WS: Irwindale, Las Vegas notes

Thursday night's 30-lap victory at the Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway solidified Tony Hunt of Fair Oaks, Calif. as the 2001 USAC Western Sprint Car Series Champion. Rain forced cancellation of Saturday night's scheduled series finale at the Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway "Bullring," leaving Hunt with a 36-point margin in the final standings over runner-up Jeff Gardner.

The title is Hunt's second, having previously won the 1992 USAC Russell Pro championship. Hunt was Thursday's fastest qualifier in the event which was part of Irwindale's "Turkey Night Grand Prix" program, then led the final 17 laps of the feature in his Justice Brothers/Torco Oil/Simpson/Eibach Shaver/Beast after passing Troy Cline on lap 14.

Bud Kaeding finished second in Thursday night's race and was followed by Jeff Gardner, Cline and Casey Mears, who was making only the second Sprint car appearance of his career! Damion Gardner led the opening eight laps of the feature before yielding to Cline.

USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES FINAL STANDINGS

1. Tony Hunt 936
2. Jeff Gardner 900
3. Ryan Flynn 713
4. Bryan Bullard 712
5. Troy Cline 706
6. Damion Gardner 589
7. Bobby McMahan 565
8. Shauna Hogg 500
9. Kevin Kierce 447
10. Scott Hansen 441

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