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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
USAC WEST COAST SPRINTS HEADLINE TULARE OPEN WHEEL SHOWCASE
By Lance Jennings
MAY 28, 2015... This Saturday, May 30th, the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will clash at Tulare’s Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway. Promoted by Steve Faria, the eighth point race will also showcase the Honda USAC Western Midgets, Western RaceSaver Sprint Cars, and Vintage 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.
Since March 2010, the Tulare County Fairgrounds has hosted twenty-five USAC West Coast Sprint Car races. Ryan Bernal leads all drivers with nine wins and set the 1-lap qualifying track record of 15.133 on March 13th. 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) have also earned feature wins. Saturday’s event will be the fourth of six dates at the lightning fast 1/3-mile, as Faria added the May 16th “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial” to his resume.
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.
After moving to fifth on the series win list, “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton, California sits atop the standings with a 52-point lead. Racing Junior Bowman’s #17V Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / SurfnSprint Spike, Faria has one feature win, one high point driver award, three heat race victories, six top-10 finishes, and 41 feature laps led on the year. The 2013 Champion is also racing with the USAC Midgets and will be looking to earn both winning trophies.
Hollister, California’s Ryan Bernal is second in the USAC West Coast point standings. Driving Mike Phulps’ #56 Tri-L Mandarin Ranch / Core Power ART, Bernal led six laps of the Faria Memorial before taking second at the checkered flags. To date, the two-time USAC Western Classic Champion has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two high-point driver awards, three heat race victories, two DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Awards, seven top-10 finishes, and 81 feature laps led. This Saturday, Ryan will have his sights on his series leading twenty-sixth career win.
Jace Vander Weerd of Visalia, California is third in the chase for the championship. Piloting the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd claimed ninth in the May 16th Faria Memorial. Heading to Tulare, the former USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main Win, and seven top-10 finishes. Jace will be looking to make Saturday’s 30-lap feature his fifth career series victory.
Fresh off Saturday’s Perris USAC/CRA “Salute to Indy” triumph, Visalia, California’s Richard Vander Weerd is fourth in the point chase. Racing the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd scored eleventh at Tulare on May 16th. To date, the 2011 Champion has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, five top-10 finishes, and 36 feature laps led to his credit. At Tulare, Richard will have his sights on winning his seventeenth career West Coast main event.
After scoring third in the “Faria Memorial,” “Shifter” Landon Hurst of Riverdale, California has climbed to fifth in points. Driving the family owned #179 Kings River Commodities / Duinkerken Farms Maxim, Hurst has one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, five top-10 finishes, and 5 feature laps led in the campaign. Landon continues to impress as he looks for his first series win this Saturday night.
Currently seventh in points, Trey Marcham of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 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 D.J. Johnson, Jeff Sibley, Austin Liggett, Kevin Barnes, Jonathan Henry, “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, Max Adams, USAC National Champion Brady Bacon, 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 $15 and General Admission Seats are $13. 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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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:
5-Ryan Bernal, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Danny Faria Jr., 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Stevie Sussex, 1-Richard Vander Weerd.
USAC 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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