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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
TULARE HOSTS SATURDAY’S $4,000-TO-WIN “PETER MURPHY CLASSIC”
By Lance Jennings
JULY 22, 2015... The cars and stars of the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series are back in action this Saturday, July 25th, at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California. Promoted by Steve Faria, the “2nd Annual Peter Murphy Classic” will also showcase the winged King of the West and Western RaceSaver Sprint Cars. The front gates will open at 4:00pm, time trials will begin at 6:00pm, with racing scheduled for 7:00pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.tularethunderbowl.com or call 559.688.0909.
A special thanks goes to Peter Murphy and his family for making Saturday’s event one of the most anticipated dates on the schedule. In addition to the series contingencies, the fast qualifier will earn $400 ($300 plus $100 Woodland Auto Display Award), the hard charger will take home $200, and $400 will be awarded to the racer with the longest tow. There will also be a special 4-lap, 4-car “Dash for Cash” with the fastest four qualifiers paying $500 to first, $400 for second, $300 to third, and $200 to fourth. The winner of the main event will earn $4,000 and a custom helmet, second will pocket $2,000, third will get $1,200, and fourth will take home $1,000. The action packed feature will pay $400-to-start and the purse is posted at the end of this release.
Noted as one of the most popular drivers in the Central Valley, Murphy established himself in both the winged and non-wing sprint car ranks. Driving the potent Tarlton & Son #21, the Australian native won non-winged championships with the SCRA 360s, Bandits, Kings Bandits, VRA/Bandit Grand Slam Mini-Series, and the Santa Maria Sprint Cars. In West Coast action, Murphy won six races during the inaugural season and currently ranks fourth on the series win list. In addition, he posted one fast time award and still holds the track record at Hanford’s Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds. Returning to the winged 410s, Murphy was very competitive until injuries sustained in a July 2013 crash forced his retirement as a driver. Still a great ambassador for sprint car racing, he has worked behind the scenes to make the “Peter Murphy Classic” a successful event to rave reviews and higher purses. Last year, Ryan Bernal won the unsanctioned non-wing 360 feature and Jonathan Allard scored the King of the West triumph.
Since March 2010, the Tulare County Fairgrounds has hosted twenty-six USAC West Coast Sprint Car races. Ryan Bernal leads all drivers with ten wins, including two of the four appearances in 2015. On March 13th, Bernal broke his old 1-lap qualifying track record and set the new standard at 15.133. Other Tulare winners are Bud Kaeding (5), Richard Vander Weerd (3), Kyle Larson (2), Craig Stidham (2), Dean Alexander (1), Danny Faria Jr. (1), Dennis Howell (1), and Peter Murphy (1). Saturday’s race will be the fifth of six dates at the lightning fast 1/3-mile clay oval.
NOTICE TO RACERS: Saturday’s race at Tulare will be run under the USAC West Coast Rule Book and a $35 entry fee will be collected. The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is the ONLY legal right rear tire and all four corners must be Hoosier. Cockpit adjustable shocks are NOT allowed and engine restrictor rules are 1-7/8” with open heads and 2-3/16” with ASCS cylinder heads. The weight rule is 1,475 lbs. with driver. The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Rule Book can be found online at www.westcoastsprintcars.com and www.usacracing.com.
“Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton, California sits atop the standings with a 121-point lead over the competition. Racing Junior Bowman’s #17V Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / SurfnSprint Spike, Faria was the fast qualifier at Hanford on June 27th and ran a close second to Richard Vander Weerd. To date, the 2013 Champion has one feature win, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, one high-point driver award, four heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and 53 feature laps led. Currently ranked fifth on the West Coast win list, “Hollywood” will be looking to make the “Peter Murphy Classic” his eighth feature victory.
After winning the June 27th feature at Hanford, Visalia, California’s Richard Vander Weerd has climbed to second in the point standings. Piloting the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd has two feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, two DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Awards, seven top-10 finishes, and 37 feature laps led to his credit. The 2011 Champion is second on the series win list and will have his sights on the $4,000 payday at Tulare.
Jace Vander Weerd of Visalia, California is third in the point standings. Driving the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd placed eighth at the Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds. Heading to the “Peter Murphy Classic,” the former USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main Win, and nineteen top-10 finishes on the season. Currently tied with Davey Pombo and T.J. Smith for eighth on the West Coast win list, Jace will be looking to score his fifth main event win.
Stockton, California’s D.J. Johnson sits fourth in the chase for the championship. Piloting the family owned #33 Proplant Farm Services / J. Milano Company Eagle, Johnson ran sixth in the Hanford main event. To date, the former USAC Western Classic Rookie of the Year is tied with Danny Faria Jr. for the series lead with four heat race victories on the season. In addition, he has posted one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, seven top-10 finishes, and 18 feature laps led. At Thunderbowl Raceway, D.J. will have his sights on his claiming his first series win at the “Peter Murphy Classic.”
Trey Marcham of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has risen to fifth in the championship standings. Racing Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Marcham ran a strong race at Hanford and claimed fifth at the checkered flags. As this writing goes to press, the leading Rookie of the Year contender has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 4 feature laps led in the campaign. Trey continues to improve as he looks to earn his first USAC West Coast Sprint Car feature triumph.
While Marcham leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors, California’s Tristan Guardino, Shannon McQueen, and Ryan Timmons are also in contention. Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Ryan Bernal, “Shifter” Landon Hurst, Jeff Sibley, Bud Kaeding, Brody Roa, Austin Liggett, Troy Rutherford, Max Adams, Johnathon Henry, Kevin Barnes, Matt Mitchell, Kyle Smith, “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, Ronnie Gardner, Cody Majors, and more.
Tulare, California’s Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds at the corner of Bardsley and K Streets. Reserved Grandstand Tickets are $20 and General Admission Seats are $18. Advance tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling the track office at 559.688.0909. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.tularethunderbowl.com.
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. 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 www.westcoastsprintcars.com, and www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC West Coast Facebook and Twitter pages. 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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PETER MURPHY CLASSIC PURSE:
1. $4,000; 2. $2,000; 3. $1,200; 4. $1,000; 5. $900; 6. $800, 7. $700, 8. $600, 9. $550; 10. $500; 11. $400; 12. $400; 13. $400; 14. $400; 15. $400; 16. $400; 17. $400; 18. $400; 19. $400; 20. $400; 21. $400; 22. $400.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS:
2009-Justyne Hamblin, 2010-Craig Stidham, 2011-Richard Vander Weerd, 2012-Bud Kaeding, 2013-Danny Faria Jr., 2014-Matt Mitchell.
2015 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS:
6-Ryan Bernal, 2- Richard Vander Weerd, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Danny Faria Jr., 1-Tristan Guardino, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Stevie Sussex.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Danny Faria Jr.-600, 2. Richard Vander Weerd-479, 3. Jace Vander Weerd-478, 4. D.J. Johnson-468, 5. Trey Marcham-467, 6. Ryan Bernal-451, 7. Landon Hurst-393, 8. Tristan Guardino-370, 9. Jeff Sibley-291, 10. Bud Kaeding-279, 11. Brody Roa-256, 12. Austin Liggett-215, 13. Troy Rutherford-201, 14. Shannon McQueen-186, --. Max Adams-186, 16. Colby Copeland-166, 17. Jonathan Henry-144, 18. Kevin Barnes-142, 19. Matt Mitchell-114, 20. Jake Swanson-101, --. Kyle Smith-101.
2015 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
July 25: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (Peter Murphy Classic / $4,000-to-Win)
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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