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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC Western States Midget Series
USAC WESTERN STATES & BCRA MIDGETS SET TO RUMBLE AT PETALUMA
By Lance Jennings
JULY 12, 2016... This Saturday, July 16th, the USAC Western States Midget Series will make their only appearance of the year at Petaluma Speedway. Located on the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, California, the “Jack London Hall of Fame Night” is co-sanctioned with the Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA). Promoted by Rick Faeth, the action packed showcase will also feature the BCRA Midget Lites and Vintage Midgets. The Pit Gates will open at noon, the Front Gates will open at 4:00pm, Time Trials at 5:00pm, and Racing at “The Fastest 3/8 Mile Dirt Oval in Northern California” will begin at 6:30pm.
NOTICE TO RACERS:
-WEIGHT RULE: The weight rule for the combined BCRA & USAC Western Midget shows is 1060 lbs. This will also be in effect at the September 8th Chico show.
-USAC POINTS: To earn USAC Western Midget points at Petaluma, competitors must check in with USAC officials. This will also be in effect at the September 8th Chico show.
-MUFFLERS: The USAC Western States Midget Series approved/legal mufflers are: B&B: FRAC-0375-S w/side outlet, Coast Fabrication: 300x625x17-2s, 350x625x17-2s, 400x625x17-2s. Extreme: 3512-3030 (with insert 2312-30), 3512-3030 SS (with insert 2312-30), 4615-3035- 15" long x 6" diameter x 3" inlet and 3.5 outlet w/internal cone. Flowmaster: (BCRA Approved) 13009130, 1509130, 13509135. Schoenfeld: 14272735-78, 14272535.
-TARPS: Tarps are mandatory at Petaluma under all race cars in the pit area. The tarps must stick out at least one foot on each side.
Since October 6, 2012, the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds has hosted five USAC Western States Midget races. Shane Golobic claimed the inaugural victory and Michael Faccinto won last year’s “Hall of Fame Race” on July 18th. Ronnie Gardner leads all drivers with three Petaluma victories and holds the 1-lap qualifying track record of 14.200, set on October 5, 2013. A complete series win list at Petaluma Speedway is at the end of this release.
Entering the “Jack London Hall of Fame Race,” Ronnie Gardner (Corona, California) has a 32-point advantage over the competition. Piloting the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner had won four of the season’s five races, including the last event at Hanford on June 25th. To date, the three-time champion has also posted two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, five heat race victories, five top-10 finishes, and 82 feature laps led. Currently ranked sixth overall with tied with seventeen series wins, Ronnie will be looking to continue his championship bid with another Petaluma triumph.
Michael Faccinto (Hanford, California) is second in the chase for the championship. Racing the MF Motorsports owned #35F OSV / Lucas Oil Spike, Faccinto was the fast qualifier at Hanford and ran second in the main event. At press time, the second generation driver has one feature win, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, one heat race victory, five top-10 finishes, and 57 feature laps led in the campaign. Michael is currently tied for sixth-eighth overall on the series win list and will have his sights on his fourth feature win this Saturday night.
After scoring fifth at Hanford, Frankie Guerrini (San Rafael, California) has climbed to third in the point standings. Driving the family owned #63 F&F Racing / Davis Motorsports Spike, Guerrini has one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win and five top-10 finishes in the campaign. As this writing goes to press, the defending BCRA Champion has one USAC Western Midget victory and will be looking to move up the standings with a win at Petaluma.
Tyler Dolacki (Fresno, California) sits fourth in the USAC Western Midget point chase. Piloting the family owned #18 Cite-Clean / Ultimate Oil Cleanup Beast, Dolacki placed eighth at the Kings County Fairgrounds. To date, the young driver has one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, two Keizer Aluminum Wheels / Rod End Supply Hard Charger Awards, and four top-10 finishes. It is unknown if Tyler will be in action at Petaluma after damaging his chassis in a flip at Hanford.
Cody Swanson (Covina, California) has risen to fifth in the point standings after claiming third at Hanford. Racing the family owned #71S Marcie Campbell Realtor / Advanced Racing Suspension Spike, Swanson has three top-10 finishes on the season. The former VRA Midget Champion has one series win to his credit and will have his sights on the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds victory.
