LINCOLN, California — Five-time USAC champion Tony Hunt took his Schwanke-powered spec engine Metal Works #56 to his fourth pole of the 2009 season, and earned a third place finish in Saturday night’s USAC Western Sprint Car action at Madera Speedway.
Hunt opened up the evening with a blast around the one-third mile asphalt oval in 13.553 seconds. The fast-time effort also marked Hunt’s 60th career USAC pole position in his storied career.
After some struggles in his heat race, Hunt was relegated to start 12th in the 50 lap feature.
Hunt methodically navigated his way to the front, running seventh at the halfway point of the event and cracking the top-five on lap 31.
Hunt passed Audra Saselli for fourth on lap 36 after following her to the front of the pack. He sealed the deal on his ninth-straight top-five finish when he passed Scott Pierovich for third on lap 40.
The podium finish also catapulted Hunt into second in the points standings. While a record sixth championship is out of reach, Hunt leads JoJo Helberg by just three markers in the battle for second.
Hunt will look to finish out the season with a big win at the big finale during the “Turkey Night Grand Prix” at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale on November 26. This traditional Thanksgiving holiday event features a trifecta of National Midgets, Western Sprints, and Ford Focus Midgets. Hunt will be running double-duty for the evening, running both his Metal Works-sponsored Sprint Car and his Bob Rosen-owned Midget.
Hunt was the winner of the race in 2001/2006 and has 16 top-ten finishes in 31 career starts at the popular southern California venue.
Race fans can learn more about Tony Hunt by logging onto www.tonyhunt.com
Tony Hunt is sponsored by: MW Metal Works, Thompson’s Toyota, Paul Oil, Redline Oil, Earl's, Intercomp, GoPro, Hoosier, MPD, Justice Brothers, Racing Electronics, Eibach Springs, Wilwood, Simpson, JB Racing Products, Mr. Espresso, Lajoie of Seating, K&N Filters, Hunt's Race World, Carmichael Auto Service, Gone Racin’, Mettec, Outlaw Graphics, Permatex, Gold's Gym of Lincoln, Meguiar's, Oakley, Scribner Plastics., Fuel Safe, and Blakesley Sports Media.
