-461, 10-Seth Wilson-431.
2012 USAC WESTERN CLASSIC SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS
1-Tony Hunt-701, 2-Shauna Hogg-681, 3-Gordon Rodgers-441, 4-Tom Baker-395, 5-Scott Pierovich-388, 6-Marty Hawkins-359, 7-Taylor Simas-278, 8-Brian McClish-209, 9-Tim Skoglund-179, 10-Cody Gerhardt-174.
2012 USAC WESTERN CLASSIC SPRINT CAR DIRT POINT STANDINGS
1-Tony Hunt-542, 2-Shauna Hogg-512, 3-Marty Hawkins-359, 4-Tom Baker-307, 5-Gordon Rodgers-286, 6-Taylor Simas-278, 7-Scott Pierovich-214, 8-Jerry Cisco-100, 9-Marvin Mitchell-12,