8/30/2011
Sprint Source
HUNT EXTENDS POINTS LEAD WITH TOYOTA SPEEDWAY VICTORY
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (August 30, 2011) – The USAC Western Classic Racing Series invaded TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale on Saturday night with Lincoln’s Tony Hunt emerging from a highly competitive race to take the win and extend his points lead over Sebastopol’s Geoff Ensign. Hunt also gained a larger lead over Audra Sasselli in the USAC Amsoil Western Sprint Car Series.
Hunt drove his #56 Metal Works Beast/Schwanke to quick time to open up the evening’s activities with a 16.777 second lap around the half-mile asphalt oval. Sasselli timed in third fastest in the #77 and won the first heat race while fourth fastest Scott Pierovich drove his Ken Pierson-owned #14 to win the second heat race.
11 cars took the green for the $2,000 to win, 40 lap feature with 18 year-old Western Speed rookie Cody Gerhardt looking for his third win of the season. Gerhardt took the lead from San Francisco’s Tim Barber on the opening lap and led the next 22 under pressure from Sasselli.
Sasselli took over the lead on lap 22 with Hunt and Pierovich in close pursuit while Fair Oaks’ Shauna Hogg ran fifth. Hunt took over second from Gerhardt on lap 24.
Hunt chased down Sasselli and took over the lead on lap 30 with just ten laps remaining in the feature. Drama ensured on a lap 34 caution brought out by Pierovich. Gerhardt jumped out of line on the restart to challenge Sasselli down the front stretch before the start/finish line.
Gerhardt completed the pass for second but was later penalized by USAC officials for making the pass before the start.
Hunt drove away to a commanding lead with Sasselli second and Gerhardt’s Western Speed teammate Tim Skoglund third. Gerhardt and Hogg rounded out the top-five while Ensign rallied late to bring home his #3f car for Ted Finkenbinder up to sixth.
Kaeding Performance awards worth $50 each went to Hogg and Skoglund for their performances in the event.
After Irwindale, Hunt leads Ensign by 32 points in the USAC Western Classic Racing Series, while in the USAC Amsoil Western Sprint Car Series Hunt has a narrow six point advantage over Sasselli.
Hunt needed the win on the pavement as the series now shifts back to the dirt. The USAC Western Classic Racing Series resumes this weekend with the “Louie Vermeil Classic” on Saturday and Sunday at historic Calistoga Speedway. Then on Thursday September 8 the series will go to Silver Dollar Speedway for the “Tiner Family Classic” during the Gold Cup Race of Champions. Both Calistoga and Chico will be co-sanctioned by the USAC/CRA and feature USAC Western Midgets as well.
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