Currently ninth in points, Courtney Crone (Corona, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Maria Cofer (Macdoel, California), Robert Dalby (Anaheim, California), Dylan Ito (Ventura, California), and Ashley Hazelton (Chatsworth, California) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Cory Elliott, Sean Dodenhoff, Randi Pankratz, Terry Nichols, Shannon McQueen, Jeff Harrington, Shane Golobic, Alex Schutte, Britton Bock, and more.
Bobby Wilson leads the overall Bay Cities Racing Association point standings. Multi-time champion Floyd Alvis, Tyler Simas, J.R. Williams, Brian Gard, Greg Bragg, Maria Cofer, Cory Elliott, Dustin Golobic, and Britton Bock round out the top-10 drivers.
Petaluma Speedway is located on the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, California at 100 Fairgrounds Drive. Adult Tickets (64-12) are $18, Senior Tickets (65 and over) are $15, Junior Tickets (11-6) are $15, and Children (5 and under) are FREE. For more information, visit the track's website at www.petaluma-speedway.com or call 707.763.7223 (RACE).
The USAC Western States Midget Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Competition Suspension Incorporated, DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Rod End Supply, Stand 21 Racer Goes Safer Foundation, Ultra Shield Race Products, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, email PR Director Lance Jennings at [email protected].
For more information on the series, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC Western States Midget Facebook and Twitter pages.
Loudpedal Productions has USAC Western States Midget DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
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USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET CHAMPIONS:
1982*-Jeff Heywood, 1983-Sleepy Tripp, 1984-Tommy White, 1985-Sleepy Tripp, 1986-Robby Flock, 1987-Sleepy Tripp, 1988-Sleepy Tripp, 1989-Robby Flock, 1990-Sleepy Tripp, 1991-Sleepy Tripp, 1992-Sleepy Tripp, 1993-Robby Flock, 1994-Johnny Cofer, 1995-Billy Boat, 1996-Jay Drake, 1997-Ricky Shelton, 1998-Rick Hendrix, 1999-Marc DeBeaumont, 2000-Wally Pankratz, 2001-Danny Ebberts, 2002-Robby Flock, 2003-Steve Paden, 2004-Johnny Rodriguez, 2005-Jerome Rodela, 2006-Jerome Rodela, 2007-Johnny Rodriguez, 2008-Nic Faas, 2009-Garrett Hansen, 2010-Alex Schutte, 2011-Cory Kruseman, 2012-Shannon McQueen, 2013-Ronnie Gardner, 2014- Ronnie Gardner, 2015-Ronnie Gardner.
2016 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS:
4-Ronnie Gardner, 1-Michael Faccinto.
PETALUMA USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS:
3-Ronnie Gardner, 1-Michael Faccinto, 1-Shane Golobic.
USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ronnie Gardner-408, 2. Michael Faccinto-376, 3. Frankie Guerrini-292, 4. Tyler Dolacki-279, 5. Cody Swanson-269, 6. Cory Elliott-266, 7. Sean Dodenhoff-242, 8. Randi Pankratz-239, 9. Courtney Crone-224, 10. Maria Cofer-208, 11. Robert Dalby-204, 12. Darren Hagen-163, 13. Terry Nichols-158, 14. Dylan Ito-156, 15. Robby Josett-125, 16. Troy Rutherford-113, 17. Ashley Hazelton-111, 18. Shannon McQueen-109, 19. Jeff Harrington-88, 20. Shane Golobic-74.
BCRA MIDGET OVERALL POINT STANDINGS:
1. Bobby Wilson-390, 2. Floyd Alvis-377, 3. Tyler Simas-330, 4. J.R. Williams-326, 5. Brian Gard-317, 6. Greg Bragg-240, 7. Maria Cofer-231, 8. Cory Elliott-220, 9. Dustin Golobic-192, 10. Britton Bock-178, 11. Alex Schutte-156, 12. Chad Nichols-150, 13. Nick Chivello-149, 14. David Goodwill-139, 15. Mike Snider-131, 16. Scott Pierovich-127, 17. Cody Gerhardt-96, 18. Bill Lindsey-80, 19. Mark Maliepaard-75, 20. Frankie Guerrini-74.
2016 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
July 16: *Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA (Jack London Hall of Fame Picnic Event)
September 3: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 4: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 8: *Silver Dollar Speedway – Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions)
September 17: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA
October 8: Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
October 29: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
November 19: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA
November 24: #Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with BCRA Midgets.
# = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC National Midgets.
This schedule is subject to change.
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