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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series
#10 Richard VanderWeerd - USAC West Coast 360 Champion. Photo by Lance Jennings.
$1500-TO-WIN USAC 360 COTTON CLASSIC THIS SATURDAY AT HANFORD
By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – OCTOBER 12, 2011... Newly crowned USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Champion Richard VanderWeerd of Visalia will lead a talented roster of drivers to Hanford's "Cotton Classic" this Saturday night, October 15th. The 26th running of the special event will also feature the winged Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series and is non-points race for the traditional 360s with $1500 going to the winner. The Spectator Gates will open at 4:00pm with racing scheduled for 6:00pm.
Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway Promoter Scott Woodhouse and staff are working to make the "Cotton Classic" an event to remember for racers and fans alike. The festivities begin at noon with a spaghetti feed in the grandstand area with donations going to the Adventist Health Breast Care Center. At 4:30pm a special autograph session will be held featuring drivers from both series including Peter Murphy, Tim Kaeding, and Andy Gregg. A two-seat sprint car will be on display and Murphy will showcase the machine on the Hanford clay oval. Rides will be raffled off with proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Piloting the family owned #10 VanderWeerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Richard VanderWeerd closed out his championship season last Saturday at Tulare. In 2011, VanderWeerd led the series with three Sander Engineering Fast Time Awards and fourteen top-10 finishes to his credit. In addition, Richard has one feature win, three heat race victories, one Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Award, and seventeen main event laps led. VanderWeerd will have his sights set on the $1500 Wingless Cotton Classic victory.
Hollister's Ryan Bernal gave a valiant effort to take the title away from VanderWeerd and finished second in points. The 2011 Rookie of the Year raced Danny Olmstead's #11D S&S Automotive / Dorso's Automotive Maxim to his series leading fifth main event win at Tulare. In addition, Bernal has two Sander Engineering Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, twelve top-10 finishes, and 144 feature laps led in 2011. Ryan can tie Peter Murphy's single season feature win record with a Wingless Cotton Classic triumph.
"Wide Open" Wes Gutierrez of San Martin finished the season third in the championship points. Piloting the WG Motorsports' #007 ButlerBuilt / Competition Suspension Inc. DRC, Gutierrez won the Jim Turner Memorial at Hanford on September 10th. Wes led the series with five heat race victories and has twelve top-10 finishes to his credit. The hard charger will have his sights set on Saturday's main event win at Hanford.
Visalia's Jace VanderWeerd came home fourth in the point chase. Driving the family owned #88 VanderWeerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, last year's USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year won at Santa Maria on April 9th. VanderWeerd has one Sander Engineering Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, twelve top-10 finishes, one Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Award, and fourteen feature laps led in 2011. Jace will be looking to add the Wingless Cotton Classic to his resume.
Dennis Howell of Rancho Palos Verdes closed the season fifth in the point standings. Piloting the family owned #62 San Pedro Auto Body / Howell-Meyer Racing Maxim, Howell tied for the series lead with two Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Awards. In addition, the USAC Western Midget Series graduate has one Sander Engineering Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, eleven top-10 finishes, and three feature laps led on the year. This Saturday, Howell could break through and pocket the $1500 victory.
Campbell's Bud Kaeding, Peter Murphy of Clovis, Tipton's "Hollywood" Danny Faria Jr., and "Showtime" Danny Sheridan of Santa Maria have also claimed feature wins in 2011. Kaeding won four main events and Murphy won Tulare's 30-lap main event on April 30th. Faria won the "Jim Evett Memorial" at Hanford on July 16th and Sheridan claimed the "Bud Stanfield Memorial" at Santa Maria on September 17th.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are Gardena's Greg Alexander, Hanford's Justyne Hamblin, T.J. Smith of Fresno, and Kerman's Davey Pombo. In addition, Hanford's Jonathan Logan, Ricky Kirkbride of Bakersfield, and more 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 $25 with discounts available for Seniors (55+), Military (with I.D.), and Children 7-12. Kids 6 and under are FREE at all events. Advance tickets are on sale now and camping is available on the fairgrounds. For more event information, visit giantchevroletspeedway.com or call (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 POINTS:
1. Richard VanderWeerd 866; 2. Ryan Bernal 827; 3. Wes Gutierrez 750; 4. Jace VanderWeerd 715; 5. Dennis Howell 655; 6. Danny Faria Jr. 600; 7. Greg Alexander 570; 8. T.J. Smith 548; 9. Justyne Hamblin 540; 10. Bud Keading 504; 11. Davey Pombo 456; 12. Ricky Kirkbride 397; 13. Rusty Carlile 395; 14. Danny Sheridan 379; 15. Johnathon Logan 371; 16. Peter Murphy 362; 17. Marty Hawkins 316; 18. Nico Russo 277; 19. Jared Little 226; 20. Matt Day 149.
USAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT SCHEDULE:
October 15: *Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA
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*Non-Points Event.
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