Jerry Coons Jr. of Tucson, Ariz. is the man on the spot heading into this weekend’s Budweiser/Sands Chevrolet “Copper on Dirt” USAC tripleheader at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Ariz.
Coons could be considered a threat for a rare “triple” when the USAC K & N Silver Crown, USAC/CRA Sprint Cars and USAC Mopar National & Western Midgets convene for the second annual event at the 1/2-mile dirt oval.
Dominating last year’s “Western World Championships” puts Coons on the hot seat in the Sprint Car Series, while his victory at Rossburg, Ohio and subsequent second-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway late last year should set the stage for his bid in the Silver Crown race.
But its in the Midgets where Coons appears to be the head-and-shoulders favorite. He’s won the National championship the past two years and won many of its biggest races in 2007.
Only Jack Hewitt can claim to having won USAC Silver Crown, Sprint and Midget features on the same program. That came during his “Four Crown Nationals” sweep at Rossburg, Ohio in 1988 when he also won a Late Model race!
Coons and Stenhouse were the only drivers to post victories in all three National series last year.
Coons will have to contend with defending USAC National Sprint Car Champion Levi Jones and Tony Stewart Racing teammate Tracy Hines, plus former National Champs Bobby East and Dave Darland, plus a bevy of top Western stars. Johnny Rodriguez is the defending Western champion, while former series titlists Jerome Rodela (2005-06) and Danny Ebberts (2001) are already in the field of entrants.
“Copper Bowl Shootout” 10-lappers on Friday night will set the front rows for Saturday’s feature events. A 25-lap Midget race precedes the 30-lap Sprint race and 50-lap Silver Crown finale.
This weekend’s Phoenix races are a salute to Arizona racing legends Roger McCluskey and Gene Brown.
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