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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
#32 Jonathan Logan. 19th in USAC West Coast Sprint Points. Photo by Steve Lafond / Tear-Off Heaven Fotos.
KINGS SPEEDWAY HOSTS "4TH ANNUAL JIM EVETT MEMORIAL" THIS SATURDAY
by Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – JULY 29, 2013... This Saturday, August 3rd, the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will travel to Scott Woodhouse's Kings Speedway in Hanford. The "4th Annual Jim Evett Memorial" will also showcase IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, Mini Stocks, and Hobby Stocks. The front gates will open at 5:30pm and racing at the "King of the Dirt Tracks" will begin at 7:00pm.
Saturday's point race honors Jim Evett, a longtime supporter of racing in the California. Well respected in the pit area, Evett is perhaps best known for supporting the efforts of his grandson Jonathan Logan. Competing on a budget, the team raced with the non-winged 360s of the Central Valley and occasionally with the 410s of SCRA and USAC/CRA. In 2006, Logan and Evett enjoyed one of their best seasons, earning the SCRA 360 Championship and scoring victories at Quincy and Chowchilla. The partnership continued to have modest success until Jim's passing in 2010. Jonathan still races in his grandfather's memory and will be looking for his first USAC West Coast victory on Saturday.
Entering the “Jim Evett Memorial,” Tipton’s “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. has taken over the point lead. Driving his #17V Johnston Calf Pens / DeBoer & Sons Trucking Spike, Faria claimed second to Troy Rutherford at Hanford on July 20th. The 2011 Evett Memorial Winner has yet to win a main event this season, but has one Weld Racing Fast Time Award, five heat race victories, two Woodland Auto Display Dash wins, one BR Motorsports / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, eleven top-10 finishes, and 24 feature laps led. On Saturday, “Hollywood” and Crew Chief Vinnie Lattner will be looking extend their point lead with another “Evett Memorial” victory.
Sitting four points behind Faria is Ryan Bernal of Hollister. The pilot of Keith Ford's #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike skipped the June 20th show at Hanford to race in USAC’s “Indiana Sprint Week.” Currently, the 2011 Rookie of the Year has five main event wins, one Weld Racing Fast Time Award, four heat race victories, one Woodland Auto Display Dash win, one BR Motorsports / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, twelve top-10 finishes, and 85 feature laps led. Bernal won the May 11th “Billet Cup” feature at Hanford and will have his sights on adding the “Evett Memorial” to his win list.
Campbell’s Bud Kaeding has climbed to third in the championship points. Racing Junior Bowman's #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Bullet, Bud scored fourth in the last show at Hanford. To date, the defending series champion has yet to score a West Coast victory in 2013, but has two heat race victories, two Woodland Auto Display Dash wins, twelve top-10 finishes, and 7 feature laps led to his credit. Kaeding won the inaugural “Evett Memorial” in 2010 and will be looking to add Saturday’s trophy to his collection.
Richard Vander Weerd of Visalia is fourth in the West Coast standings. Driving the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Richard did not compete at Hanford to race in USAC’s “Indiana Sprint Week.” Currently, the 2011 Champion has four main event wins, two Weld Racing Fast Time Awards, four heat race victories, two Woodland Auto Display Dash wins, one semi-main win, two BR Motorsports / Racing Optics Hard Charger Awards, twelve top-10 finishes, and 101 feature laps led. Vander Weerd won last year’s “Evett Memorial” and will have his sights on another victory at Kings Speedway.
Sitting fifth in the USAC West Coast standings is Markus Niemela of Rauma, Finland. Piloting Steve Watt’s #81 Christian Stover Foundation / Lost Reality Maxim, Niemela earned his second BR Motorsports / Racing Optics “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors at Hanford with a third place run from eleventh. To date, Markus has yet to win a feature this year, but has two Weld Racing Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, one Woodland Auto Display Dash win, eight top-10 finishes, and 25 feature laps led on the season. The hard charging driver will be looking to add Saturday’s “Evett Memorial” to his resume.
Currently tenth in the standings, Oakdale’s Jeff Sibley leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Landon Hurst of Riverdale, Terra Bella’s Trent Carter, Garrett Long of Springville, and Springville’s Seth Hancock are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Bakersfield Bullet” Rusty Carlile, Jace Vander Weerd, "The Rickster" Ricky Kirkbride, Austin Liggett, Kevin Barnes, Marty Hawkins, Andy Ferris, Matt Day, Kolby Araki, Jonathan Logan, Don Gansen, Chris Gansen, 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 would like to thank Southwest Contractors, Hoosier Tire, Amsoil, BR Motorsports, Chris Kearns Presents, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Five Star Grafix, Kaeding Performance, Keizer Wheels, King Racing Products, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, SBI Fuel Systems, Saldana Racing Products, Weld Racing, 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 USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/#!/pages/USAC-West-Coast-Sprint-Car-Series/369549755817).
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JIM EVETT MEMORIAL WINNERS:
2010-Bud Kaeding; 2011-Danny Faria Jr.; 2012-Richard Vander Weerd.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1-Danny Faria Jr.- 612, 2-Ryan Bernal-608, 3-Bud Kaeding-574, 4-Richard Vander Weerd-564, 5-Markus Niemela-527, 6-Rusty Carlile-458, 7-Jace Vander Weerd-412, 8-Ricky Kirkbride-352, 9-Austin Liggett-321, 10-Jeff Sibley-286, 11-Kevin Barnes-284, 12-Landon Hurst-281, 13-Marty Hawkins-277, 14-Dennis Howell-250, 15-Andy Ferris-226, 16-Matt Day-222, 17-Chris Ennis-215, 18-Kolby Araki-183, 19-Jonathan Logan, 20-D.J. Netto-148.
2013 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
August 3: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Jim Evett Memorial)
September 7: Bakersfield Speedway - Bakersfield, CA
September 20: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Jim Turner Memorial)
September 21: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (John Anthony Sharp Memorial)
September 28: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series / Non-Points)
October 12: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Cotton Classic)
October 31: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Oval Nationals / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series / Non-Points)
November 14: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / Non-Points)
November 15: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / Non-Points)
November 16: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / $7,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC Southwest Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
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