2017 USAC Preview

Now that we have moved into February we are just a few weeks away from the start of the 2017 United States Auto Club AMSOIL National Sprint Car season.

Entering the season we are left with plenty of question marks as to who will be a serious title contender this year. Defending series champion Brady Bacon will only be running part time as he pursues other racing opportunities while the 2015 series champion, Robert Ballou, is still recovering from an injury sustained last season.

2016 champion Brady Bacon on the gas at Terre Haute Action Track
PC: Braden Rouse Photography

Entering the 2017 a number of drivers will have a new look:

"The People's Champ" Dave Darland has reunited with Phillips Motorsports for the 2017 campaign. Darland enjoyed success with the team from 2013 through 2015 in which he steered the 71p to victory lane 17 times.

Dave Darland in the Phillips 71p in 2015
PC: Braden Rouse Photography

Justin Grant will strap into a car built and wrenched on by the young Sam McGhee. Grant has already enjoyed success with McGhee, most notably last September at Eldora Speedway in the 4-Crown Nationals.

Chad Boespflug will also be flying new colors and a new number on what use to be the 98 car. The Hanford, California native will brandish the familiar #69 of Hoffman Racing with Mean Green as his primary sponsor. Boespflug collected multiple wins last year in USAC action, most notably sweeping the two day Rock & Roll Gold Cup at Badlands Motor Speedway in South Dakota.

Also returning to the series and whom most would consider to be strong contenders for a 2017 title run: Chase Stockon, Chris Windom and Tyler Courtney.

Chase Stockon in action at Bloomington Speedway in 2016
PC: Braden Rouse Photography

Stockon finished the 2016 season second in series points after a very consistent campaign that featured two feature wins while Tyler Courtney will once again steer the 23c for TOPP Motorsports. "Sunshine" had, perhaps, one of the most memorable drives of the 2016 season when he came from the rear to win his first USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car race at Gas City I-69 Speedway during Indiana Sprint Week. The 2016 USAC Silver Crown Champion, Chris Windom, will be back in the #5 of Baldwin Brothers Racing.

Tyler Courtney picked up his first USAC win with TOPP Motorsports in 2016
PC: Braden Rouse Photography

Along with a number of other drivers who have announced they intend to run the complete schedule in 2017 we are anticipating a very closely contested championship battle which kicks off on February 23 in Ocala, FL at Bubba Raceway Park.

Here in Indiana we will have multiple chances to see the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars this season. Of the 43 events the series has announced, 21 of them will be in the Hoosier State at nine different venues across the state.

2016 Results

1. Brady Bacon
2. Chase Stockon
3. Dave Darland
4. Chris Windom
5. Thomas Meseraull
6. Chad Boespflug
7. CJ Leary
8. Robert Ballou