By Dick Jordan
Bryan Clauson and Mike Spencer completed 2012 USAC driving championships Saturday night as the 17th “Budwesier Oval Nationals” concluded its two-night AMSOIL Sprint Car campaign at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.
Clauson, of Noblesville, became the youngest USAC National Sprint Car Champion in history at age 23, winning Friday’s 30-lap Perris prelim and finishing sixth in Saturday night’s 40-lap finale. He edged Dave Darland by just five points for the crown after Darland finished third and fifth in the two Perris features.
Spencer’s AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car title makes him the first driver in USAC history to claim five consecutive championships in a single series. He won Saturday’s “Budweiser Oval Nationals” 40-lapper for his first time and finished with a whopping 375-point cushion over runner-up Nic Faas.
Clauson led all 30 laps of Friday’s race in his Curb Records/R & B Truckers Maxim/Fisher to beat Stanbrough, Darland, Hines and Faas to the checkered flag.
Spencer trailed Hines for 37 laps Saturday, then led the final three laps in his Madera Produce/Grubstake Mini-Storage Maxim/Shaver to beat Hines, Stanbrough, Damion Gardner and Darland.
Car entrant champions for 2012 crowned Saturday night were CTR/BCI/Curb-Agajanian (USAC National) and Ron Chaffin Motorsports (USAC/CRA).
FINAL 2012 AMSOIL USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CAR POINTS
1-Bryan Clauson-2,087, 2-Dave Darland-2,082, 3-Jon Stanbrough-2,019, 4-Tracy Hines-1,891, 5-Damion Gardner-1,802, 6-Robert Ballou-1,723, 7-Chase Stockon-1,723, 8-Hunter Schuerenberg-1,671, 9-Levi Jones-1,615, 10-Chris Windom-1,559.
FINAL 2012 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINTS
1-Mike Spencer-1,407, 2-Nic Faas-1,032, 3-Brody Roa-983, 4-Rip Williams-906, 5-Austin Williams-863, 6-Ryan Bernal-837, 7-Cory Kruseman-725, 8-Cody Williams-676, 9-David Cardey-498, 10-Matt Mitchell-461.