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USAC: Tony Hunt surprises Tripp with Madera Victory

2 July 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

MIDGET CARS AT STOCKTON MONDAY

Tony Hunt came from 14th starting position to surprise Sleepy Tripp and the rest of the MCI WorldCom USAC Western Midget Car field Saturday night at Madera (Calif.) Speedway. Hunt's victory in the 30-lap feature was his first in the Western Midget Car Series.

Hunt will try to back up his win with another in Monday night's 30-lapper at the Stockton (Calif.) 99 Speedway.

Hunt was relegated to 14th starting spot after his qualifying time was disallowed due to a technical rules infraction. He worked his way through traffic in the Brian & Gary's Cars for Less Brayton-powered machine while Tripp led the first 18 laps of the race. Series point leader Bobby Boone then led for six laps before Tripp returned to the front for laps 25 and 26. Hunt made a bold move on lap 27 and paced the final four circuits.

Tripp, who has a record 104 Western Midget Car victories to his credit, finished second to Hunt, who ranks fourth in USAC's Western Sprint Car Series, and Wally Pankratz, Dan Drinan and Thomas Meseraull rounded out the "top five." Travis Johnson, the night's fastest qualifier, was 16th in the feature. Josh Wise and Danny Ebberts won heat races and Drinan won the semi.

The MCI WorldCom USAC TQ Midget Cars resume action on Saturday night, July 8, at the Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway. The Western Sprint Car Series is also slated for Saturday night (July 8) competition, with a 40-lap feature on tap at Silver State Raceway in Carson City, Nev.

USAC MCI WORLDCOM WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Bobby Boone 533
2. Danny Ebberts 479
3. Wally Pankratz 468
4. Thomas Meseraull 451
5. Rick Hendrix 451
6. Shane Scully 410
7. Steve Paden 381
8. Josh Wise 363
9. Bryan Stanfill 343
10. Kasey Kahne 341

USAC MCI WORLDCOM TQ MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Walt Johnson 334
2. J.J. Ercse 326
3. Greg Edenholm 319
4. Todd Hunsaker 297
5. Ron Wade 282
6. West Evans 278
7. Ron Ahrendt 198
8. Steve Parke 192
9. Steve Lambert 181
10. Gene Godepski 179

USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Davey Hamilton 502
2. Todd Ellison 493
3. Jeff Gardner 468
4. Tony Hunt 452
5. Burney Lamar 448
6. Mike Boat 418
7. Kevin Kierce 367
8. Troy Cline 280
9. Amy Barnes 269
10. Jimmy Sills 257

Text Provided By Dick Jordan

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