HIRST SWEEPS CHICO, PLACERVILLE CLASSICS


USAC’s AMSOIL CRA and Western Classic Sprint Car series combine this week for a pair of races in California which could be pivotal in the battle for 2012 championships.


Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif. hosts Friday’s race, while Santa Maria Speedway is Saturday’s venue. Mike Spencer of Temecula, Calif. (USAC/CRA) and Shauna Hogg of Citrus Heights, Calif. (Western Classic) enter the two races as the respective point leaders. Spencer has a comfortable 88-point lead over Nic Faas, while Hogg’s lead over Tony Hunt stands at 58 points.


Hogg posted finishes of sixth and 17th in two Western Classic races last weekend, both races won by Kyle Hirst of West Sacramento, Calif.


Hirst won Friday’s 30-lapper at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, leading the final 21 laps after passing Andy Forsberg on lap 10. Saturday night, Hirst led the final 18 laps at Placerville Speedway after Jimmy Sills exited with car trouble on lap 13. Forsberg was second at Chico ahead of Terry Schank Jr., Tony Hunt and Mark Tabor Jr. At Placerville, Matt Streeter led the first seven laps and finished second ahead of James Sweeney, Jimmy Trulli and Mack Mackay. Sills, in a rare USAC appearance, led five laps before exiting the race.


Spencer enters the two weekend races after setting a record for consecutive USAC/CRA victories at Perris, Calif. (five), while Hogg continues to chase a championship which would make her USAC’s fifth female driving champion, joining Sondi Eden, Taylor Ferns, Jessica Clark and Chrissie Beavis.