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BRANSON/LARSON USAC CLASSIC RICH IN HERITAGE
ROSSBURG, OH (March 17) – Since 1962, the United States Auto Club (USAC) has been a fixture at Eldora Speedway, with their unique brand of non-winged open wheel racing instrumental in the establishment of rich heritage and tradition.
That tradition continues on into 2008 as the famed southwestern Ohio speed plant kicks off the season with the time-honored Don Branson/Jud Larson Classic for USAC Sprints on Saturday, April 5.
Begun in 1981 when Dave Peperak pulled off a huge upset victory in front of a live television audience on ABC’s Wide World of Sports, the event has been repeated annually, with only two interruptions due to weather.
A total of 203 drivers have qualified for starting positions in the previous 25 Branson/Larson Classic events, with eighteen different drivers etching their names into the record books as victors. Of those 18, six are multiple winners, with Jay Drake’s 2000, 2004 and 2005 victories leading the way. Double winners include Jack Hewitt (1982, 1988)), Jac Haudenschild (1985, 1988), Frankie Kerr (1994, 1996) and Kevin Doty (1995, 1998).
The significance of this showcase event is the talent that has made the starting grid, yet failed to reach victory lane. Among those are six current NASCAR Cup stars – Dave Blaney, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart and J. J. Yeley. A further glance reveals two other names with current USAC management ties, Greg Staab and Jason McCord. Staab, the National Sprint Car Series Coordinator has four starts to his credit, with a fourth place finish in 1990 the highest, while McCord, USAC’s National Silver Crown Coordinator, has a pair of starts, with a 12th place finish in 1998 the highest. Robert Ballou is the defending Branson/Larson champion.
Joining the non-winged USAC Sprints for Eldora’s opening night action will be the Moser UMP (United Midwestern Promoters) Modifieds and the Advance Auto Parts Stock Cars in a tripleheader card. In light of the high cost of gasoline and travel, Eldora Speedway officials have opted to maintain 2007’s admission pricing of $18 for adults. Hot laps April 5 get underway at 6:00, with the first race of 2008 slated to take the green flag at 7:30 PM.
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