Clauson, Ballou, Meseraull Split ‘Winter Dirt Games’ Glory
Story By: RICHIE MURRAY / USAC SERIES MEDIA Photos By: MICHAEL FRY and TOMMY HEIN / RACERSGUIDE.COM
INDIANAPOLIS, IN- February 23, 2016- Kyle Cummins of Princeton, Ind. emerged as the winner of USAC’s “Winter Dirt Games VII” last week and takes an 18-point lead over Thomas Meseraull into round four of the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship April 2 at the Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway.
Cummins finished on the podium on all three nights at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla. He was second behind Bryan Clauson Thursday and third behind Robert Ballou Friday and Thomas Meseraull Saturday.
Cummins continues to seek his initial USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship victory at Lawrenceburg, a track where he failed to post a “top-10” in three 2015 appearances (11th, 20th and 22nd).
Clauson, of Noblesville, Ind., passed Chase Stockon on lap eight Thursday and led the final 23 laps in his B & H Contractors/Cancer Treatment Centers of America Spike/Stanton Mopar. Cummins was second ahead of Meseraull, Max McGhee and Chad Boespflug.
Ballou, of Rocklin, Calif., led all 30 laps of Friday’s race in his MPHG Promotions/Blakesley’s Auto Maxim/Ott to beat Brady Bacon, Cummins, Clauson and Dave Darland.
Meseraull, of San Jose, Calif., emerged as the winner of Saturday’s 30-lapper after tire woes beset numerous teams, including race leaders in the closing laps. The race featured five different leaders with seven lead changes and Meseraull’s victory came as leaders McGhee and Grant encountered tire problems in the final two laps. Chris Windom ended up second at the checkered flag behind Meseraull’s Marion Underground Construction/Zeller Construction DRC/Dynotech. Cummins, Stockon and Grant rounded out the top-five.
McGhee earned a pair of ProSource fast qualifier awards, while Meseraull was Saturday’s ProSource winner.
Brady Short, Clauson and Jon Stanbrough claimed KSE Racing Products Hard Charger awards.
Additional contingency award winners included: Schroeder/Pac Springs 3rd Place (Meseraull, Cummins-2), Schoenfeld Headers 5th Place (Boespflug, Darland, Grant), Schroeder/Pac Springs 8th Place (Bacon, Windom, Stanbrough), Top Maxim Finisher (McGhee, Ballou, Windom), and Wilwood Brake Systems Passing Master (Clauson).
Heat race winners were also sponsored by Simpson Race Products, Competition Suspension, Benic Enterprises and Indy Race Parts and they included Shane Cottle (2), Bacon (2), Ballou, Stanbrough, McGhee, Clauson, Brady Short, Cummins, Grant and Chad Boespflug.
UPCOMING USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS
DATE: April 2, 2016
SERIES: USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship
TRACK: Lawrenceburg Speedway (Lawrenceburg, Indiana) – 3/8 Mile, High-Banked Dirt Oval
EVENT: Lawrenceburg Speedway “Opening Night” featuring the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship, UMP Modifieds and Hornets
STARTING TIMES: Pits open at 3pm. Grandstands open at 5pm. Hot laps at 6pm. Opening ceremonies at 7pm with racing to immediately follow.
TICKETS: Adults: $25, Children Age 7-12: $7, Children Age 6 and Under: FREE!
Pit Pass: $30
TRACK ADDRESS: 351 E. Eads Parkway, Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47025
TRACK PHONE: (812) 539-4700
TRACK WEBSITE: http://lawrenceburgspeedway.com/
2016 USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10)
1. (227) Kyle Cummins
2. (209) Thomas Meseraull
3. (209) Bryan Clauson
4. (184) Chase Stockon
5. (184) Justin Grant
6. (182) Brady Bacon
7. (174) Robert Ballou
8. (163) Max McGhee
9. (163) Dave Darland
10. (162) Chris Windom
“WINTER DIRT GAMES” FEATURE WINNERS
2-8-2010: East Bay Raceway Park – Damion Gardner
2-10-2010: East Bay Raceway Park – Damion Gardner
2-17-2011: Ocala Speedway – Damion Gardner
2-18-2011: Ocala Speedway – Bryan Clauson
2-19-2011: Ocala Speedway – Damion Gardner
2-9-2012: Bubba Raceway Park – Damion Gardner
2-11-2012: Bubba Raceway Park – Darren Hagen
2-21-2013: Bubba Raceway Park – Bryan Clauson
2-22-2013: Bubba Raceway Park – Tracy Hines
2-23-2013: Bubba Raceway Park – Tracy Hines
2-20-2014: Bubba Raceway Park – Brady Bacon
2-22-2014: Bubba Raceway Park – Bryan Clauson
2-20-2015: Bubba Raceway Park – Robert Ballou
2-21-2015: Bubba Raceway Park – Brady Bacon
2-22-2015: Bubba Raceway Park – Dave Darland
2-26-2015: Eastbay Raceway Park – Kevin Thomas, Jr.
