11/27/2017
Sprint Source
HENNING WINS USAC NATIONAL LIGHTNING SPRINT TITLE
The California Lightning Sprint Series recently closed the 2017 season with its biggest race of the year, the “USAC Western States Lightning Sprints Championship” Saturday, November 18 at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway.
This closed out the inaugural season of the USAC Lightning Sprint National Championship. The runner-up in the National Championship, Andy Bradley, won the last CLS race and put an exclamation point on a winning season. Andy led Bobby Michnowicz to the checkers in his own car. Both drivers completed 14 USAC-sanctioned events this season finishing in the top-three in the National standings and winning their respective clubs titles.
Tom Brown, another club champion, completed the most sanctioned events at 17. The MLS hosted the most events this season in the Kansas City area. With an even spread of USAC registered competitors among each club, the competition was fierce for points in this first season.
2017 Driver Counts by Club Were:
MLS: 5
MMSA: 11
RMLSA: 9
CLS: 8
The last race provided a boost to some drivers totals. Jarrett Kramer moved up three positions while Eric Greco, Jr. climbed four. Every club is represented within the top ten with three clubs tied with three drivers. The final rundown of the top 20 positions are:
RANK / GROUP / RACES / DRIVER / POINTS
MMSA / 13 / Rod Henning / 2710
MMSA / 14 / Andy Bradley / 2710
CLS / 14 / Bobby Michnowicz / 2580
CLS / 12 / Jarrett Kramer / 2430
RMLSA / 11 / Johnny Boos / 2420
MLS / 17 / Tom Brown / 2380
CLS / 12 / Aiden Lange / 2340
MMSA / 14 / Justin Lewis / 2130
RMLSA / 11 / Steve Becker / 2010
RMLSA / 11 / Frank Martinez / 1970
CLS / 9 / Cody Nigh / 1920
RMLSA / 8 / Troy Ullery / 1765
MLS / 15 / Ryan Secrest / 1750
CLS / 9 / Eric Greco, Jr. / 1680
RMLSA / 9 / Andy Flood / 1610
MMSA / 13 / Brandon Smith / 1540
RMLSA / 10 / Richard Marchbank / 1535
MLS / 9 / Kyle Lewis / 1510
CLS / 10 / Jon Robertson / 1480
CLS / 7 / Wyatt Downing / 1165
Rod Henning will be celebrated during USAC’s night of Champions on Friday, December 8th at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis: http://www.indianaroof.com/.
Nikki Klepper at the USAC office can be contacted for tickets at (317) 247-5151.
A complete list of points standings as of 11/22/17 can be viewed at: http://usacracing.com/standings/lightning-sprints
The National rule book has been updated for 2018 with a new points calculation method for 31+ cars. Other highlights include a right rear only tire mandate to reduce costs.
Hoosier Tire is one of the many sponsors who have pledged support for this new series through a multi-year relationship. Speedway Motors—America’s oldest speed shop—is the title sponsor with a myriad of other sponsoring companies, including AFCO, CSI, PRO Shocks, My Race Pass, Saldana Race Products, Aeromotive, Weld, Rod End Supply, Hoosier Speed, Outlaw Wings, Racing Optics, and EMi.
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