CLASSICS PART OF “GOLD CUP” AT CHICO THURSDAY;

BK, LARSON TAKE “VERMEIL CLASSIC” VICTORIES

Ryan Bernal leads the USAC Western Classic Sprint cars to Thursday night’s “Gold Cup” race at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. Bernal enters the series finale with a 14-point lead over Shauna Hogg.

The Western Classics joined the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint cars for last weekend’s 6th “Loiue Vermeil Classic” at Calistoga (Calif.) Speedway and Bernal posted a fourth-place finish in Saturday night’s 30-lapper.

Bud Kaeding of Campbell, Calif. won Saturday night’s 30-lap AMSOIL USAC/CCRA Sprint race at Calistoga. He took the lead from series point leader Damion Gardner on lap 16 and led the rest of the way in his Buster & Ziggy Enterprises/Kaeding Performance Maxim/Reitz. Gardner took second ahead of fast qualifier Mike Spencer, Bernal and Nic Faas.

Kyle Larson of Elk Grove, Calif. completed a “sweep” of Sunday’s 6th “Louie Vermeil Classic” USAC features at Calistoga, winning the 30-lap AMSOIL USAC/CRA & Western Classic Sprint feature after previously winning the 25-lap Midget race. He passed Spencer on the white-flag lap and led the last two laps of the Sprint race in his Keith Ford Berry Pack/King Racing Products Special to beat Kaeding, Austin Williams, fast qualifier Spencer and Bradley Terrell.

The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint cars resume action September 14 in the “Glenn Howard Classic” at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.