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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
#62 Dennis Howell. Photo by Steve Lafond / Tear-Off Heaven Fotos.
DENNIS HOWELL SPRINTS TO FIRST VICTORY AT TULARE
By Lance Jennings
TULARE, CA – MARCH 16, 2014... In one of the most dramatic finishes in series history, Dennis Howell of Rancho Palos Verdes emerged with his first USAC West Coast Sprint Car triumph. Officially leading all 30 laps, Howell faced numerous challenges from Jace and Richard Vander Weerd to earn the $1,500 victory at Tulare’s Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway. Richard Vander Weerd, Jace Vander Weerd, “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr., and Bud Kaeding followed Howell to the checkered flags.
Despite numerous caution flags in the main event, the final laps were worth the price of admission. Driving the family owned #62 San Pedro Auto Body / Howell-Meyer Racing Maxim, Dennis Howell was under constant attack from Jace Vander Weerd. Jace had briefly taken the lead with a turn three “slide job,” only to have Dennis counter and regain the top spot. Jace’s twin brother Richard, the 2011 Champion, entered the fray and quickly took over second. Charging forward, Richard used a similar turn three slider and took command from Howell. As Dennis countered, Richard had troubles with the treacherous cushion and it was a scramble for the lead. Howell regained the lead and slipped away from the Vander Weerd brothers to claim victory in front of the large Tulare crowd.
With the triumph, Dennis Howell became the second first time feature winner in as many races. The graduate from the USAC Western Midget Series qualified fifth out of twenty-one cars and also won the 8-lap Deist Safety Heat Race #2. Howell left Thunderbowl Raceway ranked third in points as the series invades Bakersfield this Saturday.
Visalia’s Richard Vander Weerd gave a valiant effort for the win, but had to settle for second. Racing the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Richard was third quick in time trials and won the 8-lap Saldana Racing Products Heat Race #3. The former champion has climbed to fifth in the point standings heading to Bakersfield Speedway.
Jace Vander Weerd of Visalia challenged Howell throughout the main event before scoring third at the finish. At one point, the pilot of the #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim was side-by-side with Howell at the start-finish line as they raced into to the first corner. The former USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year had qualified sixth overall, ran third in his heat race, and is currently sixth in the point chase.
Tipton’s “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. earned the night’s Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a fourth place run from tenth. Racing Junior Bowman’s #2 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / DeBoer & Sons Trucking Bullet, Faria timed in tenth fast and won the Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1. As this writing goes to press, the defending champion has climbed to eighth in the standings.
Bud Kaeding of Campbell took fifth at the checkered flags. Driving Junior Bowman’s #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Maxim, Kaeding qualified fourth overall and placed second in his heat race. The 2012 Champion will race with the series as his schedule allows and is currently twelfth in the West Coast standings.
With one lap held during the Woodland Auto Display Time Trials, Markus Niemela of Rauma, Finland earned his first fast time award of the season. Piloting Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Niemela ran third in his heat race and placed sixth in the 30-lap feature. Last season’s USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year is second in the championship chase, four points behind Austin Liggett.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will be back in action this Saturday, March 22nd, at Bakersfield Speedway in Bakersfield, California. The action packed showcase will also feature Sport Mods, American Stocks, and Mini Stocks. Advance tickets are on sale and for more information, visit www.bakersfieldspeedway.com or call 661.393.3373.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series would like to thank Amsoil, Hoosier Tire, Chris Kearns Presents, Competition Suspension Inc., Deist Safety, Engler Machine & Tool, Extreme Mufflers, Five Star Grafix, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, Saldana Racing Products, SouthWest Contractors, VanLare Steering Repair, 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).
