By Dick Jordan
Five drivers have already clinched 2012 USAC driving championships as the season begins to wind down. Heading into this weekend’s events a total of 40 races remain on USAC’s calendar and point races are being hotly contested in most series.
Tony Hunt, Brian McClish, Darren Hagen, Chad Nichols and Ross Rankine have already earned 2012 titles.
Hunt, of Lincoln, Calif., clinched the Western Classic Sprint crown Saturday at Madera, Calif. after wrapping up the Classic Dirt title the previous week at Chico, Calif. The titles are his ninth and 10th in his remarkable USAC career.
McClish, of Santa Rosa, Calif., nailed down the 2012 Western Classic Sprint Pavement crown Saturday at Madera.
Hagen, of Riverside, Calif., landed the 2012 USAC Mopar National Midget Pavement championship at Indianapolis, Ind. in July. He also currently leads the overall and dirt standings as well.
Nichols, of Colma, Calif., emerged as the Mopar Western Midget Pavement champ through a tie-breaker with Nick Chivello in the point race which ended Saturday at Madera, Calif.
Rankine, of Willard, Ohio, is the 2012 Midwest Ignite Pavement Champ, earning that title Saturday at Columbus, Ohio. He also leads the Midwest Dirt standings.
Championships will continue to be determined as the season progresses. The National series conclude at Terre Haute, Ind. (Traxxas Silver Crown October 13) and Perris, Calif. (AMSOIL Sprints November 3 and Mopar National Midgets November 22).