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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series
#21 “Showtime” Danny Sheridan. Photo by Lance Jennings.
HANFORD’S JIM TURNER MEMORIAL ON TAP FOR USAC WEST COAST 360S
By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – SEPTEMBER 6, 2011... This Saturday night, September 10th, the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series will return to Scott Woodhouse’s Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway. The “Jim Turner Memorial” at the Hanford facility will also showcase the winged ASCS Southern California Sprints, Budweiser Hobby Stocks, and Mini Stocks. The Pit Gates will open at 1:00pm, Spectator Gates at 5:00pm, Time Trials at 6:00pm, with Racing scheduled for 6:30pm.
Heading into the “Jim Turner Memorial,” eleven races have been completed on the schedule with six different drivers claiming victory. USAC Silver Crown Champion Bud Kaeding leads all drivers with four main event wins. Ryan Bernal has claimed the last three features as he looks to make history at Hanford. Danny Faria Jr., Peter Murphy, Jace VanderWeerd, and Richard VanderWeerd have also claimed victory.
Visalia’s Richard VanderWeerd continues to lead the way with a fifty-three point advantage over the competition. Piloting the family owned #10 VanderWeerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Richard was fifth at Santa Maria on August 27th. To date, VanderWeerd three Sander Engineering Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, and leads the series with ten top-10 finishes. The battle for the championship is heating up and Richard will be looking for the Turner Memorial victory.
The hottest driver on the USAC West Coast 360 circuit is Ryan Bernal of Hollister. Driving the #11D S&S Automotive / Dorso's Automotive Maxim, Bernal tied T.J. Smith’s record of three straight wins on August 27th. To date, the former Wingless Spec Sprint Champion has two heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and leads the series with 116 feature laps led. The young driver will be one of the favorites on Saturday.
Sitting third in the point standings is Jace VanderWeerd of Visalia. Piloting the family owned #88 VanderWeerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Jace scored eleventh at Santa Maria on August 27th. Last year’s USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has one Sander Engineering Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, and nine top-10 finishes on the season. A Turner Memorial victory will put VanderWeerd back in the championship hunt.
"Hollywood" Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton is fourth in the championship points. Driving Junior Bowman's #2 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Bullet, Faria was second to Bernal at Santa Maria. The veteran driver has two Sander Engineering Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, and six top-10 finishes on the year. This Saturday, “Hollywood” will be looking to add the Turner Memorial to his resume.
"Wide Open" Wes Gutierrez of San Martin is currently fifth in the point chase. Piloting the WG Motorsports' #007 ButlerBuilt / Competition Suspension Inc. DRC, Gutierrez finished ninth after starting fifteenth on August 27th. The hard charging driver leads the series with four heat race victories and has eight top-10 finishes to his credit. Wes will have his sights set on Hanford’s 30-lap main event win.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are Dennis Howell of Rancho Palos Verdes, Hanford’s Justyne Hamblin, T.J. Smith of Fresno, Gardena's Greg Alexander, and Bakersfield's Rusty Carlile. In addition, Hanford's Jonathan Logan, Ricky Kirkbride of Bakersfield, and Santa Maria's Danny Sheridan should be on hand to battle for the victory.
Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway is located on the Kings County Fairgrounds at 801 S. 10th Avenue in Hanford, California. Reserved Grandstand tickets are $12 and advance tickets are on sale now, with camping available on the fairgrounds. Admission is FREE for active military members and more event information can be found at giantchevroletspeedway.com or calling (559) 584-RACE (7223).
The USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series would like to thank Southwest Contractors, Hoosier Tire, Amsoil, BR Motorsports, ButlerBuilt, Competition Suspension Inc., Cory Kruseman's Sprint Car & Midget Driving School, Crow Enterprizes, DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Hinchman-Indy Racing Uniforms, Integra Shocks, Kaeding Performance, Keizer Wheels, King Racing Products, Port City Racing, Rod End Supply, Saferacer.com, Saldana Racing Products, and Sander Engineering for their support.
For more information on the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, www.racesantamariaspeedway.com, or follow the series on facebook.
USAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT POINT STANDINGS:
1-Richard VanderWeerd-628; 2-Ryan Bernal-575; 3-Jace VanderWeerd-549; 4-Danny Faria Jr.-525; 5-Wes Gutierrez-515; 6-Dennis Howell-461; 7-Justyne Hamblin-433; 8-T.J. Smith-424; 9-Greg Alexander-399; 10-Rusty Carlile-395.
USAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT SCHEDULE:
September 10: Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA
September 17: Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA
September 24: Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA
October 8: Groppetti Automotive Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
October 15: *Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA
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*Non-Points Event.
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