Series Westrn World Championships preview

        ASCS Season Wraps Up in Style with Western World Championships!

          Lucas Oil Sprint Car Champion Among Titles to be Determined

TULSA, Okla. (November 16, 2009) -- It's difficult to fathom a better way to wrap up the 2009 Sprint Car racing season. With an anticipated total of 130 or so cars, perhaps more, and of both the winged and wingless variety, it's an open wheel racing fan's dream.

And, that's exactly how the American Sprint Car Series will conclude its 18th season of competition with this weekend's 42nd Annual Kronik Energy Western World Championships presented by Old Tucson Studios at Tucson's USA Raceway, with three full nights of wild racing action (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) to follow Wednesday night's practice session.

Approximately 80 cars from throughout the nation are expected to vie for the $15,000 Lucas Oil Sprint Car presented by K&N Filters winner's share, with another 50 or so shooting it out for the $5,000-to-win Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region winner's share in the wingless portion of the weekend's action.

The final three ASCS championships will be determined over the course of the weekend as well, including the lucrative Lucas Oil Sprint Car title that Shane Stewart nearly has within his grasp. Stewart carries a 24-point advantage over 2008 series champion Jason Johnson into the weekend.

Also to be determined will be winged ASCS Southwest Region title and the wingless Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region championships. Rick Ziehl holds a slim 12-point edge over Ben Gregg in the Southwest championship chase, while "Chargin'" Charles Davis, Jr., is 40 points ahead of R.J. Johnson in the Canyon points battle.

The blockbuster weekend event will conclude on Sunday afternoon with the 18th Annual ASCS Awards Banquet presented by Brodix at Old Tucson Studios.

This weekend's Western World will put an exclamation point on what has already ranked as a banner season for the American Sprint Car Series, which has featured a total of 893 different competitors over the course of the season, a total that is sure to top the 900 mark over the weekend.

With 78 different drivers posting at least one feature win in the 168 ASCS-sanctioned main events completed thus far in 2009, only Mother Nature has been able to slow the series with more than 30 nights falling victim to inclement weather.

The Series:Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters ($15,000-to-win winged portion)

Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region ($5,000-to-win non-wing portion)

When & Where -- USA Raceway's Western World Championships:Wednesday, November 18, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. -- Practice at USA Raceway

Thursday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m. -- 42nd Annual Western World Championships Old Tucson Studios Qualifying Night

Friday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m. -- 42nd Annual Western World Championships Kronik Energy Qualifying Night

Saturday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. -- 42nd Annual Kronik Energy Western World Championships presented by Old Tucson Studios championship features

Sunday, November 22 at 12:00 p.m. -- 18th Annual ASCS Awards Banquet presented by Brodix at Old Tucson Studios

The American Sprint Car Series, in its 18th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing events, brings the best of Sprint Car racing to nearly 100 different tracks throughout 25 states and Canada in 2009. Anchored by the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of a dozen different Regions throughout the nation.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

-credit: ascs