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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
DANNY FARIA JR. SPRINTS TO EMOTIONAL WIN AT TULARE
By Lance Jennings
TULARE, CA – MAY 17, 2015... After running second last year, “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton, California added the “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial” to his resume. Culminating a twenty-two year quest, Faria honored his late brothers in perhaps the most emotional victory lane in USAC West Coast Sprint history. Claiming his first series win at Tulare’s Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway, “Hollywood” was followed by Bernal, “Shifter” Landon Hurst, Troy Rutherford, and Tristan Guardino.
Starting fifth, Danny Faria Jr. piloted Junior Bowman’s #17V Buster & Ziggy Enterprise / SurfnSprint Spike past Ryan Bernal on lap sixteen. Shaking free from all challengers while bouncing through the ruts, the point leader earned his seventh career series triumph and moved to fifth on the win list. Earlier in the program, Danny qualified second out of the nineteen racers in the pit area and won the 10-lap DJ Safety Heat Race #2. Faria left Tulare with a 52-point lead on the strength of one feature win, one high point driver award, three heat race victories, six top-10 finishes, and 15 feature laps led.
Hollister, California’s Ryan Bernal earned his second DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a second place run from eighth. Racing Mike Phulps’ #56 Tri-L Mandarin Ranch / Core Power ART, Bernal was eighth quick in time trials and placed second to Faria in his heat race. Taking command from Tristan Guardino on the tenth circuit, Ryan was looking for his sixth win of the campaign. Six laps later, Ryan bounced his mount off the turn four cushion as Faria grabbed the top spot. Breaking a torsion bar stop in the late stages, Bernal was able to carry his car to second at the checkered flags. Heading back to Tulare on May 30th, the two-time USAC Western Classic Sprint Champion is second in points with one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two high point driver awards, three heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 81 feature laps led to his credit.
“Shifter” Landon Hurst of Riverdale, California scored third in the “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial.” Driving the family owned #179 Kings River Commodities / Duinkerken Farms Maxim, Hurst was fifth quick in time trials and ran fourth in his heat race. The 2013 Rookie of the Year has climbed to fifth in the point chase with one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, five top-10 finishes, and 5 feature laps led on the year.
Ojai, California’s Troy Rutherford made the trip to the Central Valley and scored fourth in the 30-lap main event. Piloting his #11 AAA Propane Service / Trench Shoring Spike, Rutherford qualified seventh overall and took second in his heat race after battling with Jeff Sibley. In limited starts, the former VRA Champion sits thirteenth in the point standings with two top-10 finishes on the season.
Rookie contender Tristan Guardino of Fremont, California led the first nine laps before taking fifth at Thunderbowl Raceway. Racing Steve Watt’s #81 Maxwell Industries / Steve Watt Enterprises Maxim, Guardino was sixth fast in time trials and ran second to D.J. Johnson in his heat race. The micro-sprint standout is currently eighth in championship points with one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win and three top-10 finishes.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma’s Trey Marcham earned his first Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award with the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars. Driving Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, the rookie contender was third in his heat race and scored sixteenth in the feature after an early exit. Marcham left the Faria Memorial ranked seventh in points with one heat race victory, four top-10 finishes and 4 feature laps led.
Jeff Sibley of Oakdale, California won the first heat race of his sprint car career. Claiming the Extreme Mufflers sponsored event, Sibley piloted his #42N Haidlen Ford / A&A Cattle Spike to thirteenth in time trials and eighth in the main event from twelfth. Looking to move up the ranks, Jeff is currently ninth in points with one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and two top-10 finishes in the season.
Stockton, California’s D.J. Johnson raced to victory in the Saldana Racing Products / Keizer Wheels Heat Race #3. Racing the family owned #33 Unique Breeds / Proplant Farm Services Eagle, Johnson qualified ninth overall and placed sixth in the Faria Memorial. The former USAC Western Classic Rookie of the Year is sixth in the standings with two heat race victories, five top-10 finishes, and 18 feature laps led.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will be back at Tulare’s Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway on May 30th. On that night, the Honda USAC Western Midgets and the Western RaceSaver Sprint Cars and Vintage Cars. For more information, visit www.tularethunderbowl.com or call 559.688.0909.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series thanks Amsoil, Hoosier Tire, Chris Kearns Presents, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Ultra Shield Race Products, and Woodland Auto Display for their support.