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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS:
March 14, 2014 – Tulare, California – Thunderbowl Raceway
WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY TIME TRIALS:
1. Markus Niemela, 73, Ford-15.225; 2. Matt Mitchell, 37, Mitchell-15.385; 3. Richard Vander Weerd, 10, Vander Weerd-15.425; 4. Bud Kaeding, 29, Bowman-15.538; 5. Dennis Howell, 62, Howell-15.594; 6. Jace Vander Weerd, 88, Vander Weerd-15.640; 7. Austin Liggett, 83, Liggett-15.671; 8. Troy Rutherford, 81, Watt-15.738; 9. Landon Hurst, 179, Hurst-16.016; 10. Danny Faria Jr., 2, Bowman-16.040; 11. Chris Ennis, 86, Ennis-16.101; 12. Trent Carter, 13, Carter-16.256; 13. Marty Hawkins, 3M, Hawkins-16.299; 14. Connor Kassik, 26, Kassik-16.307; 15. Kevin Barnes, 36B, Barnes-16.398; 16. Tony Everhart, 55, Everhart-16.534; 17. Jonathan Logan, 32, Evett/Logan-16.630; 18. Garrett Long, 38, Long-16.912; 19. Robert Nuckles, 27, Nuckles-17.756; 20. Ricky Kirkbride, 87, Van Meter-18.370; 21. Jim Richardson, 8, Richardson-18.561; 22. Rusty Carlile, 51, Carlile-20.337; 23. Jeff Sibley, 42N, Sibley-20.344.
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE 1: (8 laps)
1. Danny Faria Jr., 2. Bud Kaeding, 3. Markus Niemela, 4. Austin Liggett, 5. Marty Hawkins, 6. Rusty Carlile, 7. Tony Everhart, 8. Robert Nuckles. NT
DEIST SAFETY HEAT RACE 2: (8 laps)
1. Dennis Howell, 2. Matt Mitchell, 3. Jonathan Logan, 4. Connor Kassik, 5. Jeff Sibley, 6. Chris Ennis, 7. Troy Rutherford. NT
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS HEAT RACE 3: (8 laps)
1. Richard Vander Weerd, 2. Kevin Barnes, 3. Jace Vander Weerd, 4. Landon Hurst, 5. Trent Carter, 6. Garrett Long, 7. Jim Richardson. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Dennis Howell (2nd), 2. Richard Vander Weerd (4th), 3. Jace Vander Weerd (1st), 4. Danny Faria Jr. (10th), 5. Bud Kaeding (3rd), 6. Markus Niemela (6th), 7. Marty Hawkins (13th), 8. Austin Liggett (7th), 9. Troy Rutherford (8th), 10. Kevin Barnes (15th), 11. Matt Mitchell (5th), 12. Landon Hurst (9th), 13. Garrett Long (18th), 14. Trent Carter (12th), 15. Jonathan Logan (17th), 16. Robert Nuckles (19th), 17. Jim Richardson (21st), 18. Rusty Carlile (20th), 19. Tony Everhart (16th), 20. Chris Ennis (11th), 21. Jeff Sibley (22nd), 22. Connor Kassik (14th). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-30 Dennis Howell.
KEIZER WHEELS / RACING OPTICS HARD CHARGER: Danny Faria Jr. (10th to 4th)
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Austin Liggett-110; 2. Markus Niemela-106; 3. Dennis Howell-97; 4. Troy Rutherford-91; 5. Richard Vander Weerd-90; 6. Jace Vander Weerd-88; 7. Matt Mitchell-82; 8. Danny Faria Jr.-78; 9. J.J. Yeley-64; --. Landon Hurst-64; 11. Mike Spencer-60; 12. Bud Kaeding-58; 13. Nic Faas-54; 14. Josh Pelkey-52; 15. Marty Hawkins-46; 16. Charles Davis Jr.-44; 17. Rusty Carlile-40; --.Kevin Barnes-40; 19. Mike Martin-37; 20. Brody Roa-36.
2014 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
March 22: Bakersfield Speedway - Bakersfield, CA
March 29: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Gary Jacob Memorial)
April 25: #Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Verne Brasel Classic)
April 26: #Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
May 16: #Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA
May 17: #Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (Chris & Brian Faria Memorial)
May 31: #Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
June 7: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA
June 21: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
July 19: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA
August 2: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Billet Cup / $2,500-to-Win)
August 8: #Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA
August 9: #Chowchilla Speedway - Chowchilla, CA
September 27: *Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series / Non-Points)
November 6: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Oval Nationals / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series)
November 20: *Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / Non-Points)
November 21: *Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / Non-Points)
November 22: *Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / $7,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC Southwest Sprints.
# = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC Western Classic Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
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