8/24/2011
Sprint Source
USAC WESTERN CLASSIC SPRINTS HEAD TO IRWINDALE
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (August 24, 2011) – A pair of tight points battles will highlight this weekend’s USAC Western Classic Racing Series / USAC Amsoil Western Sprint Car Series action at TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale. A strong field of cars from throughout the West Coast will invade the state-of-the-art half-mile oval with some of the highest speeds fans will see all season.
Points for both the USAC Western Classic Racing Series and USAC Amsoil Western Sprint Car Series will be awarded during the night’s activities, with Hunt hoping to defend his lead in both.
21 year-old Geoff Ensign of Sebastopol, CA has made the 2011 inaugural USAC Western Classic Racing Series campaign into a classic duel between the rookie driver and veteran six-time USAC champion Tony Hunt of Lincoln, CA. Hunt, who has seen all of his career wins on pavement, has been forced to adapt to the dirt element of the new series while conversely Ensign has had to acclimate himself with the pavement.
The championship has closed to just eight points after Ensign picked up his first career USAC win in the “Mike McCreary Classic” at Placerville Speedway. Fair Oaks’ Shauna Hogg and Alamo’s Scott Pierovich, who won Roseville earlier this year, are also contenders in the championship following strong runs on the dirt at Chico and Placerville. Hogg won heat races in both nights of the action in the Richard Hogg-owned #5 car.
Ensign will be making his first ever start at TOYOTA Speedway while Hunt recently finished second in the Turkey Night Grand Prix last year in his #56 Metal Works entry.
Also expected in action on Saturday night is Ensign’s Ted Finkenbinder Motorsports teammate Tim Barber of San Francisco who is fifth in the USAC Western Classic Racing Series standings.
In the USAC Western Sprint Car Series, Hunt leads Fresno’s Audra Sasselli by just two points. Hunt has picked up a pair of wins this season at Madera Speedway, while Ensign won his first career USAC feature on the dirt at Placerville on August 6.
18 year-old rookie Cody Gerhardt runs third in the USAC Western Sprint Car Series with a pair of wins in July ahead of Western Speed teammate Tim Skoglund and 18 year-old Kaplan-Gennuso Racing’s Luis Ramos III to round out the top-five.
Idaho’s Mike Murgoitio has a pair of USAC Western Sprint Car wins this year and will be in action along with USAC Rocky Mountain points leader Jim Waters.
This weekend’s race at TOYOTA Speedway will set-up a busy three race dirt swing for the Classic series, with the prestigious Louie Vermeil Classic at Calistoga on Labor Day weekend and the Tiner Family Classic during the Gold Cup at Chico up next on the schedule.
Competitors will get to business on Friday night with an open practice session before a full day of practice and qualifying on Saturday. Racing is slated to begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. Race fans can find more information, schedules, and tickets at www.toyotaspeedwayatirwindale.com
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
