CLAUSON BECOMES 6th USAC DRIVER TO 100 WINS
Story By: Dick Jordan /USAC Series Media Photos By:Tommy Hein/Racersguide.com
Indianapollis Ind.-Bryan Clauson has become the sixth driver in USAC history to score 100 race victories during a career. He is also the youngest, at age 26, to reach that feat.
He achieved the century mark last Friday night at Canyon Speedway in Peoria, Ariz. by winning the 30-lap USAC Southwest/West Coast Sprint Car “Winter Challenge” special event. Clauson’s total includes two Silver Crown wins, 34 in National Sprint Cars, 36 in National Midgets, seven in Kenyon Midgets, nine West Coast Sprint special events, 5 regional Midgets, 3 Western Midgets, 3 CRA Sprints and a National Midget special event.
In contrast, Rich Vogler leads the all-time category with 171 victories. A.J. Foyt has 162, Sleepy Tripp 161, Mel Kenyon 131 and Dave Darland 109. Foyt was 33 when he reached 100, while Vogler was 34, Tripp 35, Kenyon 49 and Darland 47.
Tracy Hines is next on the all-time list at 97 wins.
CLAUSON CLAIMS “WINTER CHALLENGE” TITLE; HODGES WINS FINALE, CLAUSON TAKES PRELIM
Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. emerged as the champion of the five-race “Winter Challenge” USAC Southwest/West Coast Sprint Car series, posting three wins, a second and a fourth the past two weeks at Canyon Speedway in Peoria, Ariz.
Josh Hodges of Tijeras, N.M. won Saturday night’s 30-lap finale in his Jackson Compaction/Mesilla Valley Transportation Maxim/Ostrich after a race-long duel with Clauson, who finished second. R.J. Johnson, Charles Davis Jr. and Mike Martin rounded out the “top-five” at the checkered flag. Johnson and Davis took second and third in the final “Winter Challenge” standings.
“This is awesome,” said Hodges in victory lane. “It’s hard to put into words. There’s nobody better than Bryan, so it’s great to be able to beat him.” Hodges passed Stevie Sussex on lap two and led the rest of the way despite constant pressure from Clauson.
Clauson won Friday night’s 30-lap prelim in the Mike Martin owned Cancer Treatment Centers of America/Jonathan Byrd’s Racing machine. He led the final 27 laps after passing Brian Hosford on lap four. Stevie Sussex led the opening lap and finished second ahead of Johnson, Davis and Hodges.
The USAC Southwest and West Coast Sprint Cars are now idle until March 4 when they visit The Dirt Track at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway for the 5th FVP “Sin City Showdown.”
FINAL 2016 WINTER CHALLENGE POINTS: 1-Bryan Clauson-355, 2-R.J. Johnson-327, 3-Charles Davis Jr.-314, 4-Josh Hodges-313, 5-Brian Hosford-230, 6-Mike Martin-224, 7-Dennis Gile-198, 8-Kenny Perkins-198, 9-Bob Strait-155, 10-Tom Ogle-153.
