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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
#73 Markus Niemela. USAC West Coast Sprint Car Point Leader.
NIEMELA LEADS USAC WEST COAST SPRINTS TO HANFORD’S “JACOB MEMORIAL”
By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – MARCH 24, 2014... This Saturday, March 29th, the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will make their first of five appearances at Kings Speedway in Hanford. The “Gary Jacob Memorial” and fourth point race of the season will also showcase the West Coast Late Model Shootout, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Stock Cars, and Mini Stocks. The Pit Gate will open at 2:00pm, the Front Gates will open at 5:00pm, with Racing scheduled to begin at 6:30pm.
Since March 2009, thirty-five West Coast Sprint Car races have been held at the Kings County Fairgrounds. Richard Vander Weerd leads all drivers with six feature wins and Ryan Bernal has five Hanford victories. Bud Kaeding and Danny Faria Jr. have four Hanford triumphs while Justyne Hamblin, Peter Murphy, T.J. Smith, and Craig Stidham have scored two victories. Aaron Altaffer, Rusty Carlile, Wes Gutierrez, Cory Kruseman, Davey Pombo, Troy Rutherford, Terry Schank Jr., and Jace Vander Weerd have one main event win at the 3/8-mile facility.
Saturday’s race honors Gary Jacob, a motorsports writer who covered short track racing throughout the Southwestern United States. Whether it was Sprint Cars, Stock Cars, Modifieds, Dwarf Cars, or Karts, their division was covered in his weekly “Gary Jacob Reports.” No matter how big or small the racetrack, Jacob followed the action. It is reported that he covered 162 events and drove over 60,000 miles in one season to cover short track motorsports. It was a sad day when racing lost a true friend in June 2006.
After scoring third at Bakersfield, Markus Niemela of Rauma, Finland has taken over the point lead and holds a seven point advantage. Racing Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Niemela has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, three top-10 finishes, and 12 feature laps led to his credit. Last season’s USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year will have his sights on his first USAC West Coast victory at Hanford.
Ojai’s Troy Rutherford has climbed to second in the point chase after winning last Saturday’s feature at Bakersfield. Piloting Steve Watt’s #81 JD Machine Tech / AAA Propane Maxim, Rutherford has one heat race victory, three top-10 finishes, and 3 feature laps led on the year. The former VRA Champion will be looking to continue his hot streak and win Saturday’s “Gary Jacob Memorial.”
Jace Vander Weerd of Visalia ranks third in the USAC West Coast point standings. Driving the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Jace set a new qualifying track record and placed fifth at Bakersfield. To date, the former USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, and four top-10 finishes in 2014. Vander Weerd will have his sights on claiming another win at Kings Speedway.
Tipton’s “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. has moved to fourth in the standings. Racing Junior Bowman’s #2 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / DeBoer & Sons Trucking Bullet, Faria ran fourth in the Bakersfield main event. Entering the “Gary Jacob Memorial,” the defending champion has two heat race victories, two Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Awards, and two top-10 finishes. Danny will be looking to move up the points with a feature win at the Kings County Fairgrounds.
Dennis Howell of Rancho Palos Verdes is tied for fifth in the championship points. Piloting the family owned #62 San Pedro Auto Body / Howell-Meyer Racing Maxim, Howell raced to ninth at Bakersfield after starting seventeenth. To date, the USAC Western Midget graduate has one feature win, one heat race victory, two top-10 finishes, and 30 feature laps led on the season. Dennis will have his sights on adding the “Gary Jacob Memorial” to his resume.
Visalia’s Richard Vander Weerd is tied for fifth in the West Coast point chase. Driving the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Richard scored tenth in the Bakersfield main event after restarting at the back. The 2011 Champion has one feature win, three heat race victories, one hard charger award, five top-10 finishes, and 16 feature laps led in 2014. Vander Weerd will be looking to claim his series leading sixteenth career feature win this Saturday night.
Currently seventeenth in the standings, Springville’s Garrett Long leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Terra Bella’s Trent Carter, Connor Kassik of Hanford, Goleta’s Luke Boles, and Robert Nuckles of Hanford are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Matt Mitchell, Austin Liggett, Nic Faas, “Shifter” Landon Hurst, Brody Roa, Kevin Barnes, “The Bakersfield Bullet” Rusty Carlile, “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, Jeff Sibley, Davey Pombo, “The Rickster" Ricky Kirkbride, Jonathan Logan, Matt Day, and more.
Kings Speedway is located on the Kings County Fairgrounds at 801 South 10th Avenue in Hanford, California. Grandstand tickets are $15 with discounts available for Seniors (55+), Military (with I.D.), and Children 7-12. Kids 6 and under are FREE at all non-special events. Camping is available on the fairgrounds and for more event information, visit www.kingsspeedway.net or call (559) 584-RACE (7223).
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series thanks Amsoil, Hoosier Tire, Chris Kearns Presents, Competition Suspension Inc., Deist Safety, Engler Machine & Tool, Extreme Mufflers, Five Star Grafix, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, Saldana Racing Products, SouthWest Contractors, VanLare Steering Repair, and Woodland Auto Display for their support.
For more information, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/#!/pages/USAC-West-Coast-Sprint-Car-Series/369549755817), or Twitter (www.twitter.com/USACwc360).
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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Markus Niemela-167, 2. Troy Rutherford-160, 3. Jace Vander Weerd-147, 4. Danny Faria Jr.-137, 5. Dennis Howell-134, --. Richard Vander Weerd-134, 7. Matt Mitchell-131, 8. Austin Liggett-130, 9. Nic Faas-122, 10. Landon Hurst-114, 11. Brody Roa-79, 12. Kevin Barnes-76, 13. Rusty Carlile-65, 14. J.J. Yeley-64, 15. Mike Spencer-60, 16. Bud Kaeding-58, 17. Garrett Long-53, 18. Josh Pelkey-52, 19. Chris Ennis-46, --. Marty Hawkins-46.
2014 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
March 29: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Gary Jacob Memorial)
April 25: #Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Verne Brasel Classic)
April 26: #Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
May 16: #Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA
May 17: #Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (Chris & Brian Faria Memorial)
May 31: #Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
June 7: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA
June 21: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
July 19: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA
August 2: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Billet Cup / $2,500-to-Win)
August 8: #Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA
August 9: #Chowchilla Speedway - Chowchilla, CA
September 27: *Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series / Non-Points)
November 6: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Oval Nationals / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series)
November 20: *Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / Non-Points)
November 21: *Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / Non-Points)
November 22: *Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / $7,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC Southwest Sprints.
# = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC Western Classic Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
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