2-27-2015: Eastbay Raceway Park – Robert Ballou
2-18-2016: Bubba Raceway Park – Bryan Clauson
2-19-2016: Bubba Raceway Park – Robert Ballou
2-20-2016: Bubba Raceway Park – Thomas Meseraull
2016 USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS
Feb 18: Ocala, FL – Bubba Raceway Park (WINNER: Bryan Clauson)
Feb 19: Ocala, FL – Bubba Raceway Park (WINNER: Robert Ballou)
Feb 20: Ocala, FL – Bubba Raceway Park (WINNER: Thomas Meseraull)
Apr 2: Lawrenceburg, IN – Lawrenceburg Speedway
Apr 15: Bloomington, IN – Bloomington Speedway
Apr 16: Haubstadt, IN – Tri-State Speedway
Apr 23: Montpelier, IN – Montpelier Motor Speedway
May 6: Rossburg, OH – Eldora Speedway
May 7: Rossburg, OH – Eldora Speedway
May 20: Gas City, IN – Gas City I-69 Speedway
May 21: Brownstown, IN – Brownstown Speedway
May 25: Terre Haute, IN – Terre Haute Action Track
Jun 7: Bechtelsville, PA – Grandview Speedway
Jun 8: Abbottstown, PA – Lincoln Speedway
Jun 9: New Egypt, NJ – New Egypt Speedway
Jun 11: Port Royal, PA – Port Royal Speedway
Jun 12: York Haven, PA – Susquehanna Speedway
Jun 23: Jackson, MN – Jackson Motorplex
Jun 24: Eagle, NE – Eagle Raceway
Jun 25: Kansas City, KS – Lakeside Speedway
Jun 26: Kansas City, KS – Lakeside Speedway
Jul 1: Putnamville, IN – Lincoln Park Speedway
Jul 8: ***Gas City, IN – Gas City I-69 Speedway
Jul 9: ***Kokomo, IN – Kokomo Speedway
Jul 10: ***Lawrenceburg, IN – Lawrenceburg Speedway
Jul 13: ***Terre Haute, IN – Terre Haute Action Track
Jul 14: ***Putnamville, IN – Lincoln Park Speedway
Jul 15: ***Bloomington, IN – Bloomington Speedway
Jul 16: ***Haubstadt, IN – Tri-State Speedway
Jul 29: Granite City, IL – Tri-City Speedway
Jul 30: Granite City, IL – Tri-City Speedway
Aug 20: (SE) Brandon, SD – Badlands Motor Speedway
Aug 21: (SE) Brandon, SD – Badlands Motor Speedway
Aug 24: (SE) Kokomo, IN – Kokomo Speedway
Aug 25: Kokomo, IN – Kokomo Speedway
Aug 26: Kokomo, IN – Kokomo Speedway
Aug 27: Kokomo, IN – Kokomo Speedway
Sep 16: Terre Haute, IN – Terre Haute Action Track
Sep 17: Haubstadt, IN – Tri-State Speedway
Sep 24: Rossburg, OH – Eldora Speedway
Oct 1: Lawrenceburg, IN – Lawrenceburg Speedway
Oct 15: Flora, IL – Route 45 Raceway
Nov 4: ### Queen Creek, AZ – Arizona Speedway
Nov 5: ### Queen Creek, AZ – Arizona Speedway
Nov 10: ### Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
Nov 11: ### Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
Nov 12: ### Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
