Young driver makes history in Columbus

CLAUSON USAC'S YOUNGEST-EVER NATIONAL FEATURE WINNER!

Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. became the youngest driver in USAC history to win a National feature race Saturday, leading the final nine laps of the "Open Wheel Oktoberfest" Midget race at the Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway.

At 16 years, three months and 23 days of age, he eclipses the previous record set by Bobby East, who was 16 years, seven months and 25 days old when he won a Midget race at Schereville, Ind. in 2001. The youngest driver ever to win a USAC feature in any series remains Dakoda Armstrong, who won a Kenyon Midget feature last year at the age of 13 years and 26 days!

Clauson trailed Tracy Hines for 31 laps in his Vital Express/Fontana Automotive Beast/Fontana, then led the remaining nine laps at Columbus for the win. Series point leader Josh Wise put a virtual lock on the 2005 National Championship with his second-place finish, ahead of Cole Carter, Teddy Beach and Ron Gregory.

Clauson also posted the fastest qualifying time at Columbus, erasing Rich Vogler's 27-year-old track mark. It has been 27 years since the USAC National Midgets last competed at the 1/3-mile paved oval.

The National Midget Car Series concludes November 24 with the annual "Turkey Night Grand Prix" at the Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway.

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1.-Josh Wise-1,000
2.-Jerry Coons, Jr.-822
3.-Brad Kuhn-687
4.-Ron Gregory-640
5.-Tom Hessert III-612
6.-Teddy Beach-591
7.-Cole Carter-570
8.-Darren Hagen-563
9.-Bobby East-475
10.-Jay Drake-449

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