By Dick Jordan
The AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car series now prepares for the June 21 “Tony Hulman Classic” at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track, to be followed by the June 22 appearance at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Mich.
Bryan Clauson, Daron Clayton, Dave Darland and Shane Cottle all shared the spotlight in last week’s Rotondo Weirich “Eastern Storm” events in Pennsylvania. Despite a rainout on Thursday at Path Valley Speedway in Spring Run, Pa., the three-race swing produced a spectacular point battle, with Clauson beating Darland by one and Clayton by two points for the Rotondo Weirich “Eastern Storm” title!
Clauson, of Noblesville, Ind., was second at Bechtelsville, third at Port Royal and fourth at Susquehanna, all races conducted in Pennsylvania.
Darland, of Lincoln, Ind., emerged as the new AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car point leader, winning Saturday’s race at Port Royal Speedway and adding a sixth and an eighth in the other two races. He leads Chase Stockon by 33 points entering the Terre Haute race June 21.
Clayton, of Sikeston, Mo. won Wednesday’s 40-lap “Jesse Hockett Classic” opener at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville. He passed Levi Jones on lap 29 and led the final 12 laps in his Merry Go Round Restaurant/Advanced Machine Spike/J & D. Clauson was second ahead of Jones, Hunter Schuerenberg and Stockon.
Darland led all 30 laps of Saturday’s race at Port Royal in his Racers Advantage/Jockish Flowers DRC/Foxco. Clayton was second and was followed by Clauson, Brady Bacon and Stockon.
Shane Cottle, of Kokomo, Ind., piloted the Viper Risk Management/Specialty Rigging “City of Syracuse” Spike/Rider to a wire-to-wire victory Sunday night at Susquehanna Speedway Park in Newberrytown. Kevin Thomas Jr. came home second ahead of Tracy Hines, Clauson and Robert Ballou.
2013 AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Point Standings: 1-Darland-633; 2-Stockon-600; 3-Clauson-599; 4-Thomas-584; 5-Bacon-582; 6-Schuerenberg-560; 7-Hines-537; 8-Ballou-518; 9-Cottle-404; 10-Windom-366.
2013 Rotondo Weirich Eastern Storm Final Point Standings: 1- Bryan Clauson-182, 2-Dave Darland-181, 3-Daron Clayton-180, 4-Levi Jones-163, 5-Shane Cottle-158, 6-Tracy Hines-156, 7-Brady Bacon-143, 8-Hunter Schuerenberg-138, 9-Kevin Thomas Jr.-136, 10-Chris Windom-120.