“HURTUBISE CLASSIC” THURSDAY, “4-CROWN” SATURDAY;

CLAYTON WINS THE “HAUBSTADT HUSTLER”

Only three points separate Brady Bacon and Dave Darland in their torrid battle for the 2014 AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car championship. This week’s pair of races are sure to weigh heavily not only on their battle but on the challenge from third-ranking driver Bryan Clauson as well.

Thursday night’s race is the rescheduled “Jim Hurtubise Classic” at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track and Saturday’s race is the 33rd “4-Crown Nationals” at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

Clauson, who continues to seek a historic 100th USAC National feature victory for long-time car owner Mike Curb, stands only 32 points behind Bacon with 148 points available this week.

Clauson won the “Tony Hulman Classic” at Terre Haute in June while Jerry Coons Jr. won last year’s “Hurtubise Classic.” Chris Windom is the defending winner of the “4-Crown Nationals.”

Daron Clayton of Sikeston, Mo. won Saturday night’s 40-lap “Haubstadt Hustler” USAC/MSCS Sprint race at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind. He trailed Kyle Cummins for 24 laps, then led the final 16 in his Proglide Coatings/Merry Go-Round Restaurant Spike.

Robert Ballou finished second ahead of Cummins, Coons and Chase Stockon.