For more information, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/#!/pages/USAC-West-Coast-Sprint-Car-Series/369549755817), or Twitter (www.twitter.com/USACwc360). Mike Truex's Loudpedal Productions has DVDs available for purchase that feature the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars and for more information, call 805.407.7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com.
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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS:
May 16, 2015 – Tulare, California – Thunderbowl Raceway – “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial”
WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY TIME TRIALS:
1. Trey Marcham, 73, Ford-16.053; 2. Danny Faria Jr., 17V, Bowman-16.076; 3. Matt Mitchell, 57, Hix-16.121; 4. Richard Vander Weerd, 10, Vander Weerd-16.144; 5. Landon Hurst, 179, Hurst-16.170; 6. Tristan Guardino, 81, Watt-16.249; 7. Troy Rutherford, 11, Rutherford-16.362; 8. Ryan Bernal, 56, Phulps-16.369; 9. D.J. Johnson, 33, Johnson-16.423; 10. Austin Liggett, 83, Liggett-16.427; 11. Jace Vander Weerd, 88, Vander Weerd-16.703; 12. Chris Ennis, 86, Ennis-16.892; 13. Jeff Sibley, 42N, Sibley-16.905; 14. Bud Kaeding, 29, Bowman-16.936; 15. Shannon McQueen, 87, Van Meter-17.180; 16. Cody Majors, 54, Majors-17.855; 17. Jim Richardson, 8, Richardson-21.387; 18. Johnathon Henry, 17, Shanoian-NT; 19. Kevin Barnes, 36B, Barnes-NT.
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE #1: (10 laps)
1. Sibley, 2. Rutherford, 3. Marcham, 4. Majors, 5. R.Vander Weerd, 6. Liggett. NT
DJ SAFETY HEAT RACE #2: (10 laps)
1. Faria, 2. Bernal, 3. Kaeding, 4. Hurst, 5. J.Vander Weerd, 6. Richardson. NT
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS / KEIZER WHEELS HEAT RACE #3: (10 laps)
1. Johnson, 2. Guardino, 3. Mitchell, 4. Ennis, 5. McQueen, 6. Henry. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Danny Faria Jr. (5th), 2. Ryan Bernal (8th), 3. Landon Hurst (3rd), 4. Troy Rutherford (1st), 5. Tristan Guardino (2nd), 6. D.J. Johnson (9th), 7. Matt Mitchell (4th), 8. Jeff Sibley (12th), 9. Jace Vander Weerd (10th), 10. Cody Majors (15th), 11. Richard Vander Weerd (7th), 12. Shannon McQueen (14th), 13. Bud Kaeding (13th), 14. Jim Richardson (16th), 15. Johnathon Henry (17th), 16. Trey Marcham (6th), 17. Chris Ennis (11th). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-9 Guardino, Laps 10-15 Bernal, Laps 16-30 Faria.
DMI / ULTRA SHIELD RACE PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Ryan Bernal (8th to 2nd)
WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Danny Faria Jr.-436, 2. Ryan Bernal-384, 3. Jace Vander Weerd-347, 4. Richard Vander Weerd-333, 5. Landon Hurst-321, 6. D.J. Johnson-319, 7. Trey Marcham-303, 8. Tristan Guardino-242, 9. Jeff Sibley-217, 10. Austin Liggett-178, 11. Colby Copeland-166, 12. Bud Kaeding-155, 13. Troy Rutherford-145, 14. Kevin Barnes-142, 15. Brody Roa-125, ---. Shannon McQueen-125, 17. Matt Mitchell-114, 18. Johnathon Henry-104, 19. Tye Mihocko-99, 20. Chris Ennis-97.
2015 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
May 30: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
June 20: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA
June 27: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds - Hanford, CA
July 25: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (Peter Murphy Classic)
August 1: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds - Hanford, CA
August 22: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (Bud Stanfield Memorial)
September 26: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series / Non-Points)
October 3: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds - Hanford, CA
October 10: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (KRC Safety Fall Shootout)
November 19: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series)
November 20: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series)
November 21: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC Southwest Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
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