COONS BECOMES USAC'S 5TH "TRIPLE CROWN" CHAMP
Kevin Swindell grabbed the trophy and Jerry Coons Jr. grabbed the spotlight in Friday night's 41st NAPA Auto Parts/Budweiser/Parker Store "Western World Championships" USAC National & Lucas Oil USAC/CRA Sprint prelim at Manzanita Speedway. Swindell, of Germantown, Tenn., won the 25-lap feature event but Coons, of Tucson, Ariz. virtually locked up the 2008 USAC National Sprint Car title with his fifth-place finish. Coons emerged from Friday's race with an 83-point lead over defending series champ Levi Jones entering Saturday night's National finale at Manzanita. Only 64 points are available Saturday. Swindell, driving the Tom Rolfe Trucking/Honey Run Quilters Maxim/Ott, ran down early leader Jesse Hockett on lap 16 and led the final 10 laps to beat Hockett, Jones, Shane Cottle and Coons to the checkered flag. Brad Sweet was the night's fastest qualifier in a field of 64 drivers.