SEBASTOPOL DRIVER TAKES SPRINT TITLE

Sebastopol's Geoff Ensign avoided an opening lap pile-up and stayed out of trouble the remainder of the race while earning enough points to capture the USAC Western Classic Sprint Car Series Championship Thursday night in Irwindale.

A rookie on the circuit, Ensign went into the final race of the year with an 18-point lead in the season-long series. He finished eighth in the Turkey Night Main Event at Toyota Speedway and in doing so, the 22-year-old Analy grad earned enough points to take the title.

Tony Hunt, his closest pursuer in the series, finished fifth in the 40-lap race. So while Hunt cut Ensign's points lead in half, he had to settle for second place.

Ensign's started No. 17 in the 26-car race and had to maneuver around a spinning car involved in the opening lap pile-up. While the caution flag was out, he saw that Hunt's car hadn't been involved in the crash. In order to overtake Ensign in the standings, Hunt had to finish at least five positions in front of his rival. "When the green flag came out I kept Hunt's car in my sights," Ensign said. "I made sure there were never more than five cars between the two of us."

As he took his victory lap around the half-mile oval, Ensign said he was elated that he had achieved his rookie goal and also thankful his family and car owner Ted Finkenbinder were able to share in the victory.

"When the checkers finally flew and confirmed that I was only three positions back of Hunt, it all sunk in," Ensign said. "This is one Thanksgiving I will never forget."

Ensign expects to race next on Jan. 15 in the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa.