9/15/2011
Sprint Source
CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT MOVES TO MADERA SPEEDWAY FOR SATURDAY’S HARVEST
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (September 15, 2011) – Sebastopol’s Geoff Ensign leads the USAC Western Classic Racing Series back to the pavement as the traditional sprint cars will hit the one-third mile Madera Speedway for Saturday night’s “Harvest Classic”. Ensign, recently crowned as dirt champion, leads 2010 USAC Western Sprint Car Series champion Tony Hunt by 15 points with the final three races to be held on pavement.
Ensign took over the points lead through a busy stretch of the season that saw the teams race at TOYOTA Speedway on August 27, Calistoga Speedway on September 3 and 4, and Silver Dollar Speedway on September 8. Ensign led all USAC Western Classic cars at Calistoga with finishes of seventh and fifth to pass Hunt in the standings, then extended his lead by finishing one spot better than Hunt at Silver Dollar against a 49 car turnout.
Hunt is chasing Ensign while also trying to defend the USAC Western Sprint Car Series points lead over Audra Sasselli and Tim Skoglund. Hunt, in the Mike Phulps’ #56 Metal Works Beast, leads Sasselli by just six points and Skoglund by 17. Both Madera events have been won by Hunt this season with Hunt winning a back-and-forth battle with Scott Pierovich for the “Gerhardt Classic” in April before dominating the “Al Pombo Classic” in June.
Sasselli, Skgolund, and fourth place in USAC Western Sprint Car Series points Cody Gerhardt all call the Fresno area home making the Madera event take on extra importance for local pride.
Although Ensign leads the points he is still looking for his first USAC pavement victory. His Ted Finkenbinder Motorsports teammate Tim Barber is also winless this year.
Pierovich is more than 100 points behind Hunt and Ensign in the USAC Western Classic Racing Series points but passed Fair Oaks’ Shauna Hogg for third after strong showings in the recent three race dirt swing. The Alamo, CA driver has one win this season at Roseville on May 14.
Other drivers expected to compete on Saturday night include USAC & BCRA Midget regular Chad Nichols of San Carlos in the #50 Metal Works car along with Winton’s Gordon Rodgers and Marvin Mitchell.
A busy night of open-wheel horsepower is on tap for Madera Speedway with promoter Kenny Shepherd pulling out all the stops for the “Harvest Classic”. Super Modifieds, BCRA Midgets, NCMA Sprints, USAC Ford Focus Midgets, and tractor pulls are all on the card.
Pit gates open at 12:30pm, grandstands open at 3:30pm with main events starting at 6pm. Adult tickets are $25, youth 6-12 are $17, and kids five and under are free. Family packs are $70 for two adults and two youth. Check out www.racemadera.com for more information.
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
Article Credit: Steven Blakesley / Blakesley Sports Media
Submitted By: Steven Blakesley
