8/7/2011
Sprint Source
USAC CHAMPIONSHIP HEATS UP AS ENSIGN WINS MCCREARY CLASSIC
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (August 7, 2011) – After a pair of second place finishes in 2011, Sebastopol’s Geoff Ensign finally found his way atop the USAC Western Classic Racing Series podium, winning Saturday night’s “Mike McCreary Classic” at Placerville Speedway. Ensign defended a strong challenge from Roseville teenager Colby Copeland in the closing laps to take the $2,000 win.
With the win, Ensign made up more ground on points leader Tony Hunt as the series will return to pavement later this month in Irwindale. Hunt was involved in a four car restart accident on lap 18 but recovered to finish 12th.
Scott Hall led the 22 car field to green but Ensign, from fourth, quickly took the reigns of the feature to lead lap one.
“We knew the track would slick off so we hooked it up to get off the corner,” Ensign said. “The first lap was a little tricky coming outside second row but I knew those guys would overdrive turn one.”
The first stoppage of the race came on lap three when Placerville’s James Sweeney flipped in turn one while dirt points contender Shauna Hogg of Fair Oaks hit the tire on the inside. Hogg was able to continue on but Sweeney was done.
Copeland began attacking Ensign from the cushion in turns three and four but Ensign maintained the lead. Chico’s Jason York began to mount a challenge as he moved into fourth, but on lap seven he was eliminated when he tagged the wall in turn four.
On the restart, Copeland continued to challenge Ensign, finally taking the lead by a nose on lap 11. Ensign fought back and took the lead back from lap 12. Matt Sherman spun out on lap 13 to bring out the caution, and on the restart Copeland, Kody Swanson, and local favorite C.J. Humphreys all went to work on the top.
Humphreys brought the fans to their feet as he charged from ninth to fifth before jumping the cushion in turn one to spin on lap 18. Coming back to green, the single file field stacked up in turn four with Tom Baker, Hunt, Placerville’s Jimmy Trulli, and Lafayette’s Todd Miller tangled up.
Hall and Swanson engaged in a battle for third while Humphreys began another bid to the front on the cushion. Humphreys powered through the entire field to fifth place before spinning again on lap 25. The race stayed green costing Humphreys a top-ten finish.
On the white flag lap, Copeland drove deep into turn three to mount one last challenge on Ensign, but Ensign hung on in a drag race to the finish line. Swanson, who won the Wayne Sue Classic on Friday night, came home third with Hall fourth and Reno’s Mark Tabor, Jr. the top-five.
Heat races on the night went to Joe Stornetta, Sherman, Sweeney, and Marc Mackay. The Kaeding Performance Awards on the night worth $50 went to Miller and Ensign. The 12 lap semi was won by Baker.
Ensign and Hunt will resume their points duel for the overall championship in Irwindale on August 27.
“This is my first commitment to a points race and its definitely a lot more stressful,” Ensign said. “You have to think and be patient. So far with this Ted Finkenbinder car we’ve been up front every time and that helps.”
More information on the USAC Western Classic Racing Series is available on Facebook at keywords “USAC Western Classic Racing Series”. The United States Auto Club is online at www.usacracing.com
The USAC Western Classic Racing Series is brought to you by: Amsoil, Hoosier Tires West, and Kaeding Performance.
Article Credit: Steven Blakesley / Blakesley Sports Media
Submitted By: Steven Blakesley
