WS: Altamont preview

"FAST" SWANSON EYES ALTAMONT SPRINT SATURDAY

Tanner Swanson of Kingsburg, Calif. has certainly been the "fastest" driver in this year's USAC Western Sprint Car Series and he has sprinted to a 102-point lead in the standings as a result.

Swanson has posted eight fast-qualifying efforts in 11 appearances as the series prepares for this Saturday's race at Altamont Motorsports Park in Tracy, Calif. He's never been out-qualified at Tracy, setting the fastest qualifying time all five times at the 1/2-mile paved oval. His feature finishes have included a victory, two thirds, a fourth and a fifth.

Swanson's point lead is not in jeopardy Saturday but four drivers, separated by only 19 points, hope to slice it with good performances.

Eric Humphries, Nick Rescino Jr., newly-crowned Rocky Mountain Champion JoJo Helberg and Porter Smith are the combatants for second entering the Tracy program. Humphries has a second and third at Tracy this season, while Rescino has a second and two fourths. Helberg has five "top-10s" at Tracy, while Smith has a victory and a second there.

-credit: usac