CLOSEST USAC SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLES
Lawrenceburg, Indiana (October 2, 2020)………Down to the wire we go! Only 30 points separate Brady Bacon and Chris Windom, with Chase Stockon 40 points behind, in the race for the 2020 USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship.
Just one series race remains this Saturday night, October 3, at Lawrenceburg Speedway, for the $10,000-to-win Fall Nationals.
Each of the last three years’ championships were decided by 18 points or less and the 2017-18-19 seasons all rank within the top-ten all-time in terms of differential between first and second. There’s never been another three-year span as close as this era has been with just 24 combined points combined separating first and second over the past three seasons.
The tie of 2018 between Tyler Courtney and Kevin Thomas Jr. might be replicated one day, but it will never be bounced from the number one spot, surpassing the long-held 2.5-point margin between Johnny Rutherford and Greg Weld during the 1965 season.
Chris Windom overcame a near yearlong deficit to defeat Justin Grant by a mere six points in 2017, while, just last year, C.J. Leary’s constant consistency throughout 2019 helped him bag the title by 18 over Courtney.
Interestingly, by contrast, points leader Bacon was also involved in the fourth most lopsided USAC Sprint Car championship battle of all-time, winning by 314 points over Stockon in 2016.
Right now, the 2020 season ranks as the 13th closest battle between first and second, but there’s still one more race remaining, and all that margin could change one way or another in either direction, in an instant.
This Saturday’s 64th points race by the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship at Indiana’s Lawrenceburg Speedway brings to us the 11th running of the Fall Nationals under USAC sanction on Saturday night, October 3.
Pits open for Saturday’s Fall Nationals at 3pm Eastern, front gates open at 5pm, drivers meeting at 5:30pm, hot laps begin at 6pm and opening ceremonies at 7pm. The event features the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship and KOI Auto Parts UMP Modifieds. Adult general admission tickets are $25, kids 7-12 are $7, children 6 and under are free. Pit passes are $35 apiece.
Saturday’s Fall Nationals from Lawrenceburg can be watched LIVE on FloRacing at https://bit.ly/3frPoW6.
USAC SPRINT CAR FINAL POINTS MARGINS BETWEEN 1ST & 2ND:
1. 2018: (0) Tyler Courtney over Kevin Thomas, Jr.
2. 1965: (2.5) Johnny Rutherford over Greg Weld
3. 2012: (5) Bryan Clauson over Dave Darland
4. 1957 Midwest: (6) Elmer George over Andy Linden
5. 2017: (6) Chris Windom over Justin Grant
6. 1967: (11) Greg Weld over Sam Sessions
7. 2002: (13) Tracy Hines over J.J. Yeley
8. 2005: (13) Levi Jones over Dave Darland
9. 2019: (18) C.J. Leary over Tyler Courtney
10. 2001: (19) J.J. Yeley over Jay Drake
11. 1973: (24) Rollie Beale over Lee Kunzman
12. 2000: (24) Tony Elliott over Jay Drake
13. 1979: (32) Greg Leffler over Bubby Jones
14. 1987: (32) Steve Butler over Rich Vogler
15. 1991: (35) Robbie Stanley over Eric Gordon
16. 1986: (36) Steve Butler over Rick Hood
17. 1960 Eastern: (38) A. J. Foyt over Don Branson
18. 1994: (43) Doug Kalitta over Tray House
19. 1957 Eastern: (44) Bill Randall over Van Johnson
20. 1992: (45) Robbie Stanley over Steve Butler
21. 1972: (47) Sam Sessions over Rollie Beale
22. 1958 Eastern: (49) Johnny Thomson over Van Johnson
23. 1962: (50) Parnelli Jones over Roger McCluskey
24. 1971: (55) Gary Bettenhausen over Larry Dickson
25. 1958 Midwest: (56) Eddie Sachs over A. J. Foyt
26. 2014: (56) Brady Bacon over Bryan Clauson
27. 1980: (61) Rich Vogler over Steve Chassey
28. 1998: (62) Tony Elliott over Kevin Thomas
29. 2013: (63) Bryan Clauson over Dave Darland
30. 1960 Midwest: (67) Parnelli Jones over Don Branson
31. 1961: (67.8) Parnelli Jones over Jim Hurtubise
32. 1959 Eastern: (68) Tommy Hinnershitz over Eddie Sachs
33. 2004: (74) Jay Drake over Bud Kaeding
34. 1977: (75) Sheldon Kinser over Tom Bigelow
35. 1959 Midwest: (78) Don Branson over A. J. Foyt
36. 1956 Midwest: (81) Pat O'Connor over Eddie Sachs
37. 2008: (84) Jerry Coons, Jr. over Levi Jones
38. 2007: (85) Levi Jones over Darren Hagen
39. 2015: (87) Robert Ballou over Dave Darland
40. 1975: (88) Larry Dickson over Rollie Beale
41. 2006: (88) Josh Wise over Levi Jones
42. 2011: (99) Levi Jones over Chris Windom
43. 1984: (102) Rick Hood over Sheldon Kinser
44. 1995: (119) Tony Stewart over Doug Kalitta
45. 1970: (131) Larry Dickson over Gary Bettenhausen
46. 2010: (132) Levi Jones over Damion Gardner
47. 1983: (148) Ken Schrader over Larry Rice
48. 1956 Eastern: (153) Tommy Hinnershitz over Johnny Thomson
49. 1981: (160) Sheldon Kinser over Rich Vogler
50. 1989: (171) Rich Vogler over Eric Gordon
51. 1993: (175) Robbie Stanley over Tray House
52. 1996: (176) Brian Tyler over Doug Kalitta
53. 1974: (184) Duane "Pancho" Carter over Tom Bigelow
54. 1969: (189.2) Gary Bettenhausen over Larry Dickson
55. 1966: (194) Roger McCluskey over Mario Andretti
56. 1982: (217) Sheldon Kinser over Rich Vogler
57. 1988: (222) Steve Butler over Greg Staab
58. 1978: (223) Tom Bigelow over Chuck Gurney
59. 1999: (224) Dave Darland over Tracy Hines
60. 2009: (224) Levi Jones over Cole Whitt
61. 1964: (236) Don Branson over Jud Larson
62. 1990: (257) Steve Butler over Eric Gordon
63. 1997: (289) Brian Tyler over Kevin Thomas
64. 1985: (301) Rick Hood over Steve Butler
65. 1963: (309) Roger McCluskey over A. J. Foyt
66. 2016: (314) Brady Bacon over Chase Stockon
67. 2003: (352) J.J. Yeley over Jay Drake
68. 1968: (358) Larry Dickson over Gary Bettenhausen
69. 1976: (369) Duane "Pancho" Carter over Tom Bigelow