JRCS: Sears Point Triple Crown preview

Russell/Usac Triple Crown Pro Series Concludes At X-Factor Grand Prix Of Sonoma

Sonoma, CA - Jim Russell 2000 Rookie of the Year, Ross Fonferko, returns to Sears Point Raceway this weekend looking for a clean sweep of the three race Russell/USAC Triple Crown Pro Series presented by Yokohama. Fonferko has collected $3,200 and 51 points giving him an 11 point advantage over David Mayhew. Mayhew has driven consistently scoring a second and third in the first two races but to beat Fonferko, he will need to win the race while Fonferko will have to finish no higher that seventh.

Mayhew, the 2000 STAART scholarship winner must keep Brazilian driver Victor Hugo Queiroz behind him the entire time if he is to have a shot at the title. Queiroz is just one point behind Mayhew with 39 after finishing fourth in the first race at Mesa Marin and qualified on the pole and finishing second in the second race here last month.

The Triple Crown is widely known for attracting a variety of drivers from different backgrounds aspiring to make a splash in motorsports. Two of the competitors signed up for the final race are women, and one is part of a husband and wife team. Carol Siska makes her professional racing debut in the series. A regular competitor in SCCA events Siska will help round out the 18-car field with series regular Christine Saunders. Saunders, currently 13th in points, finished 14th and 13th in the first two events while her husband, JoJo Saunders, had his best finish of fifth at Mesa Marin. He is currently tied for ninth with Taylor Fletcher.

Drivers are competing for a cash purse of over $3,500 with the winner receiving $1,500. The champion will share a $10,000 championship fund with the second and third place finishers. The champion will also receive a free ride in the final two races of the US F2000 series at Daytona with a Speedvision in-car camera, all courtesy of Jim Russell Racing Drivers School and Yokohama Tire Corporation. The 30-minute race is scheduled to start on Sunday at 9:15am as part of the X-Factor Grand Prix of Sonoma for the American LeMans racing series. <pre> Russell/USAC Triple Crown Pro Series standings after two of three races

Pos. Driver Points Winnings Pos. Driver Points Winnings

1 Ross Fonferko 51 3,200 11 John Shafer 16 100

2 David Mayhew 40 900 12 Brett Arsenault 15 100

3 Victor Queiroz 39 950 13 Christine Saunders 13 100 4 Cory Turner 30 200 14 Erick Hansen 12 50

5 John Knudsen 27 100 15 Grant Dunning 10 50

6 Bob Hagerty 22 100 15 Steve Hill 10 50

7 Phil Kopp 21 100 17 Randi Pankratz 9 50

7 Tim Butler 21 100 18 Charles Hurbis 6 50

9 JoJo Saunders 19 150 19 Kevin McCue 5 50

9 Taylor Fletcher 19 300 19 Tom Atherton 5 50

21 Cristian Sebellarosa 3 50

-USAC/JRS-