SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (August 10, 2010) – After nearly winning in both of his USAC Amsoil Western Sprint Car Series starts at Roseville in 2010, Kingsburg, Calif.’s Tanner Swanson finally earned his first win of the 2010 season by winning at Madera Speedway on Saturday night.
Swanson, the 2009 series champion, piloted the #15 Harvest Supply entry to victory on the one-third mile asphalt oval.
The win marked the second win of 2010 for the team, with brother Kody Swanson winning at Stockton in May.
Points leader Tony Hunt led the field in time trials by lapping the speedway at 13.628 seconds or nearly 88 miles per hour average. Rookie Luis Ramos III, second in the points, qualified second fast.
Rohnert Park’s JoJo Helberg took the 3F Ted Finkenbinder entry to win heat race one over Hunt. Swanson topped Ramos to win heat two. Swanson also won the trophy dash with Ramos coming in second.
In the 50 lap feature, Helberg led the opening two laps from second starting position before Swanson took over the point.
Coming from sixth on the grid, Hunt passed Ramos for second on lap 14. Swanson and Hunt lapped up to third place, with Ramos more than half a track back in third as the last car on the lead lap.
Hunt made a strong charge towards Swanson nearing the finish of the race, with Swanson ultimately winning the feature by .199 seconds.
Ramos, Tim Skoglund, and Gordon Rogers rounded out the top-five.
With the second place effort, Hunt leads Ramos by 49 points in the series championship. The series will move on to All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif on August 21.
The United States Auto Club is online at www.usacracing.com USAC Western Sprint Car Series can be followed on Facebook as well.
- Steven Blakesley on Aug 10, 2010
- Article Date: 8/10/2010