TIGHT WESTERN SPRINT POINT RACE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                    JULY 9, 2007

Contact: DICK JORDAN                                                                                                                                     07-162

 

 

TIGHT WESTERN SPRINT POINT RACE HEADED FOR ALTAMONT SATURDAY;

HUNT TAKES 1ST FEATURE OF 2007 AT MADERA

 

 

            Five drivers separated by only 43 points will battle for the Lucas Oil USAC Western Sprint Car Series point lead Saturday at Altamont Raceway Park in Tracy, Calif. in a race co-sanctioned by CASA.

 

            Three-time series champion Tony Hunt of Lincoln, Calif. is among those five and ranks second in the new standings after winning Saturday's accident-shortened race at the Madera (Calif.) Speedway. Hunt was leading on the 48th lap when the race was halted after Richard Bailey exited the track in a wild flip in turn one. Bailey was transported to a local hospital for treatment and later released.

 

            Hunt and his Thompson Toyota Baliley/Chevy were trailed by Ryan Kaplan, Tanner Swanson, Greg Anderson and Shauna Hogg. The win left Hunt 28 points behind Kaplan in the new standings. Anderson is 31 back of the leader, while JoJo Helberg is 39 back and Hogg trails the point leader by 43.

 

            Bailey led the opening lap of the Madera race. Johnny Rodriguez led the next eight and Nick Rescino Jr. led eight before Hunt finally took the lead for good on lap 18.

 

            Tanner Swanson, who ranks seventh in the current standings, won the USAC Western Sprint race at Tracy in June.

 

 

LUCAS OIL USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR STANDINGS

 

      1.
     Ryan Kaplan
     286
      
     6.
     Jim Kaiser
     180
     
      2.
     Tony Hunt
     258
      
     7.
     Tanner Swanson
     174
     
      3.
     Greg Anderson
     255
      
     8.
     Brian Geiszler
     144
     
      4.
     JoJo Helberg
     247
      
     9.
     Brian McClish
     142
     
      5.
     Shauna Hogg
     243
      
     10.
     Laura Hayes
     142