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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
MATT MITCHELL CLAIMS TULARE’S $4,000 PETER MURPHY CLASSIC
By Lance Jennings
JULY 28, 2015... Inheriting the lead on lap sixteen, Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda, California held off all challengers before officials were forced to shorten the main event due to curfew. For Mitchell, the $4,000 “Peter Murphy Classic” victory at Thunderbowl Raceway was his second career USAC West Coast Sprint Car triumph. Richard Vander Weerd, “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr., Austin Liggett, and Bud Kaeding followed the defending series champion to the checkered flags.
At the drop of the green flag, polesitter Bud Kaeding grabbed the lead and led the first two circuits. Third starting Mitchell had pressured Kaeding and took command with a turn three “slide job.” Once out front, Matt began to run away from the pack with a comfortable advantage. Charging from twelfth, Ryan Bernal had sliced his way to second and set his sights on the leader. Reaching slower traffic, Bernal saw his opportunity and grabbed the top spot on lap thirteen. Looking to win his second Murphy Classic, Ryan quickly put some distance between himself and Mitchell. Unfortunately, a tough heartbreaking crash with a slower car ended Bernal’s night. On the restart, Matt shook free from the field until a caution on lap twenty-three forced officials to end the race.
A special thanks goes to SouthWest Contractors, Hoosier Tire West, Liggett Motorsports, Four C’s Services, Dingus Lounge, Krikke Motorsports, Kaeding Performance, King Racing Products, BR Motorsports, Abreu Vineyards, and Brady Lambert for their support of the Peter Murphy Classic.
Racing his #37 Campbell Bros. Storage / Pit Boss Jacks Maxim, Matt Mitchell earned one of the biggest victories of his career. Last year’s champion qualified sixth out of the twenty-nine racers in the pit area and scored third in his heat race. In limited starts, Mitchell left Tulare ranked sixteenth in points with three top-10 finishes.
Visalia, California’s Richard Vander Weerd took second the in the “Peter Murphy Classic.” Piloting the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Vander Weerd was third quick in time trials, won the 4-lap “Dash For Cash,” and placed fourth in his heat race. Heading to Hanford this Saturday, the 2011 Champion is second in the point chase with two feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, two DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Awards, eight top-10 finishes, and 37 feature laps led.
“Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton, California ran third at Thunderbowl Raceway. Driving Junior Bowman’s #17V Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / SurfnSprint Spike, Faria qualified eighth overall, scored ninth in his heat race after a late crash, and finished seventh in a shortened semi-main. The point leader has one feature win, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, one high-point driver award, four heat race victories, nine top-10 finishes, and 53 feature laps led to his credit.
Tracy, California’s Austin Liggett finished fourth in the shortened main event. Racing Steve Watt’s #81M Maxwell Industries / Steve Watt Enterprises Maxim, Liggett was seventh fast in time trials and finished second to Tristan Guardino in his heat race. Splitting his season with winged and wingless spec sprints, Liggett is twelfth in the point standings with three heat race victories and four top-10 finishes.
After leading the first two laps, Bud Kaeding of Campbell, California was fifth in the “Peter Murphy Classic.” Piloting Junior Bowman’s #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Maxim, Kaeding qualified ninth overall and finished second to Ryan Bernal in his heat race. Primarily racing with the winged 410 sprints, the 2012 Champion sits ninth in the point chase with one feature win, one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, five top-10 finishes, and 19 feature laps led in the campaign.
In his first USAC West Coast start, Hanford, California’s Michael Faccinto earned the night’s DMI / Keizer Wheels “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a seventh place run from seventeenth. Driving Steve Watt’s #81M Maxwell Industries / Steve Watt Enterprises Maxim, Faccinto was seventeenth quick in time trials and scored third in his heat race. Michael left Tulare tied with Chris Windom for thirty-eighth in the standings.
Troy Rutherford of Ojai, California earned this second Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award of the year. Racing his #11 AAA Propane Service / Trench Shoring Spike, Rutherford scored third in the dash, ran fourth in his heat race, and placed twenty-first in the main event. The former Ventura champion is currently thirteenth in points with three top-10 finishes.
Fremont, California’s Tristan Guardino raced to his first career USAC West Coast heat race victory. Piloting Steve Watt’s #81 Maxwell Industries / Steve Watt Enterprises Maxim, Guardino won the 10-lap Extreme Mufflers sponsored event, qualified sixteenth overall, and claimed thirteenth in the main event. To date, the rookie contender ranks seventh in points with one feature win, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, five top-10 finishes, and 39 feature laps led.
D.J. Johnson of Stockton, California raced to victory in the 10-lap DJ Safety Heat Race #2. Driving the family owned #33 Proplant Farm Services / J. Milano Company Eagle, Johnson was fourteenth fast in time trials and scored twenty-second in the feature after a hard crash. To date, the former USAC Western Classic Rookie of the Year is fifth in the standings with five heat race victories, one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, seven top-10 finishes, and 18 feature laps led on the season.
Hollister, California’s Ryan Bernal won the 10-lap Saldana Racing Products / Keizer Wheels Heat Race #3. Racing Mike Phulps’ #56 Metal Works / Tri-L Mandarin Ranch ART, Bernal qualified twelfth overall and scored seventeenth in the feature. The two-time USAC Western Classic Champion is sixth in points with six feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two high-point driver awards, four heat race victories, two DMI / Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Awards, eight top-10 finishes, and 114 feature laps led on the year.
