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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series
#10 Richard VanderWeerd. Photo by Doug Allen Photos.
TULARE'S POMBO/SARGENT CLASSIC ON TAP SATURDAY FOR USAC WC360S
By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – MAY 10, 2011... Round six for the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series will be held this Saturday, May 14th, at Tulare's Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway. Joining the "Pombo/Sargent Classic" card will be the Golden State King of the West 410 Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, and Vintage Super Modifieds. The Front Gates will open at 5:00pm, Time Trials will start at 6:00pm, with Racing at the lightning fast 1/3-mile facility to begin at 7:00pm.
Visalia's Jace VanderWeerd leads the point chase heading into Saturday's action. Piloting the family owned #88 VanderWeerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Jace scored a fifth place finish at Tulare on April 30th. To date, the April 9th Santa Maria feature winner has four top-10 finishes to his credit and has led fourteen main event laps. VanderWeerd will have his sights set on the Pombo-Sargent victory.
Ryan Bernal of Hollister is second in the point standings. On April 30th, the driver of the #11D Olmstead's Auto Racing Inc. / S&S Automotive Maxim looked to be on his way to victory until his engine expired. Credited with a fifteenth place finish, the former Wingless Spec Sprint Champion has three top-10 performances and has led thirty-one main event laps. Bernal will look to rebound this Saturday for his first series win.
"Wide Open" Wes Gutierrez of San Martin sits third in the championship points. The pilot of the WG Motorsports #007 DRC, sponsored by Competition Suspension Inc. and ButlerBuilt, claimed seventh on April 30th. In the 2011 campaign, Gutierrez has three heat race wins and four top-10 finishes to his credit. Wes will be in the mix for the Pombo/Sargent triumph.
Gardena's Greg Alexander is currently fourth in the series points. Driving Chuck Tyler's #72 Maxim backed by Trench Shoring and Amsoil, Alexander raced to fourth on April 30th. The young driver has one heat race win and three top-10 finishes on the season. This Saturday, Greg will be looking to add Saturday's main event to his resume.
Richard VanderWeerd of Visalia is fifth in the point chase. Piloting the family owned #10 VanderWeerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Richard scored a third place finish on April 30th. To date, VanderWeerd has one fast time award, two heat race wins, and three top-10 finishes on the year. The young driver will be one of the favorites on Saturday.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are Hanford's Justyne Hamblin, Dennis Howell of Rancho Palos Verdes, Fresno's T.J. Smith, "Hollywood" Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton, Bakersfield's Rusty Carlile, Peter Murphy of Clovis, Hanford's Jonathan Logan, Davey Pombo of Kerman, and many more.
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, Saferacer.com, Saldana Racing Products, and Sander Engineering for their support.
Tulare's Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds at the corner of Bardsley and K Streets. Reserved Grandstand Tickets are $20 and Bleacher Tickets are $17. Advance tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling the track office at (559) 688-0909. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.tularethunderbowl.com.
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 POINTS:
1. Jace VanderWeerd 224; 2. Ryan Bernal 219; 3. Wes Gutierrez 216; 4. Greg Alexander 198; 5. Richard VanderWeerd 197; 6. Justyne Hamblin 173; 7. Dennis Howell 151; 8. T.J. Smith 149; 9. Bud Kaeding 148; 10. Danny Faria Jr. 138; 11. Rusty Carlile 129; 12. Peter Murphy 124; 13. Ricky Kirkbride 112; 14. Jonathan Logan 93; 15. Nico Russo 88; 16, Davey Pombo 84; 17. Marty Hawkins 81; 18. Cole Peard 76;
19. Matt Day 62; 20. Andy Forsberg 57.
NEXT USAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT RACE:
May 14 - Groppetti Automotive Tulare (CA) Thunderbowl Raceway - " Pombo/Sargent Classic"
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