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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
USAC WEST COAST SPRINTS CLASH AT SANTA MARIA SATURDAY
By Lance Jennings
JUNE 18, 2015... This Saturday, June 20th, the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will travel to Santa Maria Raceway for their second of three appearances. Promoted by Mike Kappmeyer, the ninth point race of the season will also feature the Santa Maria 360 Sprints, Mini Stocks, American Stocks, WRA Vintage Sprints & Midgets, Mod Lites, Mini Dwarfs, and Junior Midgets. Located in Nipomo, California, The pit gates at "The West's Best Short Track" will open at 9:00am, the front gates open at 4:00pm, and racing will begin at 6:00pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.santamariaraceway.com or call 805.922.2232.
Saturday’s race will be the 26th West Coast Sprint Car event at the fast 1/3-mile oval. On April 11th, Richard Vander Weerd passed D.J. Johnson to claim his series leading fifth win at Santa Maria. On September 17, 2011, Bernal set the USAC West Coast qualifying record of 13.529 and “Showtime” Danny Sheridan posted the all-time 360 1-lap record of 13.354 on September 11, 2004.
NOTICE TO RACERS: Saturday’s race at Santa Maria 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. The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Rule Book can be found online at www.westcoastsprintcars.com and www.usacracing.com.
After running second at Tulare on May 30th, Tipton’s “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. has a 53-point lead over the competition. Piloting Junior Bowman’s #17V Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / SurfnSprint Spike, the 2013 Champion has one feature win, one high point driver award, three heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 41 feature laps led to his credit. Currently fifth on the series win list, “Hollywood” will be looking to continue his championship bid by scoring his eighth West Coast victory.
Ryan Bernal of Hollister is second in the point standings. Racing Mike Phulps’ #56 Metal Works / Tri-L Mandarin Ranch ART, Bernal led all 30-laps to claim his sixth win of the year at Tulare. To date, the two-time Santa Maria Champion has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two high-point driver awards, three heat race victories, two DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Awards, eight top-10 finishes, and 111 feature laps led. Ryan will have his sights on gaining valuable points by earning his series leading 27th main event win.
Visalia’s Jace Vander Weerd is third in the chase for the championship. Driving the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd scored eighth in the May 30th feature. At press time, the former USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main Win, and five top-10 finishes on the year. Currently tied with Davey Pombo and T.J. Smith for eighth on the series win list, Jace will be looking to score his fifth win on Saturday.
D.J. Johnson of Stockton has climbed to fourth in the point chase. Piloting the family owned #33 Unique Breeds / Proplant Farm Services Eagle, Johnson scored fifth at Tulare after starting eighth. Heading to Santa Maria, the former USAC Western Classic Rookie of the Year has three heat race victories, six top-10 finishes, and 18 feature laps led on the season. This Saturday, D.J. will have his sights on his first USAC West Coast feature victory.
Visalia’s Richard Vander Weerd sits fifth in the USAC West Coast point standings. Racing the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Richard retired early form the Tulare feature and scored fifteenth. Entering Saturday’s race, the 2011 Champion has one feature win, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, five top-10 finishes, and 36 feature laps led in the campaign. At Santa Maria, Vander Weerd will be looking to claim his 17th West Coast main event.
Currently sixth in points, Trey Marcham of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Fremont’s Tristan Guardino, Shannon McQueen of Bakersfield, and Ryan Timmons of Pleasant Hill are also in contention.
Among the other USAC West Coast drivers expected to be in action are “Shifter” Landon Hurst, Jeff Sibley, Austin Liggett, Kevin Barnes, Johnathon Henry, The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, Luke Boles, and more.
Santa Maria’s Bill Jones sits atop the local track point standings with James Herrera of New Cuyama in second, and Arroyo Grande’s Jordan Linson in third.
Santa Maria Raceway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo, California. Adult tickets are $15, Senior, Military, and Student tickets (13-17) are $13, Kids tickets (6-12) are $6, and Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.santamariaraceway.com or call 805.922.2232.
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. Mike Truex's 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 CHAMPIONS:
2009-Justyne Hamblin, 2010-Craig Stidham, 2011-Richard Vander Weerd, 2012-Bud Kaeding, 2013-Danny Faria Jr., 2014-Matt Mitchell.
SANTA MARIA USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS:
5-Richard Vander Weerd, 4-Ryan Bernal, 3-Peter Murphy, 3-Danny Sheridan, 2-Cory Kruseman, 2-T.J. Smith, 2-Jace Vander Weerd, 1-Greg Alexander, 1-Danny Faria Jr., 1-Davey Pombo, 1-Craig Stidham.
2015 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS:
6-Ryan Bernal, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Danny Faria Jr., 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Stevie Sussex, 1-Richard Vander Weerd.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Danny Faria Jr.-504, 2. Ryan Bernal-451, 3. Jace Vander Weerd-393, 4. D.J. Johnson-375, 5. Richard Vander Weerd-357, 6. Trey Marcham-351, --. Landon Hurst-351, 8. Tristan Guardino-302, 9. Jeff Sibley-255, 10. Austin Liggett-215, 11. Bud Kaeding-213, 12. Troy Rutherford-201, 13. Colby Copeland-166, 14. Shannon McQueen-161, 15. Kevin Barnes-142, 16. Johnathon Henry-131, 17. Brody Roa-125, 18. Matt Mitchell-114, 19. Tye Mihocko-99, 20. Chris Ennis-97.
2015 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
June 20: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA
June 27: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds - Hanford, CA
July 25: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (Peter Murphy Classic)
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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