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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CARS BATTLE AT TULARE SATURDAY
By Lance Jennings
APRIL 6, 2016... This Saturday, April 9th, the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will make their second appearance of the year at Tulare, California’s Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway. Promoted by Steve Faria, the USAC Western States Midgets, Western RaceSaver Sprints, and the Legends of Kearney Bowl Vintage Cars will also tackle the lightning fast 1/3-mile oval. The front gates will open at 4:00pm, time trials 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.
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 and the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Rule Book can be found online at www.westcoastsprintcars.com and www.usacracing.com.
Heading into the fifth point race, the Tulare County Fairgrounds has hosted twenty-nine USAC West Coast Sprint Car races. Ryan Bernal leads all drivers with ten victories and set the 1-lap qualifying record of 15.133 on March 13, 2015. When the series last visited Tulare on March 12th, D.J. Johnson lead all 30 laps to earn his first main event win.
After running fourth last Saturday at Hanford, D.J. Johnson (Stockton, California) has taken over the point lead. Driving the family owned #33 Proplant Farm Services / J. Milano Company Eagle, Johnson has one feature win, one heat race victory, one BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Award, four top-10 finishes, and 30 feature laps led in the campaign. D.J. will be looking to extend his one point lead with another $1,500 payday at Tulare.
Brody Roa (Garden Grove, California) is second in the chase for the championship. Racing the BR Performance owned #91R HD Industries / Lee & Norma Leonard Maxim, Roa scored seventeenth at Hanford after an early tangle knocked him out of contention. To date, the 360 Western World Champion has posted two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three top-10 finishes, and 3 feature laps led to his credit. Brody will have his sights on rebounding this Saturday night with a Tulare victory on his resume.
Jace Vander Weerd (Visalia, California) sits third in the USAC West Coast point chase. Piloting the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Jace led most of the Hanford feature before finishing second to his twin brother Richard. Heading to Tulare, the 2010 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one Keizer Wheels / Competition Suspension Inc. Semi-Main win, three top-10 finishes, and 28 feature laps led on the season. Vander Weerd will be looking to claim his seventh career West Coast triumph on Saturday.
Trey Marcham (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) has climbed to fourth in the point standings. Driving Steve Watt’s #81 Maxwell Industries / Steve Watt Enterprises Maxim, Marcham had a solid night at Hanford by claiming third at the checkered flags. Showing consistency, last season’s Rookie of the Year has posted three top-10 finishes in the campaign. Trey will have his sights on his first USAC West Coast win at the Tulare County Fairgrounds.
Troy Rutherford (Ojai, California) is currently ranked fifth in the championship points. Racing his #11 AAA Propane Service / Trench Shoring Spike, Rutherford struggled last Saturday and scored fourteenth in the main event. At press time, the 1997 SCRA Rookie of the Year has one feature win, one heat race victory, two top-10 finishes, and 29 feature laps led to his credit. Troy will be looking to rebound with his fourth career series win at Thunderbowl Raceway.
Currently eleventh in points, Ryan Timmons (Pleasant Hill, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Colton Slack (Brentwood, California) and “Chainsaw” Johnny White (Bakersfield, California) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Richard Vander Weerd, Max Adams, Tristan Guardino, Austin Liggett, Jeff Sibley, Kevin Barnes, “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr., Kyle Smith, “The Rickster” Ricky Kirkbride, 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. 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, BR Motorsports, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Chris Kearns Presents, Competition Suspension Incorporated, DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Stand 21 Racer Goes Safer Foundation, Ultra Shield Race Products, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. For more information, 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 and subscription videos that feature the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
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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-Danny Faria Jr.
2016 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS:
4-Bryan Clauson, 2-Josh Hodges, 1-D.J. Johnson, 1-Troy Rutherford, 1-Richard Vander Weerd
TULARE USAC WEST COAST SPRINT WINS:
10-Ryan Bernal, 5-Bud Kaeding, 3-Richard Vander Weerd, 2-Kyle Larson, 2-Craig Stidham, 1-Dean Alexander, 1-Danny Faria Jr., 1-Dennis Howell, 1-D.J. Johnson, 1-Matt Mitchell, 1-Peter Murphy, 1-Jace Vander Weerd.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. D.J. Johnson-264, 2. Brody Roa-263, 3. Jace Vander Weerd-260, 4. Trey Marcham-219, 5. Troy Rutherford-216, 6. Richard Vander Weerd-203, 7. Max Adams-185, 8. Tristan Guardino-173, 9. Austin Liggett-169, 10. Jeff Sibley-147, 11. Ryan Timmons-139, 12. Bryan Clauson-137, 13. Brady Bacon-119, 14. Kevin Barnes-116, 15. Danny Faria Jr.-114, 16. Kyle Smith-93, 17. Ricky Kirkbride-87, 18. Cody Majors-84, 19. Stevie Sussex-78, 20. Shannon McQueen-76.
2016 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
April 9: Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
April 23: Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
May 14: Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (Chris & Brian Faria Memorial)
June 18: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA
June 25: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds - Hanford, CA
July 22: Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (Peter Murphy Classic)
July 23: Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (Peter Murphy Classic)
August 6: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (Bud Stanfield Memorial)
August 12: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA
August 13: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds - Hanford, CA
November 24: Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix / Non-Points)
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This schedule is subject to change.
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