TALE OF THE TAPE: USAC SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS

Perris, California………Sometimes statistics tell the whole story.  Other times, not.  Here’s a brief glance at this year’s USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car championship contenders: Chris Windom, Justin Grant, Kevin Thomas, Jr. and Tyler Courtney as they enter this weekend’s 22^nd Annual Budweiser “Oval Nationals” presented by All Coast Construction at Perris Auto Speedway.

CHRIS WINDOM (Canton, Illinois)

*Point leader by 3

*4 Wins (Ranks 4^th): (Apr. 1 at Lawrenceburg Speedway, Apr. 15 at Tri-State Speedway, Jun. 17 at Port Royal Speedway & Sept. 15 at the Terre Haute Action Track)

*157 Laps Led (Ranks 2^nd)

*15 Top-Fives (Ranks 5^th)

*30 Top-Tens (Ranks 1^st)

*1 Fast Qualifying Time (Ranks 7^th)

*12 Heat Race Wins (Ranks 1^st)

*34 Feature Starts (Ranks 1^st)

*3 Times as Hard Charger of the Race

*18 Career USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Feature Wins (Ranks 27^th)

*Best USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Points Finish: 2^nd in 2011

JUSTIN GRANT (Ione, California)

*2nd in Points (3 Behind Point Leader Windom)

*4 Wins (Ranks 4^th): (Feb. 24 at Bubba Raceway Park, Apr. 21 at Plymouth Speedway, May 12 at Eldora Speedway & Jun. 3 at Knoxville Raceway)

*103 Laps Led (Ranks 4^th)

*20 Top-Fives (Ranks 1^st)

*27 Top-Tens (Ranks 2^nd)

*7 Fast Qualifying Times (Ranks 1^st)

*34 Feature Starts (Ranks 1^st)

*1 Time as Hard Charger of the Race

*8 Career USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Feature Wins (Ranks 51^st)

*2010 USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Rookie of the Year

*Best USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Points Finish: 7th in 2014

KEVIN THOMAS, JR. (Cullman, Alabama)

*3^rd in Points (85 Behind Point Leader Chris Windom)

*5 wins (Ranks 1^st): Kevin Thomas, Jr. (Jun. 15 at Williams Grove Speedway, Jul. 14 at Bloomington Speedway & Sept. 16, Tri-State Speedway, Sep. 30 at Lawrenceburg Speedway & Oct. 14 at the Terre Haute Action Track)

*191 Laps Led (Ranks 1st)

*18 Top-Fives (Ranks 2^nd)

*27 Top-Tens (Ranks 2^nd)

*4 Fast Qualifying Times (Ranks 3^rd)

*8 Heat Race Wins (Ranks 3^rd)

*32 Feature Starts (Ranks 6^th)

*2 Times as Hard Charger of the Race

*17 Career USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Feature Wins (Ranks 28^th)

*Best USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Points Finish: 5^th in 2013

TYLER COURTNEY (Indianapolis, Indiana)

*4^th in Points (102 Behind Point Leader Chris Windom)

*5 Wins (Ranks 1^st): (Jun. 2 at I-80 Speedway, Jun. 18 at Susquehanna Speedway, Jul. 30 at Randolph County Raceway, Aug. 25 at Kokomo Speedway & Aug. 26 at Kokomo Speedway)

*95 laps led (Ranks 6^th)

*17 Top-Fives (Ranks 3^rd)

*23 Top-Tens (Ranks 4^th)

*8 Heat Race Wins (Ranks 3^rd)

*34 Feature Starts (Ranks 1^st)

*4 Times as Hard Charger of the Race

*6 Career USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Feature Wins (Ranks 67^th)

*2013 USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Rookie of the Year

*Best USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Points Finish: 9^th in 2013