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USAC: Stanfill, Edenholm score Santa Maria Victories; Close point races continue

12 September 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Todd Ellison and Bobby Boone can feel the heat as the gear up for this Saturday night's USAC Western "doubleheader" racing program at the 1/3-mile paved Madera (Calif.) Speedway.

Ellison, of West Jordan, Utah, holds a slim 11-point lead over Tony Hunt of Fair Oaks, Calif. in the battle for the Western Sprint Car Championship, while Boone, of Palmdale, Calif., leads Danny Ebberts of Canyon Lake, Calif. by just three and Wally Pankratz of Orange, Calif. by 13 in their war for the MCI WorldCom Western Midget Car title. A 30-lap Midget Car and 40-lap Sprint Car feature conclude Saturday night's Madera events.

Californians Bryan Stanfill of Bakersfield and Greg Edenholm of Agouro shared the victory lane ceremonies in last Saturday night's USAC MCI WorldCom "doubleheader" at the Santa Maria (Calif.) Speedway. Stanfill won the 30-lap Midget Car main and Edenholm won the 20-lap TQ Midget Car feature on the 1/3-mile dirt track.

Stanfill led all 30 laps in his Angell & Giroux Special to beat Pankratz to the checkered flag. Alex Harris, Mike Figliomeni and Ebberts rounded out the "top-five" as fast qualifier Boone took ninth. In the accompanying TQ Midget Car race, Edenholm led all 20 laps to beat West Evans, fast qualifier Walt Johnson, James Styer and Steve Lambert.

TQ Midget Car point leader J.J. Ercse finished 15th at Santa Maria and saw his lead slip to just four points over Johnson in the process. Edenholm trails the leader by only 32 points going into the September 23 race at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway.

USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Todd Ellison 702
2. Tony Hunt 691
3. Burney Lamar 653
4. Davey Hamilton 624
5. Mike Boat 604
6. Jeff Gardner 604
7. Kevin Kierce 555
8. Rick Williams 448
9. Jimmy Sills 417
10. Amy Barnes 378

USAC MCI WORLDCOM WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Bobby Boone 831
2. Danny Ebberts 828
3. Wally Pankratz 818
4. Thomas Meseraull 736
5. Shane Scully 637
6. Steve Paden 617
7. Bryan Stanfill 565
8. Rick Hendrix 563
9. Kasey Kahne 540
10. Josh Wise 539

USAC MCI WORLDCOM TQ MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. J.J. Ercse 616
2. Walt Johnson 612
3. Greg Edenholm 584
4. West Evans 529
5. Todd Hunsaker 526
6. Ron Wade 392
7. Steve Parke 381
8. Gene Godepski 366
9. Ron Ahrendt 345
10. Steve Davis 327

Text provided by Dick Jordan

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.