WS: WM: Irwindale preview

Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway hosts the USAC Western Sprint Car and Western WorldCom Midget Car Series Saturday night in a doubleheader racing program expected to have a dynamic impact on the 2001 championships in both series.

Tony Hunt of Fair Oaks, Calif. leads Jeff Gardner of Fresno, Calif. by only five points in the Sprint car standings, while Danny Ebberts of Canyon Lake, Calif. leads Alex Harris of Simi Valley, Calif. by 59 points in the Midget Car series. A total of 72 points are available in each series at Irwindale's 1/2-mile paved oval.

The Midget car race could serve as somewhat of a preview of the "Turkey Night Grand Prix," scheduled November 22 at Irwindale, which offers both National and Western points. A 30-lap feature caps this Saturday night's Midget car activities.

A 40-lap feature awaits Sprint car competitors, who will also compete at Irwindale as part of the "Turkey Night" program in November. Gardner finished fifth and Hunt 10th in a March appearance at Irwindale, a race won by Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind.

The Midget race marks the initial 2001 appearance of the WorldCom series at Irwindale this season after suffering a rainout in April.

USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. Tony Hunt 734
2. Jeff Gardner 729
3. Ryan Flynn 600
4. Bryan Bullard 596
5. Troy Cline 531
6. Damion Gardner 509
7. Bobby McMahan 477
8. Kevin Kierce 427
9. Scott Hansen 409
10. Shauna Hogg 397

USAC WORLDCOM WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. Danny Ebberts 931
2. Alex Harris 872
3. Josh Wise 811
4. Wally Pankratz 718
5. Thomas Meseraull 669
6. Shane Scully 646
7. Matt Streeter 582
8. Robby Flock 553
9. John Sarale 370
10. Danny Stratton 357

-USAC