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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
#2 “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. - 6th in USAC West Coast Sprint Car Points. Photo by Steve Lafond / Tear-Off Heaven Fotos.
WATSONVILLE & TULARE HOST USAC WEST COAST SPRINT DOUBLEHEADER
By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – MAY 13, 2014... The cars and stars of the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series are ready to clash with the USAC Western Classic Sprints in a special doubleheader. This Friday, May 16th, the West Coast Sprints will make their series debut at John Prentice’s Ocean Speedway in Watsonville. The following night, both divisions will tackle Steve Faria’s Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare for the “Chris and Brian Faria Memorial.”
NOTICE TO COMPETITORS: Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway has a strict 90db at 100 feet state mandated sound rule and the Flowmaster “Suitcase” (Part 53545-USAC) is the track legal muffler. If the sound levels are broken, the racer will be disqualified and not allowed to compete.
The special Friday show at Watsonville will mark the first of two appearances at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. The action packed card will also feature the winged Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo, American Stocks, and IMCA Modifieds. The Pit Gates will open at 1:00pm, Spectator Gates will open at 4:30pm, Drivers Meeting at 4:30pm, with Racing scheduled at 6:00pm.
Saturday’s “Chris and Brian Faria Memorial” will be the third of five dates at the Tulare County Fairgrounds. On March 14th, Dennis Howell raced to his first series victory and rain washed out the April 26th show. Since March 2010, eighteen USAC West Coast Sprint Car races have been held at Tulare’s lightning fast 1/3-mile facility. Ryan Bernal and Bud Kaeding are tied for the series lead with four triumphs and Richard Vander Weerd has three wins. Peter Murphy won the “Faria Memorial” in 2009 as Craig Stidham, Kaeding, and Kyle Larson have also won the Tulare Classic. Bernal holds the current 1-lap qualifying track record of 15.158 set on October 8, 2011. The winged King of the West Sprints and IMCA Modifieds will share the spotlight as Spectator Gates will open at 4:30pm, Hot Laps at 5:30pm, with Racing scheduled at 7:00pm.
After rain cancelled last month’s Hanford-Tulare doubleheader, Markus Niemela of Rauma, Finland has a twelve point advantage over the competition. Piloting Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Niemela claimed fourth at Hanford’s “Jacob Memorial.” To date, the point leader has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, four top-10 finishes, and 12 feature laps led to his credit. Last season’s USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year will be looking for first USAC West Coast victories at Watsonville and Tulare.
After winning the “Gary Jacob Memorial” on March 29th, Visalia’s Jace Vander Weerd has climbed to second in the point standings. Driving the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Jace has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, five top-10 finishes, and 20 feature laps led on the season. The former USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year will have his sights on adding more first place trophies to his collection.
Troy Rutherford of Ojai sits third in the chase for the championship. Racing Steve Watt’s #81 JD Machine Tech / AAA Propane Maxim, Rutherford claimed sixth at Hanford’s “Gary Jacob Memorial.” To date, the former VRA Champion has one feature win, one heat race victory, four top-10 finishes, and 3 feature laps led in the campaign. Troy will be one of the favorites to score Watsonville and Tulare main event wins.
After taking second at the “Gary Jacob Memorial,” Huntington Beach’s Nic Faas has climbed to fourth in the point chase. Piloting Keith Ford’s #73X Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Faas has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, seven top-10 finishes, and 10 feature laps led. The former USAC Western Midget Champion will have his sights on his first West Coast wins at Watsonville and Tulare.
Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda is fifth in the USAC West Coast point standings. Driving his #37 MPD Racing / ART Enterprises Maxim, Mitchell ran third at Hanford after starting twenty-first. Entering the “Verne Brasel Classic,” the USAC/CRA standout has two Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Awards and three top-10 finishes on the year. Matt will be looking to add his name to the winner’s list at Watsonville and Tulare.
Currently sixteenth in the standings, Springville’s Garrett Long leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Terra Bella’s Trent Carter, Robert Nuckles of Hanford, and Hanford’s Connor Kassik are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr., Richard Vander Weerd, “Shifter” Landon Hurst, Dennis Howell, Austin Liggett, Kevin Barnes, Marty Hawkins, “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, Davey Pombo, “The Rickster” Ricky Kirkbride, Jeff Sibley, “The Bakersfield Bullet” Rusty Carlile, Jonathan Logan, Matt Day, and more.
“The Human Highlight Reel” Geoff Ensign of Sebastopol leads the USAC Western Classic point standings. Ryan Bernal, Richard Vander Weerd, Nic Faas, Trevor Schmid, Matt Mitchell, Marty Hawkins, Landon Hurst, Jace Vander Weerd, and Terry Schank Jr. round out the top-10 drivers. Other WCRS drivers expected to compete are D.J. Johnson, Scott Hall, Jim Richardson, “Wild” Billy Aton, and more.
Ocean Speedway is located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, California at 2601 E. Lake Avenue. Adult Tickets are $20, Senior Tickets (over 65) are $19, Children Tickets (12-6) are $15, Kids (5 and under) are FREE. Family Passes (2 Adults & 2 Kids) are $60. For more information, visit the track's website at www.oceanspeedway.com or call 831.662.9466 (WINN).
Tulare’s Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds at the corner of Bardsley and K Streets. Reserved 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., 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, Weld Racing, 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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CHRIS & BRIAN FARIA MEMORIAL WINNERS:
2009-Peter Murphy, 2010-Craig Stidham, 2011-Bud Kaeding, 2012-Kyle Larson, 2013-Not Held.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Markus Niemela-227, 2. Jace Vander Weerd-215, 3. Troy Rutherford-212, 4. Nic Faas-193, 5. Matt Mitchell-190, 6. Danny Faria Jr.-185, 7. Richard Vander Weerd-168, 8. Landon Hurst-157, 9. Dennis Howell-148, 10. Austin Liggett-130, 11. Kevin Barnes-94, 12. Marty Hawkins-90, 13. Chris Ennis-79, --. Brody Roa-79, 15. Davey Pombo-72, 16. Garrett Long-69, 17. Ricky Kirkbride-68, 18. Jeff Sibley-67, 19. Rusty Carlile-65, 20. J.J. Yeley-64.
USAC WESTERN CLASSIC SPRINT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Geoff Ensign-130, 2. Ryan Bernal-125, 3. Richard Vander Weerd-115, 4. Nic Faas-113, 5. Trevor Schmid-102, 6. Matt Mitchell-92, -. Marty Hawkins-92, 8. Landon Hurst-89, 9. Jace Vander Weerd-84, -. Terry Schank Jr.-84, 11. D.J. Johnson-75, --. Scott Hall-75, 13. Jim Richardson-35, 14. Billy Aton-2, 15. Bradley Terrell-1.
2014 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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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