STIDHAM LEADS 360s TO TULARE THUNDERBOWL SATURDAY

From Dick Jordan

Craig Stidham of Fresno, Calif. is atop the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car standings as the series returns to the Gropetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. Stidham finished second to Dean Alexander in the series opener at the third-mile dirt oval March 6.

Stidham has a 28-point lead over Danny Faria, Jr. in the latest standings after finishing third in last Saturday night’s 30-lapper at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway.

Davey Pombo of Kerman, Calif. led the final 16 laps of Saturday’s Bakersfield feature. He took the lead from Chris Ennis on lap 17 and led the rest of the way in his Junior Bowman Buster & Ziggy Bullet/Downing to beat Rusty Carlile, Stidham, Andy Ferris and Jonathan Logan.

Danny Faria Jr. was the fastest qualifier. Garrett Ishii led the first three laps and Ennis led the next 13 before Pombo took over.

USAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT SERIES POINT STANDINGS

1-Craig Stidham-183; 2-Danny Faria Jr.-155; 3-Garrett Ishii-146; 4-Chris Ennis-141; 5-T.J. Smith-140; 6-Davey Pombo-134; 7-Jonathan Logan-129; 8-Rusty Carlile-123; 9-Andy Ferris-119; 10-Peter Murphy-117.