November 22, 2006 - Tony Hunt has been here before – twice. Now, he’s
ready to capture that elusive USAC Western Sprint Car Series title.
Already with enough points to seal the championship, Hunt hopes to cap that
third crown and fifth USAC title of his career Thursday at Irwindale (Calif.)
Speedway in the annual “Turkey Night Grand Prix,” which shares the card with
the National/Western Midget 100-lapper and the Ford Focus Midget Nationals.
Hunt leads second-place and defending series runner-up Mike Murgoitio heading
into Thursday. Hunt has already claimed the 2006 California Asphalt Sprint
Associaton title as well as the Earl’s Fast Qualifier award.
But as much as the Californian wants to end the season with a feature
victory, he’ll face one of the toughest fields of the season.
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series star and former USAC Russell Racing champ Casey
Mears, formerly of Bakersfield, Calif., is entered in a car field by Ted
Finkenbinder. Also entered is Jason Meyers, a veteran of the inaugural National
Sprint Tour season.
Trailing Murgoitio in the point standings are defending USAC Western Sprint
Car Series champion Kody Swanson, and Murgoitio’s teammate, rookie Bradley
Galedrige.
USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1 Tony Hunt 841
2 Mike Murgoitio 740
3 Kody Swanson 704
4 Bradley Galedrige 637
5 Shauna Hogg 508
6 Brian McClish 462
7 Nick Green 425
8 Nick Rescino Jr. 381
9 Tim Barber 371
10 Jim Kaiser 362
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