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PRELIMINARY USAC WESTERN SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED

A total of 141 races are listed on the preliminary 2009 USAC Western racing calendar, announced today.

Highlights of the schedules announced today include the return of Stockton 99 Speedway, Shasta Speedway and Petaluma Speedway. It’s been three years since USAC has raced at Stockton, the California track being closed during 2008. The last USAC race at Shasta in Anderson, Calif. was in 2006, while USAC hasn’t been at the Petaluma, Calif. Fairgrounds since 2005.

Stockton will host the Western Sprint Cars on May 2, then welcomes a “tripleheader” on October 10 featuring the Western Sprints, Midgets and Ford Focuses. The Western Midgets race at Shasta on July 3 and September 12, while the USAC/CRA Sprints are at Petaluma on June 20.

The Western campaign opens February 20-21 with the “Copper on Dirt” at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Ariz. and concludes with a USAC/CRA Sprint race at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway on November 28.

Among milestones in the 2009 season will be the 100th USAC/CRA Sprint race at Perris Auto Speedway (currently scheduled March 28), the 200th USAC/CRA Sprint race (late in the season) and the 200th USAC Western Sprint race (mid-2009).

The preliminary schedule, subject to additions, deletions and changes, is listed below. USAC Western officials continue negotiations with various race facilities regarding events for the 2009 season and some of those are listed as TBA (to be announced) on today’s schedule listing.

2009 LUCAS OIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES

Date – Location/Track

2/20-21 – Phoenix, AZ/Manzanita Speedway
2/25 – Las Vegas, NV/Las Vegas Motor Speedway
2/28 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway
3/28 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway
4/18 – T.B.A.
4/25 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway
5/16 – Hanford, CA/Kings Speedway
5/23 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway
5/24 – T.B.A.
6/13 – Santa Maria, CA/Santa Maria Speedway
6/19 – T.B.A.
6/20 – Petaluma, CA/Petaluma Speedway
7/4 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway
8/1 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway
8/22 – T.B.A.
9/5 – Calistoga, CA/Calistoga Speedway
9/6 – Calistoga, CA/Calistoga Speedway
9/19 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway
10/10 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway
11/5 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway
11/6 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway
11/7 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway
11/13 – Phoenix, AZ/Manzanita Speedway
11/14 – Phoenix, AZ/Manzanita Speedway
11/28 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway

2009 USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR SERIES

4/4 – Madera, Ca/Madera Speedway
4/18 – Roseville, CA/All American Speedway
5/2 – Stockton, CA/Stockton 99 Speedway
5/30 – Roseville, CA/All American Speedway
6/27 – Roseville, CA/All American Speedway
7/1 – T.B.A.
7/25 – Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
8/1 – Roseville, CA/All American Speedway
8/15 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway
9/5 – Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
9/19 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway
9/26 – Roseville, CA/All American Speedway
10/10 – Stockton, CA/Stockton 99 Speedway
10/24 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway
10/31 – T.B.A.
11/26 – Irwindale, CA/Toyota Speedway at Irwindale

2009 USAC WESTERN MIDGET SERIES

2/20-21 – Phoenix,AZ/Manzanita Speedway
2/25 – Las Vegas, NV/Las Vegas Motor Speedway
2/28 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway
3/7 – T.B.A.
3/21 – Bakersfield, CA/Bakersfield Speedway
4/4 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway
4/11 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
4/18 – Hanford, CA/Kings Speedway
4/25 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway (Fred Gerhardt Classic)
5/2 – T.BH.A.
5/9 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway
5/23 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
6/13 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway
6/27 – T.B.A.
7/3 – Anderson, CA/Shasta Speedway
7/11 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
7/18 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway
8/ - T.B.A.
9/5 – Calistoga, CA/Calistoga Speedway
9/6 – Calistoga, CA/Calistoga Speedway
9/12 – Anderson, CA/Shasta Speedway
9/19 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway
10/3 – T.B.A.
10/10 – Stockton, CA/Stockton 99 Speedway
10/17 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
10/31 – T.B.A.
11/12 – Phoenix, AZ/Phoenix International Raceway
11/14 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
11/21 – T.B.A.
11/25 – Irwindale, CA/Toyota Speedway at Irwindale
11/28 – T.B.A.

2009 YOUNG AUTOMOTIVE USAC ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPRINT CAR SERIES

4/25 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
5/16 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
5/25 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
6/6 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
6/20 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
7/11 - TBA
7/25 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
8/9 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
9/5 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways

2009 CALIFORNIA FORD FOCUS MIDGET SERIES

3/14 – Lake Havasu City, AZ/Havasu 95 Speedway (P)
3/21 – Bakersfield, CA/Bakersfield Speedway (D)
3/28 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway (D)
4/4 – Las Vegas, NV/Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Bullring) (P)
4/18 – Blythe, CA/Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway (P)
4/25 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway (P)
5/2 – T.B.A.
5/9 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway (P)
5/23 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway (D)
5/30 – Roseville, CA/All American Speedway (P)
6/6 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway (D)
6/13 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway (P)
6/20 – Las Vegas, NV/Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Bullring) (P)
6/27 – Roseville, CA/All American Speedway (P)
7/4 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway (D)
7/11 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway (D)
7/18 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway (P)
7/25 – Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways (P)
8/1 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway (D)
8/5 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway (D)
8/15 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway (P)
8/22 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway (D)
8/29 – Las Vegas, NV/Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Bullring) (P)
9/19 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway
9/26 – Roseville, CA/All American Speedway (P)
10/10 – Stockton, CA/Stockton 99 Speedway (P)
10/17 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway (D)
10/24 – Madera, CA/Madera Speedway (P)
10/14 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway (D)
10/21 – Las Vegas, NV/Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Bullring) (P)
11/25 – Irwindale, CA/Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (P)

