Lawrenceburg preview

"NEW" LAWRENCEBURG SURFACE AWAITS USAC SPRINTS

The USAC National Sprint Car Series is headed to Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway Saturday night and a new track surface awaits.

Expected to provide multi-groove racing with more progressive banking, the 3/8-mile dirt oval is part of a weekend which finds the USAC Sprint Cars in action at three different Indiana tracks. Gas City I-69 Speedway hosts Friday's race, while the "Rich Vogler Classic" is on tap Sunday at Winchester Speedway.

Lawrenceburg's USAC history dates back to 1961 when A.J. Foyt won the first 40-lap Midget race in Bob Nowicke's car. The 54 races since have produced some outstanding competition, races at times ending in a photo-finish!

Jon Stanbrough is the winningest USAC driver at the track, with five victories, but 2009 USAC National Sprint Car point leader Dave Darland can tie him with a victory Saturday.

Jeff Bland and Brady Short won last year's USAC Sprint races at Lawrenceburg, while Brad Sweet, also expected to be a threat Saturday, won a USAC Midget race there last August.

Darland has a 16-point lead over Jesse Hockett entering this weekend's events. Jerry Coons Jr., the 2008 series champion, is third in the points after winning last Saturday night's "Don Branson/Jud Larson Classic" at Rossburg, Ohio.

Other top threats for victory at Lawrenceburg include Tony Stewart Racing teammates Levi Jones and Tracy Hines, both former series champs, plus Keith Kunz Motorsports driver Cole Whitt, who won last year's USAC National Midget crown by a single point.

-credit: --USAC--