WS: Boise race report

Bullard, Gardner Top Boise Sprints
Western Series Heads For Salt Lake City

The hotly-contested Western Sprint Car Series point race continues this Saturday night at Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City, Utah, with only 20 points separating leaders Jeff Gardner of Fresno, Calif. and Tony Hunt of Fair Oaks, Calif. A 40-lap feature is on tap at the 3/8-mile paved oval, following complete prelims.

Gardner, the 1998 series titlist, won Saturday night's 50-lap race at Meridian Speedway near Boise, Idaho, leading the final nine laps in his Pacific Boring/C & L Bryant Chevy/Beast. Ray Evans finished second after leading the first 41 laps and was followed by Bryan Bullard, Scott Hansen and Darren Spiers.

Friday night, Bullard, of Orangevale, Calif., led all 30 laps on the Meridian Speedway 1/4-mile pavement to beat Bobby McMahan, Troy Cline, Kenny Hamilton and Hunt. Bullard drove the Bos Sheet Metal/Rex Hutchinson Racing Engines/Torco Oil Chevy/Beast.

Ironically, Gardner won last year's Salt Lake City race and Hunt won the 1999 outing on the 3/8-mile paved oval. A total of 72 points are available in this Saturday's event.

Ryan Flynn was Friday's fastest qualifier at Boise, while Saturday night fast qualifier honors went to Damion Gardner. <pre> USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Jeff Gardner 483 2. Tony Hunt 463 3. Troy Cline 394 4. Ryan Flynn 355 5. John Ryals 352 6. Kevin Kierce 326 7. Bryan Bullard 325 8. Damion Gardner 319 9. Bobby McMahan 296 10. Amy Barnes 268

-USAC