This message was edited on
April 09, 2010 at
01:58:35 AM by ljennings
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT CAR SERIES
SATURDAY'S FARIA MEMORIAL AT TULARE KICKS OFF SOUTHWEST CONTRACTORS 360 CLASH
By Lance Jennings
TULARE, CA – APRIL 7, 2010…The USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series will hold their fifth round of competition this Saturday night, April 10th, at Tulare's Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway. The Chris & Brian Faria Memorial will also showcase the winged Golden State Challenge 410 Sprint Cars and the Central California Modifieds.
The event will also debut the Southwest Contractors 360 Clash, a special four race mini-series for the popular non-wing sprint cars. With other dates including May 29th at Bakersfield, August 28th at Santa Maria, and September 11th at Hanford, the 360 Clash will carry it’s own $5000 point fund. $2500 will be awarded to the series winner, $1500 for second, and $1000 for third place. As this writing goes to press, the four main events will pay $1200 to win and $200 to start.
"Southwest Contractors is very supportive of the series and what we are trying to accomplish in 360 Sprint Car Racing on the West Coast," says Series Promoter Chris Kearns. "They have helped out in so many areas, from last year's points fund and special events to our 2010 points fund and the mini-series."
Series point leader Craig Stidham from Fresno won the 30-lap feature last Saturday night at Tulare. The pilot of the Brad Johnson Trucking / KRC Safety #3S Maxim took the lead on lap five and led the rest of the way for his first victory of the 2010 campaign. The victory also extended his point lead to a 48 point advantage over Kerman's Davey Pombo.
Pombo, who won the March 27th race at Bakersfield, scored a second place finish at the Tulare oval. Driving Junior Bowman's Buster & Ziggy sponsored #3 Bullet, the 2009 360 Grand Slam Series champion will be looking to cut into Stidham's point lead by adding the Faria Memorial victory to his resume. Pombo is currently tied for third on the series feature win list.
Sitting third in the standings is T.J. Smith of Fresno. The young driver of Steve Legras' UHL Rubber #14 Maxim finished seventh last Saturday night at Tulare. The former Plaza Park Raceway champion was fifth in last season's standings and has three top-10 finishes out of his four starts in 2010. Smith will be looking for his first career series win.
Clovis' Peter Murphy is currently fourth in the points chase. After a tough start to his 2010 season, the pilot of Tom Tarlton's Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino #21 KPC finished third at Tulare. Murphy, who led the series in feature wins last season, won the 2009 Santa Maria track championship. The Australia native will be among the favorites to score his first victory of 2010.
Rusty Carlile of Bakersfield is now fifth in the standings. The driver of the Southwest Contractors #51 Maxim had a sixth place finish last Saturday night. Carlile, who won the Cotton Classic at Hanford last season, was the runner-up in last year's point chase. With three top-10 finishes in four starts, the veteran driver will be looking for the 360 Clash victory.
"The Southwest Contractors Mini Series should be very interesting," says Kearns. "I am curious to see how many other teams will decide to run with us."
In addition to the regular contingencies with the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series, Kirkey Racing Fabrication will award a $100 certificate to the drivers that earn "Hard Charger / Best Passing Job" honors in the 30-lap main events of the Southwest Contractors 360 Clash.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are "Hollywood" Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton, Visalia's Jace and Richard VanderWeerd, defending series champion Justyne Hamblin of Hanford, 2006 SCRA champion Jonathan Logan of Hanford, and "The Central Valley Samurai" Garrett Ishii of Caruthers.
The USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series would like to thank Southwest Contractors, Hoosier Tire, Amsoil, Cory Kruseman's Sprint Car & Midget Driving School, Crow Enterprizes, DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Hinchman-Indy Racing Uniforms, Integra Shocks, Kaeding Performance, Keizer Wheels, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Port City Racing, Saferacer.com, and Sander Engineering for their support.
The Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway is located on the Tulare County Fairgrounds at the corner of Bardsley and K Streets in Tulare. The Front Gates will open at 5:00pm, with Time Trials at 6:00pm, and Racing at 7:00pm. Reserved Grandstand Tickets are $18 and Bleacher Tickets are $15. Advance tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling the track office at (559) 688-0909.
For more event information, please visit the track’s website at www.tularethunderbowl.com.
For more information on the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series, please visit www.racesantamariaspeedway.com, and www.usacracing.com.
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USAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT CAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS:
1. Craig Stidham, 3S- 250
2. Davey Pombo, 3- 202
3. T.J. Smith, 14- 186
4. Peter Murphy, 21- 179
5. Rusty Carlile, 51- 174
6. Danny Faria Jr., 17V- 169
7. Jace VanderWeerd, 88- 169
8. Justyne Hamblin, 8- 163
9. Jonathan Logan, 32- 162
10. Chris Ennis, 86- 162
11. Andy Ferris, 4J- 149
12. Garrett Ishii, 71G- 146
13. Richard VanderWeerd, 10- 113
14. Jimmy Thompson, 71R- 110
15. Dean Alexander, 11- 103
16. Kevin Barnes, 36B- 90
17. Danny Sheridan, 18- 87
18. Dave Knott, 28- 83
19. Jesse Mack, 8M- 79
20. Matt Day, 97- 74
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