INDIANAPOLIS -- Three AMSOIL USAC National Sprint races this weekend will impact the 2012 USAC National Drivers Championship standings, which now reflect a 48-point lead for defending two-time champion Bryan Clauson.

Clauson scored a second-place finish in Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts “Summer Sprint Car Shootout” at Rossburg, Ohio and had a sixth-place finish in Thursday’s “Rich Vogler Classic” Mopar National Midget race in Indianapolis, Ind. Those finishes extended his lead in search of a third consecutive title.

This week’s races are at Eagle (Neb.) Raceway Friday, Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo. Saturday night and U.S. 36 Raceway in Cameron, Mo. Sunday night.

Trailing Clauson in the latest standings are Levi Jones and Darren Hagen, now tied for second place.


2012 USAC National Drivers Championship Standings

1-Bryan Clauson-975, 2-Levi Jones and Darren Hagen-927, 4-Tracy Hines-914, 5-Jerry Coons Jr.-834, 6-Bobby East-805, 7-Jon Stanbrough-740, 8-Chris Windom-729, 9-Dave Darland-724, 10-Damion Gardner-544.