BOWMAN: USAC season races to checkered flag

By BRETT BOWMAN
Tribune auto racing columnist

November 05, 2007 11:29 pm

— The final points races of the USAC season are coming to a grinding halt this weekend after the USAC Lucas Oils National/CRA Sprint Car Series’ merged in the 12th running of the Budweiser Oval Nationals at the Perris (Ca.) Auto Speedway.
Following a horrific flip the previous weekend at the Las Vegas Racing Complex dirt track, California’s Bud Kaeding got around Casey Shuman on the final lap to claim the Oval Nationals title Saturday night.
Shuman, the pilot for Paul Hazen’s famed No. 57 late in the season at tracks around the state, took the lead from Tim Kaeding on the 29th lap. Shuman then held the point in the Massey No. 2AZ until Bud Kaeding shot by on the 40th lap.
Shuman held off Brady Bacon for second while Jesse Hockett was fourth. Scotty Weir rounded out the top five. Cole Whitt, who came within a lap of posting his first feature win at the Kokomo Speedway three weeks ago, headed the drivers with local interest, finishing 10th.
Dustin Morgan was 15th in Jeff Walker’s No. 11 and Daron Clayton, the current track record holder at the local oval, took 26th. Lincoln’s Dave Darland was forced to take a provisional after flipping in the B-main and finished 27th. Jon Stanbrough, a 30-time feature winner in 2007, struggled in the Crossno No. 97x, finishing 15th in the B-main. Shane Cottle was also on hand in the second of the Trucker’s 24-Hour entries, but came up short with a 24th-place showing in the B-main.
In Friday’s preliminary show, Hockett wrestled the lead from Cory Kruseman just past the midway point to garner the win. Tim Kaeding was second, Shuman third, Brad Sweet fourth and Damion Gardner fifth. Darland was stellar with his sixth-place run while Stanbrough came home 14th. Whitt failed to make the main event after finishing ninth in the B-main while Cottle came up short as well, taking 12th.
In Thursday’s opening night, Clayton proved to be the class of the field, getting past Shuman on the 18th circuit, then holding on the remainder of the 25-lap feature. Kevin Swindell took second and Shuman third. Rickie Gaunt and David Cardey completed the top-five. Weir was sixth, Darland 19th, Shane Golobic, who ran at the local track a good portion of the 2007 season, 25th and Cottle 26th.
The national sprints now will venture to the Manzanita Speedway near Phoenix for the season-ending running of the 40th running of the Western World Championship. Levi Jones looks to repeat his championship season of 2005 and holds an 89-point lead over second place Darren Hagen (1,331-1,242). Darland is third with 1,154 markers. Also the national midgets and Silver Crown Series’ will be close by. Both series will hit the pavement at the Phoenix International Raceway.
Bud Kaeding will assure himself of a second consecutive Silver Crown championship when he takes the green flag. By doing so, it would mathematically eliminate Wayne Reutimann, Jr. and his bid for his first title.

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