USAC: Eldora Preview

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USAC: Eldora Preview

Robin Miller previews this weekend's 4 Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway.

Robin Miller | Posted September 24, 2010

Kody Swanson is hoping to catch Bud Kaeding in the points at Eldora. (www.kodyswansonracing.com)

The annual showcase of USAC’s talent unfolds this weekend at Eldora Speedway in the annual 4 Crown Nationals, where all three divisions are still up for grabs as is the overall championship.

Bud Kaeding, Levi Jones and Bryan Clauson lead the Silver Crown, sprint and midget standings, respectively, as the season winds down but nobody has much room for error.

In trying to become the first four-time Silver Crown king, Kaeding is only 36 points ahead of Kody Swanson, 42 clear of Jerry Coons Jr., 46 in front of Shane Hmiel, 48 better than A.J. Fike and 53 ahead of Jones.

The good news for Kaeding is that there’s only two races remaining (Terre Haute on dirt and Toledo on pavement both next month) to decide if he can break the tie with Jimmy Sills for career championships.

Jones is also trying to join Steve Butler as the only four-time USAC sprint champ and owns an 88-point advantage over Clauson with four races in California (in November) left on the schedule.

“We’re having a good year but lately I can’t seem to beat (Jon) Stanbrough,” said Jones, who has six USAC sprint victories so far in 2010 driving for Tony Stewart.

“Just got to try and win more races because Bryan is also having another good year.”

Clauson, in front of defending midget champ Brad Kuhn by 55 points with seven races remaining after this weekend, is seeking his initial USAC title but is also out of front of the inaugural overall championship – which pays $40,000.

“I’ve got a small lead over Levi (25 points) for that big money and there’s still a lot of racing left and several guys in the picture,” said Clauson, who scored 20 open wheel wins a year ago and has seven in the USAC midgets this season.

“I’ve been close but never won at Eldora and I want to check that track off my list.”

The 21-year-old native of Noblesville has two interesting storylines. He’s leading the midget chase in a family with help from A.J. Bray, Al Scroggins and co-owner Corey Tucker.

“It’s pretty cool because we run it out of our garage,” continued Clauson. “Corey is Sam Hornish’s Sprint Cup crew chief and I ran for him last year in all the big midget races.

“I didn’t have anything full-time for this year so he (Tucker) and my dad put this deal together and it’s been a blast. We’ve won some big races and I want to get that title.”

And, in a bit of irony since they’re the leading candidates for USAC’s first big driver only pay day, Clauson and Jones are teammates for Stewart’s Silver Crown team.

“The winning driver gets $40,000 and second earns $20,000 so it’s going to be great for somebody and we’ve never had anything like this,” said Jones, the sprint king in 2005-2007-2009.

“But it’s not just a two-man race and there’s a lot of racing left.”
Three-time USAC champ Jerry Coons Jr. sits third in the overall, 72 points behind Clauson while veteran Tracy Hines is only 74 points out of the top spot.

Besides the money, USAC’s overall champion will also receive a prize from the IndyCar series, most likely a ride in an Indy Lights car for the oval races in 2011.

The World of Outlaws kicks off the weekend with a regular show on Friday evening, along with practice and qualifying for USAC midgets and Silver Crown. All three of the USAC features will be contested Saturday evening.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robin Miller

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