NOVEMBER 12, 2007 --- Tony Jones of Norco, Calif. is headed for his first USAC driving title Saturday as the Lucas Oil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars invade Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway for the annual “Kindoll Classic”
Jones leads Mike Spencer by 76 points with only 74 available at Perris, following last weekend’s racing program at Phoenix, Ariz., where Spencer and Jones finished 14th and 15th respectively in Saturday night’s 40-lap feature at Manzanita Speedway.
Jerry Coons Jr. of Tucson, Ariz. “swept” both nights of the 40th Checker Auto Parts/Budweiser/Parker Store “Western World Championships” at the 1/2-mile dirt Arizona oval, winning Friday’s 25-lap prelim and Saturday night’s 40-lap finale in the Dynamics, Inc. Kroger/Tide, Pringles/Bounty F5/Mopar.
Levi Jones of Olney, Ill. and his car owner, Tony Stewart Racing, celebrated their hard-earned Lucas Oil National Sprint Car championships after the race in which Levi finished 23rd.
Coons was spectacular in Saturday night’s 40-lapper, relegated to the back of the starting field after appearing late for the start. He moved through the field quickly and caught leader Dave Darland on lap 38, then led the last three laps to beat Darland, Bud Kaeding, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Darren Hagen. Hagen ended up second ahead of Darland in the final National standings. Stenhouse led the first 14 laps of the race.
Friday night’s Manzanita prelim saw Levi Jones led the first three laps, then yield to Coons, who led the rest of the way to beat Jesse Hockett, Darland, Jones and Stenhouse.
Driver Robert Ballou suffered an arm fracture in one of four Friday night flips. He was treated at a Phoenix hospital and released.
FINAL LUCAS OIL USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1 Levi Jones 1,402
2 Darren Hagen 1,317
3 Dave Darland 1,274
4 Brady Bacon 1,087
5 Jesse Hockett 1,073
6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 1,023
7 Brady Short 955
8 Kevin Swindell 952
9 Jerry Coons Jr. 909
10 Damion Gardner 903
LUCAS OIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1 Tony Jones 1,947
2 Mike Spencer 1,871
3 Danny Sheridan 1,743
4 Rickie Gaunt 1,656
6 Rip Williams 1,431
7 David Cardey 1,260
8 Cory Kruseman 1,206
9 Blake Miller 1,076
10 Josh Ford 985
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