WS: Altamont pre-race notes

HELBERG, HUNT TO CHALLENGE KAPLAN IN SATURDAY'S WESTERN SPRINT RACE AT ALTAMONT; KODY REPLACES BROTHER TANNER SWANSON

Kody Swanson of Kingsburg, Calif. apparently will replace his brother Tanner for Saturday's Lucas Oil USAC Western Sprint race at Altamont Motorsports Park in Tracy, Calif. Tanner is expected to compete in Saturday's USAC Carolina Ford Focus Series race at Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly, N.C.

Swanson, the son of former Supermodified standout Mike Swanson, is ninth in the series points and opened this year's Western Sprint Car campaign by winning the first two races at Madera, Calif. and Salt Lake City, Utah. His brother Tanner won the last two races at Tracy and is the youngest USAC Sprint feature winner ever at age 16 years, five months.

Ryan Kaplan of Chico, Calif. is the series point leader, nine ahead of JoJo Helberg, who scored his first USAC win in Sunday's Rocky Mountain Sprint race at Salt Lake City, Utah. Former two-time champion Tony Hunt is third, only 10 out of the lead.

A 40-lap Sprint feature is slated at the Altamont oval, with the USAC California Pavement Ford Focuses also on the bill.

-credit: usac