FOR USAC's 100TH RACE IN THE BEEHIVE STATE
Tanner Swanson of Kingsburg, Calif. and Ryan Burdett of West Jordan, Utah lead their respective USAC Sprint car series standings entering Saturday night's racing program at Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City, Utah. The racing program will feature the 100th race under USAC sanction in the state of Utah.
The Utah Developmental Ford Focus Series is also on tap and the two feature events will bring the all-time Utah total to 100.
Swanson leads the USAC Western Sprint Car points by 72 over Eric Humphries, while Burdett, in defense of his 2007 Young Automotive Rocky Mountain Sprint title, leads JoJo Helberg by 11.
Jimmy Wysong is the winningest USAC driver in Utah history with 16 career victories to his credit. Dave Fitzgerald has 13, Jim Waters 12 and Burdett six. Kipp Posey, who leads the Utah Ford Focus points, is next with five.
Burdett has dominated the RMR Sprint scene in 2008, winning three of the five races contested so far. Helberg has also found victory lane, as has Waters.
Mel Kenyon of Lebanon, Ind., the winningest driver in USAC National Midget history, won USAC's initial Utah outing, a 40-lap Midget race at Suntana Speedway in Springville in 1972.
USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1. Tanner Swanson 619
2. Eric Humphries 547
3. Nick Rescino Jr. 524
4. JoJo Helberg 522
5. Porter Smith 500
6. Tony Hunt 321
7. Snake Livernash 303
8. Tim Skoglund 290
9. Greg Anderson 273
10. Brian McClish 238
WESTERN SPRINTS RESUME AUGUST 30 AT SALT LAKE CITY;McCLISH TOPS TRACY SPRINT FEATURE
Tanner Swanson continues to lead the 2008 USAC Western Sprint Car Series points, 72 ahead of Eric Humphries in the latest tally. Swanson and Humphries finished third and fourth in Saturday night’s 50-lap feature at Altamont Raceway Park in Tracy, Calif.
Brian McClish of Santa Rosa, Calif. passed Nick Rescino Jr. on lap 13 and led the final 38 laps to win the Tracy feature over Porter Smith, Swanson, Humphries and Scott Pierovich.
McClish stands 10th in the new series standings entering an August 30 race at Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City, Utah.
WESTERN, ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPRINTS AT MAGIC VALLEY; WATERS RETURNS TO VICTORY LANE AT RMR
USAC's Western and Rocky Mountain Sprint Car Series combine again this Saturday night for a 100-lap contest at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls, Idaho. Tanner Swanson (Western) and Ryan Burdett (Rocky Mountain) lead their respective series standings entering the race.
Jim Waters of Salt Lake City, Utah captured Saturday nightʼs 100-lap USAC Western/Rocky Mountain Sprint feature at Rocky Mountain Raceways in his hometown, leading the final 42 laps after passing defending Rocky Mountain champion Burdett on lap 59.
Burdett led just two laps but finished second ahead of Scott Pierovich, Brian McClish and JoJo Helberg. McClish led the first 40 laps and Porter Smitb led the next 16, then Burdett and Waters led the rest.
Western point leader Swanson finished eighth in the 100-lapper. Kipp Posey of Lehi, Utah won the accompanying 25-lap Ford Focus race.
USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1. |
Tanner Swanson |
481 |
|
6. |
Greg Anderson
|
273 |
2. |
Nick Rescino Jr.
|
429 |
|
7.
|
Tony Hunt
|
249 |
3. |
Eric Humphries
|
425 |
|
8.
|
Snake Livernash
|
231 |
4.
|
JoJo Helberg
|
410 |
|
9.
|
Chase Scott
|
230 |
5.
|
Porter Smith
|
387 |
|
10.
|
Tim Skoglund
|
202 |
MUD's Top-25 California drivers
Ranking of the top-25 racers at the mid-season mark.
Feature story by Jeff Bye, Jr / Selections by: MUD-Racing.net Media Panel
It’s truly unclear who the best racer in California really is. If you ask anyone you’re bound to get a different answer. Some sway more towards the asphalt racers, while some find dirt to be a better gauge of talent, so we gathered a panel of racing experts and asked them to put together a list of the top-25 racers in California.
Similar to the BCS College Football system, our top-25 is based on the polls of our racing experts, the drivers win percentage, their standing in their division points standings, and the strength of their opponents.
It was no surprise many of these names made our list. In fact, some of them appeared on every top-25 list we received.
So who really is the best in California at the mid-way point? Who has the best shot at being number one at the seasons’ end? Enjoy the countdown to #1.
 |
17-year-old Tanner Swanson, who became the youngest winner in USAC Sprint Car history last season, is a three time winner in 2008 with the USAC Western Sprint Car Series. Swanson leads the series standings by a narrow margin.
Swanson’s record with the USAC Western Sprints has been solid. His only two races outside the top-five being sixth and seventh places finishes.
Swanson is the only repeat winner so far in the series, but will need to continue to add to the win column along with clinching the series title to have a shot at being number one at the season's end. |
#4 Nick Joanides – Woodland Hills, Ca.
#3 Eric Holmes – Escalon, Ca.
#2 Tim Kaeding – San Jose, Ca.
#1 Bobby Hogge IV – Salinas, Ca.
SWANSON EYES 3RD WESTERN SPRINT WIN SATURDAY
AS SERIES RETURNS TO ALTAMONT MOTORSPORTS PARK
USAC Western Sprint Car Series point leader Tanner Swanson of Kingsburg, Calif. will try to protect his 13-point leader over Nick Rescino, Jr. when the series visits Altamont Motorsports Park in Tracy, Calif. Saturday.
Swanson has won two of the last three series features but finished fifth in late-June behind winner Porter Smith, who earned his first series triumph that night. Smith has climbed to fourth in the new standings as a result and only trails Swanson by 59 points. Eric Humphries sits third in the points, only 39 out of the lead.
Swanson has been the fastest qualifier four times in six 2008 appearances and his worst finish was a seventh in April at Salt Lake City.
Swanson is also the only repeat feature winner so far this year. Other race winners include Smith, Shane Hmiel, Brian McClish and Ryan Burdett.
USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1. Tanner Swanson 365
2.
Nick Rescino Jr.
352
3. Eric Humphries 326
4. Porter Smith 306
5. JoJo Helberg 301
6.
Greg Anderson
273
7. Chase Scott 223
8. Tony Hunt 186
9. Snake Livernash 176
10. John Sarale 165
