SCHUERENBERG VAULTS TO AMSOIL POINT LEAD;
 
HINES TAKES 2, CLAUSON 1 IN “WINTER DIRT GAMES IV”
 
Hunter Schuerenberg of Sikeston, Mo. sits atop the 2013 USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series standings after the opening events of the year at Ocala, Fla. last week.
 
Schuerenberg finished third, fourth and fifth in the three 30-lap “Winter Dirt Games IV” features at Bubba Raceway Park and has a four-point lead over Chase Stockon going into an April 6 race at Lawrenceburg, Ind. Stockon posted the fastest qualifying time both Thursday and Saturday.
 
Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind. earned his 44th and 45th career USAC Sprint victories at Ocala, taking Friday and Saturday night features in his Hansen’s Welding/Motor City Auto Transport DRC/Stanton Mopar. The wins brought his all-time USAC National feature total to 85 and his 45 wins in the National Sprint Cars now tie him with Larry Dickson for third all-time behind Tom Bigelow (52) and Jack Hewitt (46).
 
Hines led all 30 laps Saturday to beat rookie hopeful Tyler Courtney, Stockon, Robert Ballou and Schuerenberg. On Friday, Hines passed Ballou on the final lap when Ballou had a tire go down after leading the first 29 laps. Bryan Clauson finished second ahead of Schuerenberg, Stockon and Dave Darland.
 
Defending series champion Clauson emerged victorious Thursday after a race-long battle with Darland. Darland led 27 of the first 28 laps before Clauson went to the front on lap 29 in his Chevrolet Performance/Curb Records Beast/Kistler Chevy. Brady Bacon took third ahead of Schuerenberg and Ballou.