TALES FROM THE USAC STAT BOOK

C.J. Leary (#77m) is one of four USAC AMSOIL Sprintcar National Championship drivers with five or more wins this season, the most since 1977. (Josh James Artwork)

TALES FROM THE STAT BOOK:        USAC SPRINT BALANCE 1977 VS. 2021

By: Richie Murray – USAC Media

Speedway, Indiana (September 20, 2021)………Entering this weekend’s multiple series races on Thursday, Sept. 23, at Indiana’s Gas City I-69 Speedway and Saturday, September 25, at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway, four different drivers have won five or more races during this season’s USAC National Sprintcar tour.

Throughout the 66-year history of USAC National Sprintcar competition, that’s occurred just once before, 44 years ago in 1977.

In the 35 contests completed thus far in 2021, Justin Grant and Kevin Thomas Junior lead the scorechart with seven feature races, while CJ Leary and Tanner Thorson have each notched five apiece.

Nine races remain on the campaign, providing an opportunity for other drivers on the “bubbling under” charts to rise up and become the unprecedented fifth member of the club, namely series point leader Brady Bacon who stands at three.

At the conclusion of the 51-race 1977 season, 15 drivers landed in victory lane with four wheelmen above five wins during the season. Tom Bigelow hit an all-time record 14 wins that season with Pancho Carter tallying 10. In fact, that’s the only instance of two different competitors reaching double-digit wins in a single season. Meanwhile, both Bubby Jones and the season’s champion, Sheldon Kinser, came away with seven triumphs apiece.

Additionally, Bacon’s 43rd career Fatheadz Eyewear Qualifying time on Friday night at Indianapolis, Indiana’s Circle City Raceway allowed him to become the track’s current one-lap track record for both USAC AMSOIL National Sprintcars and USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midgets after scoring quickest time back in June at CCR during Indiana Midget Week.

Bacon’s career fastest time count of 43 with the series still stands 18 behind the next closest competitor, Tracy Hines, whose 61 ranks third all-time. Tom Bigelow remains the all-time USAC National Sprintcar fastest time leader with 65 while Dave Darland resides second with 62.

Kevin Thomas Jr.’s 34th career USAC National Sprintcar feature victory, which came Saturday night at Haubstadt, Indiana’s Tri-State Speedway, places him just one behind Jon Stanbrough and Rich Vogler for 11th on the all-time series win list.

Of note, all five KO Motorsports cars of Chase Stockon (5th), Daison Pursley (8th), Jason McDougal (9th), Kent Schmidt (14th) and Carson Garrett (21st) started Saturday night’s feature at Tri-State, marking the first time in USAC National Sprintcar history that five cars from the same team made the same feature event.

Jason McDougal’s performance during Fatheadz Eyewear Qualifying at Tri-State was his first career fastest time with the series. He’s the fourth driver to earn his first career USAC National Sprintcar fastest qualifying time this year with the series, joining Thorson, Briggs Danner and Steven Drevicki.

Next up for the series is a double shot this Thursday night, September 23, for the fourth annual James Dean Classic at Gas City (Ind.) I-69 Speedway featuring both the USAC AMSOIL Sprintcar National Championship and the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship.

Then, it’s onto Rossburg, Ohio’s Eldora Speedway for a triple shot of USAC racing Friday and Saturday night, Sept. 24-25, for the 39^th running of the Four Crown Nationals presented by NKT.TV.

On Friday, it’s a full program for the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship, plus USAC Silver Crown qualifying and a full program for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprintcarss. Stands open at 2pm Eastern with the drivers meeting at 5pm and hot laps at 6pm.