This Saturday, August 1st, the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will head to the Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford, California. The event will also feature the Western RaceSaver 305 Wing Sprints, IMCA Stock Cars, Mini Stocks, and the WRA Vintage Sprints. Located on the Kings County Fairgrounds at 801 South 10th Avenue, more event information can be found at www.racekingsspeedway.com or calling 559.651.1990.
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. 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 RACE RESULTS:
July 25, 2015 – Tulare, California – Thunderbowl Raceway – "Peter Murphy Classic”
WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY TIME TRIALS:
1. Troy Rutherford, 11, Rutherford-15.801; 2. Mike Spencer, 7M, Priestley-15.859; 3. Richard Vander Weerd, 10, Vander Weerd-15.927; 4. Jake Swanson, 12, Dale-15.969; 5. Jace Vander Weerd, 88, Vander Weerd-15.974; 6. Matt Mitchell, 37, Mitchell-16.007; 7. Austin Liggett, 81M, Watt-16.087; 8. Danny Faria Jr., 17V, Bowman-16.092; 9. Bud Kaeding, 29, Bowman-16.103; 10. Dwayne Marcum, 25, Yount-16.314; 11. Brody Roa, 91R, BR-16.335; 12. Ryan Bernal, 56, Phulps-16.351; 13. Trey Marcham, 73, Ford-16.409; 14. D.J. Johnson, 33, Johnson-16.426; 15. Shannon McQueen, 87, Van Meter-16.452; 16. Tristan Guardino, 81, Watt-16.461; 17. Michael Faccinto, 81X, Watt-16.590; 18. Chris Ennis, 86, Ennis-16.648; 19. Tye Mihocko, 5, Mihocko-16.665; 20. Ronnie Gardner, 19, Sala-16.785; 21. Kyle Smith, 55, Smith-16.901; 22. Landon Hurst, 179, Hurst-16.914; 23. Cody Majors, 54, Majors-17.090; 24. Bryan Grier, 35, Grier-17.120; 25. Shon Deskins, 20, Deskins-17.151; 26. Koen Shaw, 92K, Shaw-17.219; 27. 27. Chris Dyson, 5K, Kruseman-17.427; 28. Nathan Johnson, E85, Johnson-17.529; 29. Braedon Enos, 00, Enos- NT.
DASH FOR CASH: (4 laps)
1. R.Vander Weerd, 2. Swanson, 3. Rutherford, 4. Spencer. NT
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE 1: (10 laps)
1. Guardino, 2. Liggett, 3. Marcham, 4. Rutherford, 5. Deskins, 6. Mihocko, 7. Hurst, 8. Swanson, 9. Marcum. NT
DJ SAFETY HEAT RACE 2: (10 laps)
1. D.J.Johnson, 2. Roa, 3. Faccinto, 4. Spencer, 5. J.Vander Weerd, 6. Gardner, 7. Shaw, 8. Majors, 9. Faria. NT
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS / KEIZER WHEELS HEAT RACE #3: (10 laps)
1. Bernal, 2. Kaeding, 3. Mitchell, 4. R.Vander Weerd, 5. Ennis, 6. Smith, 7. McQueen, 8. Dyson, 9. Grier. NT
COMPETITION SUSPENSION INC. / ROD END SUPPLY SEMI-MAIN: (Halted after 1 lap)
FEATURE: (23 laps – Halted by curfew / With Starting Positions)
1. Matt Mitchell (3rd), 2. Richard Vander Weerd (4th), 3. Danny Faria Jr. (9th), 4. Austin Liggett (2nd), 5. Bud Kaeding (1st), 6. Trey Marcham (13th), 7. Michael Faccinto (17th), 8. Jace Vander Weerd (8th), 9. Brody Roa (11th), 10. Mike Spencer (5th), 11. Kyle Smith (20th), 12. Shon Deskins (22nd), 13. Tristan Guardino (16th), 14. Tye Mihocko (18th), 15. Ronnie Gardner (19th), 16. Shannon McQueen (15th), 17. Ryan Bernal (12th), 18. Jake Swanson (7th), 19. Cody Majors (21st), 20. Dwayne Marcum (10th), 21. Troy Rutherford (6th), 22. D.J. Johnson (14th). NT
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**N.Johnson & Enos flipped during qualifications. Hurst and Swanson flipped during the first heat. Faria flipped during the second heat. Shaw flipped during the semi. D.J.Johnson and Bernal flipped during the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-2 Kaeding, Laps 3-12 Mitchell, Laps 13-15 Bernal, Laps 16-23 Mitchell.
DMI / ULTRA SHIELD RACE PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Michael Faccinto Weerd (17th to 7th)
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Danny Faria Jr.-654, 2. Richard Vander Weerd-545, 3. Jace Vander Weerd-523, 4. Trey Marcham-518, 5. D.J. Johnson-489, 6. Ryan Bernal-478, 7. Tristan Guardino-405, 8. Landon Hurst-396, 9. Bud Kaeding-334, 10. Brody Roa-299, 11. Jeff Sibley-291, 12. Austin Liggett-273, 13. Troy Rutherford-225, 14. Shannon McQueen-209, --. Max Adams-186, 16. Matt Mitchell-181, 17. Colby Copeland-166, 18. Jonathan Henry-144, 19. Kevin Barnes-142, 20. Kyle Smith-134.
2015 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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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