2020 Fall Nationals | USAC National Sprint Cars

Closest USAC Sprint Car Title Races

Closest USAC Sprint Car Title Races

The past 3 years, a total of 24 points separated 1st & 2nd in the USAC Sprint standings. We're headed for another close one this Saturday at Lawrenceburg!

Oct 2, 2020 by Richie Murray
Closest USAC Sprint Car Title Races

Down to the wire we go!  Only 30 points separate Brady Bacon and Chris Windom, with Chase Stockon 40 points behind, in the race for the 2020 USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship.

Just one series race remains this Saturday night, October 3, at Lawrenceburg Speedway, for the $10,000-to-win Fall Nationals.

Each of the last three years’ championships were decided by 18 points or less and the 2017-18-19 seasons all rank within the top-ten all-time in terms of differential between first and second.  There’s never been another three-year span as close as this era has been with just 24 combined points combined separating first and second over the past three seasons.

The tie of 2018 between Tyler Courtney and Kevin Thomas Jr. might be replicated one day, but it will never be bounced from the number one spot, surpassing the long-held 2.5-point margin between Johnny Rutherford and Greg Weld during the 1965 season.

Chris Windom overcame a near yearlong deficit to defeat Justin Grant by a mere six points in 2017, while, just last year, C.J. Leary’s constant consistency throughout 2019 helped him bag the title by 18 over Courtney.

Interestingly, by contrast, points leader Bacon was also involved in the fourth most lopsided USAC Sprint Car championship battle of all-time, winning by 314 points over Stockon in 2016.

Right now, the 2020 season ranks as the 13th closest battle between first and second, but there’s still one more race remaining, and all that margin could change one way or another in either direction, in an instant.

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/3frPoW6.

 

USAC SPRINT CAR FINAL POINTS MARGINS BETWEEN 1ST & 2ND:

1. 2018: (0) Tyler Courtney over Kevin Thomas, Jr.

2. 1965: (2.5) Johnny Rutherford over Greg Weld

3. 2012: (5) Bryan Clauson over Dave Darland

4. 1957 Midwest: (6) Elmer George over Andy Linden

5. 2017: (6) Chris Windom over Justin Grant

6. 1967: (11) Greg Weld over Sam Sessions

7. 2002: (13) Tracy Hines over J.J. Yeley

8. 2005: (13) Levi Jones over Dave Darland

9. 2019: (18) C.J. Leary over Tyler Courtney

10. 2001: (19) J.J. Yeley over Jay Drake

11. 1973: (24) Rollie Beale over Lee Kunzman

12. 2000: (24) Tony Elliott over Jay Drake

13. 1979: (32) Greg Leffler over Bubby Jones

14. 1987: (32) Steve Butler over Rich Vogler

15. 1991: (35) Robbie Stanley over Eric Gordon

16. 1986: (36) Steve Butler over Rick Hood

17. 1960 Eastern: (38) A. J. Foyt over Don Branson

18. 1994: (43) Doug Kalitta over Tray House

19. 1957 Eastern: (44) Bill Randall over Van Johnson

20. 1992: (45) Robbie Stanley over Steve Butler

21. 1972: (47) Sam Sessions over Rollie Beale

22. 1958 Eastern: (49) Johnny Thomson over Van Johnson

23. 1962: (50) Parnelli Jones over Roger McCluskey

24. 1971: (55) Gary Bettenhausen over Larry Dickson

25. 1958 Midwest: (56) Eddie Sachs over A. J. Foyt

26. 2014: (56) Brady Bacon over Bryan Clauson

27. 1980: (61) Rich Vogler over Steve Chassey

28. 1998: (62) Tony Elliott over Kevin Thomas

29. 2013: (63) Bryan Clauson over Dave Darland

30. 1960 Midwest: (67) Parnelli Jones over Don Branson

31. 1961: (67.8) Parnelli Jones over Jim Hurtubise

32. 1959 Eastern: (68) Tommy Hinnershitz over Eddie Sachs

33. 2004: (74) Jay Drake over Bud Kaeding

34. 1977: (75) Sheldon Kinser over Tom Bigelow

35. 1959 Midwest: (78) Don Branson over A. J. Foyt

36. 1956 Midwest: (81) Pat O'Connor over Eddie Sachs

37. 2008: (84) Jerry Coons, Jr. over Levi Jones

38. 2007: (85) Levi Jones over Darren Hagen

39. 2015: (87) Robert Ballou over Dave Darland

40. 1975: (88) Larry Dickson over Rollie Beale

41. 2006: (88) Josh Wise over Levi Jones

42. 2011: (99) Levi Jones over Chris Windom

43. 1984: (102) Rick Hood over Sheldon Kinser

44. 1995: (119) Tony Stewart over Doug Kalitta

45. 1970: (131) Larry Dickson over Gary Bettenhausen

46. 2010: (132) Levi Jones over Damion Gardner

47. 1983: (148) Ken Schrader over Larry Rice

48. 1956 Eastern: (153) Tommy Hinnershitz over Johnny Thomson

49. 1981: (160) Sheldon Kinser over Rich Vogler

50. 1989: (171) Rich Vogler over Eric Gordon

51. 1993: (175) Robbie Stanley over Tray House

52. 1996: (176) Brian Tyler over Doug Kalitta

53. 1974: (184) Duane "Pancho" Carter over Tom Bigelow

54. 1969: (189.2) Gary Bettenhausen over Larry Dickson

55. 1966: (194) Roger McCluskey over Mario Andretti

56. 1982: (217) Sheldon Kinser over Rich Vogler

57. 1988: (222) Steve Butler over Greg Staab

58. 1978: (223) Tom Bigelow over Chuck Gurney

59. 1999: (224) Dave Darland over Tracy Hines

60. 2009: (224) Levi Jones over Cole Whitt

61. 1964: (236) Don Branson over Jud Larson

62. 1990: (257) Steve Butler over Eric Gordon

63. 1997: (289) Brian Tyler over Kevin Thomas

64. 1985: (301) Rick Hood over Steve Butler

65. 1963: (309) Roger McCluskey over A. J. Foyt

66. 2016: (314) Brady Bacon over Chase Stockon

67. 2003: (352) J.J. Yeley over Jay Drake

68. 1968: (358) Larry Dickson over Gary Bettenhausen

69. 1976: (369) Duane "Pancho" Carter over Tom Bigelow