JONES HOPING TO REPEAT 2010 SUCCESS TO ENHANCE CHANCES OF 5TH TITLE

 


The 2011 “Eastern Storm” for AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Cars opens Monday night (May 30) at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. and series point leader Levi Jones of Olney, Ill. would like nothing better than to repeat his 2010 success in the approaching 5-race series.


 


Jones nearly accomplished a “clean sweep” of the Eastern races last year, winning the first three before losing the finale on the last lap to Chris Windom. Windom is the 2011 series’ most recent winner, at Bloomington (Ind.) Speedway last Friday.


 


Jones finished seventh in USAC’s only previous Lernerville appearance, a 2006 race won by Darren Hagen.


 


One race remains before the trek East, this Thursday night’s 41st First Financial Bank “Tony Hulman Classic” at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track, a race Jones hopes he’ll win for a fourth time in seven years. No driver has ever won four “Tony Hulman Classics” in the race’s 41-year history.


 


Jones enters Thursday’s race with a 17-point lead over Damion Gardner, who won two of the first three races of the 2011 campaign at Ocala, Fla.


 


Monday’s race at Lernerville will be followed by races at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa. Tuesday, Lincoln Speedway in New Oxford, Pa. Wednesday, New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway Thursday and Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway Saturday.


 


USAC race headquarters for the Eastern Swing will be the Park Inn Harrisburg West (the old Holiday Inn), located at 5401 Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg, Pa. A discounted rate of 82.00 is valid from May 31-June 3. Reservations may be made by calling the hotel at 717-697-0321 and mentioning the United States Auto Club.