2009 AUTO TRADER UTAH FORD FOCUS MIDGET SERIES

5/2 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
5/16 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
6/6 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
6/20 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
7/4 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
7/11 – T.B.A.
7/25 - @Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
8/15 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
9/5 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
9/7 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways
9/12 - Salt Lake City, UT/Rocky Mountain Raceways

2009 CALIFORNIA SOUTH JUNIOR FOCUS MIDGET SERIES

3/7 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
3/14 – Lake Havasu City, Az/Havasu 95 Speedway
3/28 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
4/11 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
4/18 – Blythe, CA/Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway
5/2 – T.B.A.
5/23 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
5/30 – Roseville, CA/All American Speedway
6/6 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
7/4 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway
7/11 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
7/29 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
8/1 – Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway
8/22 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
9/5 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
9/19 – Roseville, CA/All American Speedway
9/26 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
10/17 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
10/31 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway
11/14 – Ventura, CA/Ventura Raceway

The "CRA" schedule is shorter than what we had hoped for. A few of us at the Chili Bowl (myself along with car owners, drivers and crew members) were counting up the number of "nights on the track" for 2009 and 27-28 was a number that came up more often than not. To see only 22 was a surprise. I dont count TBA's until they become real dates. I once told someone when I saw a few TBA's on a racing schedule that it stood for: "Totaly Bull Announcement." I also found out some teams aren't interested in running with the national series so that brings the number of nights "on track" for them to a paltry 13! Yikes!

Victorville could be a big winner in all this. Car owners want to see their cars race for the money they have invested. Victorville may not have the top flight teams all the time, and a couple may never go if not CRA sanctioned, but any cars they pick up will be a feather in their cap.

Could Perris' schedule cut back be the beginning of speeding up the decline in car counts for the series or will it just allow the lower $$$$ teams to have more time to get their cars ready to make the next event thus not having any effect on car counts? This will be an interesting year indeed as to how all this will work out. I understand Perris has to do what they feel is in their best interest. If their schedule reduction hurts the racing in the west, it sure would be ironic in the fact that they wanted change in the first place. I hope for the sake of the sport we all have come to enjoy that things do get better and some sense of 'normalcy' is restored.

Breathe Rob Breathe......LOL

I may be wrong in this assumption, but I can't help but think that some of the negative attacks (on this message board) directed at the PAS late last year may have led to their cut-back in the USAC/CRA schedule. Posters who go after the track's management, sponsors and purse structure may have led or contributed to our loss of race dates at the PAS. Just a thought.

Robert Davidson

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

i have to disagree with you on that one attacks on this board happend after the fact that pas already said they were gonna cut back the races. and myself i dont think it was all the doing of the pas i think it was usuc thats the problem look at the picture here things were good before usuc stepped in. after the first year they were there they upped the prices then they added radios hanns and lowerd the purses then they go out amd buy a new 40 foot trailer for what to carry their golf cart ? all usuc is worried about is the national guys they have addmited to that already. i dont see why pas cant just get their own thing going like alot of other tracks .the way i see it is everyone should start buying 360s now get ready for it couse usuc is killing 410 sprint car racing here on the westcoast. usuc was sposed to make it better they made it worse teams pay more to race and get less in the end think of usuc as the united states government pay more in get less back. big corps. mean less for the guys doin the work kinda like haveing to rent a transponder every week membership fees pit gate fees food fuel all went up and tires that piece of crap dt3 tire was sposed to be cheaper it cost the same price for a crappier tire . anyways i could go on and on but the way i see it its usuc the one to blame

I don't see how the 'Blame Game' will help at this point...mistakes were made for us to be where we are........if you love 410 sprint car racing..Support it ...go to Perris when they run..Go to Victorville when they run there [only one conflicting date .Nov.28..] In a year or two this may work it's self out...could Victorville be 410 sprint car racing on the west coast savior-depends on how many fans put thier butts in the grandstands.....

You're right 88 - good post.

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

So, Robert, because some of the PAS's fan base is not 100% satisfied with the product, the PAS management is going to teach all of us a lesson by cutting back the CRA schedule?  I think that it's more likely that the PAS is doing whatever makes the most sense for their business.

RADROBINLB

Rick, what I am saying is that maybe one of the reasons that the sprint cars were cut back to 12 race dates was due to negative comments about the track's management, sponsors, purse structure and facilities here on this board. Go back and read my original post - I state that negative comments may have led to their cut-back. If you doubt the above then go back to last year and a comment directed toward a long-time track sponsor and sprint car supporter. The sponsor's reaction to a post here was not good and I am certain that the track's management was following this controversy and others involving purse structure and the track's facilities.

I am not naïve enough to believe that the cut in the (sprint car) schedule was due entirely to the negativity of some posters. But I do believe that it contributed to the end result. Certainly track attendance, the price of gasoline, a sluggish economy and other reasons contributed to the track's decision to schedule eight M4SX dates as well as an Off Road Grand Prix and a Speedway Long Track Championship this year. Six of the eight M4SX races were sprint car dates last year. I also believe that the PAS wanted to attract a new fan base with the M4SX dates.

I do believe that you're right in saying that the PAS is doing whatever makes sense for their business. It is their business. I also believe what Racer88 says, "don't see how the 'Blame Game' will help at this point…mistakes were made for us to be where we are" and we need to support 410 sprint car racing wherever they race.

For me personally, Perris Auto Speedway is the best place for 410 sprint car racing and I never want to lose the opportunity to drive out for a Saturday night race. It truly is fan friendly with great facilities.

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS