SWS: Lubbock, Tech Motor race previews

Southwest men chasing Verville to Texas

Lady driver Kaylene Verville of Phoenix, Ariz. finds herself atop the USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series standings going into this weekend's back-to-back events at two tracks in Lubbock, Texas.

Verville, who became the first lady driver in history to win a Sprint Car feature last year, has a two-point lead over Mike Martin, who finished third in last year's series standings.

Friday night's race is at Lubbock Motor Speedway, while Saturday's venue is Tech Motor Speedway, located a short distance away. The races will be the first for USAC at the two tracks, but not the first for USAC in Lubbock.

Gary Bettenhausen and Mel Kenyon won USAC Midget races at West Texas Speedway in 1967 and Rick Hood won USAC's last Sprint Car race in the Lone Star State, at Devil's Bowl near Dallas in 1985.

A 30-lap feature event caps each night's racing program at the two 1/3-mile dirt ovals.

USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. Kaylene Verville 243
2. Mike Martin 241
3. Ron Clark 233
4. Brandon Lane 231
5. Rick Ziehl 224
6. Beau Binder 189
7. Robert Hall, Jr. 187
8. Shon Deskins 180
9. Matthew Rossi 173
10. Ron Kratz 157

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