Winchester summary, Brownstown debut preview

BROWNSTOWN USAC DEBUT SATURDAY; HAGEN WINS "RICH VOGLER CLASSIC"

The USAC National Sprint Car Series is headed for the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Brownstown, Ind. Saturday night for the first USAC Sprint race in the quarter-mile dirt track's history.

Dave Darland of Lincoln, Ind. leads the series standings in search of his second series title, holding an eight-point edge over two-time defending series champion Levi Jones. Darland finished second in Sunday's race at the Winchester (Ind.) Speedway.

Darren Hagen gave car owner Keith Kunz Motorsports their third consecutive "Rich Vogler Classic" USAC National Sprint Car victory Sunday afternoon at Winchester, leading the final 25 laps in his IWX/Advanced Racing Beast/Speedway Mopar special. The Riverside, Calif. driver nearly didn't make it to the checkered flag!

On lap 24 Hagen was being pressured for the lead by Chris Windom when the two cars made contact exiting turn four. Both cars slid to the inside of the front straightaway and while Windom slid to a stop sideways at the end of the straightaway, Hagen was able to continue as the leader. On the restart he pulled away, then withstood a challenge from Tracy Hines and Darland on another restart for the last two laps. Pole starter Brian Gerster led the first five laps of the race before yielding to Hagen. Darland finished second ahead of fast qualifier Hines, Brady Bacon and Gerster.

The Kunz team also won the "Rich Vogler Classic" in 2006 with driver Bryan Clauson and in 2007 with driver Marc Jessup.

-credit: usac