10/2/2020
RacinBoys
USAC Sprints points streaks at play at Lawrenceburg
By Richie Murray, USAC Media (Lawrenceburg, IN) -- Entering the season finale, the point standings are all the rage. A full season of tallying and mathematics has brought us down to one final stand for the 2020 USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship this Saturday night, October 3, at Indiana's Lawrenceburg Speedway.
But year after year, there are drivers who seem to always find themselves in the hunt in the series points, whether it's sticking around inside the top-ten consistently or in the thick of the battle inside the top-five.
PHOTO: #5s Chase Stockon (Fort Branch, Ind.)--CREDIT: Carey Akin Photo
Dave Darland (Lincoln, Ind.) put together an incredible string of 22 consecutive seasons of top-ten final points finishes between 1997 and 2018. No other driver at present has more than 14, that being Sheldon Kinser (1974-1987).
Of the current crop of active drivers, Chris Windom (Canton, Ill.) has finished inside the top-ten of the points every year since 2010 and will extend that streak to 11 years when all is said and done this weekend. The 11 consecutive years will tie Don Branson (1956-1966) for the fourth-longest such streak in the history of the series.
Chase Stockon (Fort Branch, Ind.) has a top-ten points streak of eight years going back to 2012, which will extend to nine years running this weekend. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, Okla.), likewise will bump up his top-ten points streak, which began in 2013, from seven to eight years this weekend, as will C.J. Leary (Greenfield, Ind.), from six to seven, making a presence in the top-ten an annual occurrence since 2014.
Levi Jones (2004-2011) and Tom Bigelow (1974-1981) share the all-time USAC National Sprint Car record of eight consecutive years of top-five points finishes. Their records are safe for the time being with Bacon as the closest threat, upping his streak to three years in 2020.
This Saturday's 64th points race by the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship at Indiana's Lawrenceburg Speedway brings to us the 11th running of the Fall Nationals under USAC sanction on Saturday night, October 3.
Pits open for Saturday's Fall Nationals at 3pm Eastern, front gates open at 5pm, drivers meeting at 5:30pm, hot laps begin at 6pm and opening ceremonies at 7pm. The event features the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship and KOI Auto Parts UMP Modifieds. Adult general admission tickets are $25, kids 7-12 are $7, children 6 and under are free. Pit passes are $35 apiece.
Saturday's Fall Nationals from Lawrenceburg can be watched LIVE on FloRacing at https://bit.ly/2Zs7zFP.
CONSECUTIVE SEASONS FINISHING TOP-5 IN USAC SPRINT POINTS:
(At least 5 years or more)
8-Tom Bigelow (1974-1981) & Levi Jones (2004-2011)
7-Larry Dickson (1966-1972), A.J. Foyt (1958-1964) & Eric Gordon (1989-1995)
6-Jay Drake (2000-2005), Sheldon Kinser (1981-1986) & Chase Stockon (2013-2018)
5-Don Branson (1956-1960), Steve Butler (1984-1988), Dave Darland (2005-2009 & 2012-2016) & Tracy Hines (1999-2003 & 2008-2012)
CONSECUTIVE SEASONS FINISHING TOP-10 IN USAC SPRINT POINTS:
(At least 5 years or more)
22-Dave Darland (1997-2018)
14-Sheldon Kinser (1974-1987)
12-Levi Jones (2001-2012)
11-Don Branson (1956-1966)
10-Tom Bigelow (1972-1981), Steve Butler (1984-1993) & Chris Windom (2010-2019)
9-Sammy Sessions (1967-1975)
8-Robert Ballou (2011-2018), Tracy Hines (2008-2015), Chase Stockon (2012-2019) & Brian Tyler (1996-2003)
7-Brady Bacon (2013-2019), Rollie Beale (1970-1976), Billy Cassella (1973-1979), Larry Dickson (1966-1972), A.J. Foyt (1958-1964), Elmer George (1956-1962) & Eric Gordon (1989-1995)
6-Bryan Clauson (2009-2014), Jerry Coons Jr. (2005-2010), Jay Drake (2000-2005), Damion Gardner (2007-2012), Tracy Hines (1998-2003), C.J. Leary (2014-2019), Rich Vogler (1985-1990), Bruce Walkup (1972-1977) & Greg Weld (1965-1970)
5-Pancho Carter (1973-1977), Tony Elliott (1983-1987 & 1998-2002), Darren Hagen (2005-2009), Greg Leffler (1977-1981), Jason McCord (1995-1999), Jim McWithey (1956-1960), Larry Rice (1979-1983), Eddie Sachs (1956-1960), Kevin Thomas Jr. (2015-2019) & Rich Vogler (1978-1982)
**Bold, italicized are active streaks.
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott
