From Lance Jennings
Pheonix, AZ — (March 25, 2015) — This Saturday, March 28th, the cars and stars of the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will invade Hanford, California’s newly rechristened Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds. Promoted by Bubby Morse and Ron Vander Weerd, the fourth point race of the season will also feature the Western RaceSaver Wing Sprints, Mini Stocks, and Stock Cars. The pit gates will open at 3:00pm, the front gates open at 5:30pm, and racing is scheduled for 7:00pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.racekingsspeedway.com or call 559.651.1990.
Since March 2009, thirty-seven USAC West Coast Sprint Car races have been held at the Kings County Fairgrounds. Ryan Bernal and Richard Vander Weerd lead all drivers with six Hanford wins and Peter Murphy holds the 1-lap qualifying record of 15.290, set on March 13, 2010. Bernal won the last Hanford appearance on June 7, 2014 and other winners are Danny Faria Jr. (4), Bud Kaeding (4), Justyne Hamblin (2), Peter Murphy (2), T.J. Smith (2), Craig Stidham (2), Jace Vander Weerd (2), Aaron Altaffer (1), Rusty Carlile (1), Wes Gutierrez (1), Cory Kruseman (1), Davey Pombo (1), Troy Rutherford (1), and Terry Schank Jr. (1).
NOTICE TO RACERS: Saturday’s race at Hanford will be run under the USAC West Coast Rule Book and a $35 entry fee will be collected. The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is the ONLY legal right rear tire and all four corners must be Hoosier. Cockpit adjustable shocks are NOT allowed and engine restrictor rules are 1-7/8″ with open heads and 2-3/16″ with ASCS cylinder heads. The weight rule is 1,475 lbs. with driver. Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds has 95db at 100 feet state mandated sound rule and the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Rule Book can be found online at www.westcoastsprintcars.com and www.usacracing.com.
After earning his third win of the season at Tulare on March 14th, Hollister, California’s Ryan Bernal has a seven point advantage over the competition. Driving the Mike Phulps owned #56 Tri-L Mandarin Ranch / Core Power ART, Bernal also has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two high-point driver awards, three heat race victories, one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, four top-10 finishes, and 48 feature laps led to his credit. Ryan will be looking for his series leading twenty-fourth main event win this Saturday night.
“Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton, California is second in the point standings. Racing Junior Bowman’s #17V Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / SurfnSprint Spike, Faria claimed third in the Tulare 30-lap feature. To date, the 2013 Champion has one high point driver award, one heat race victory, two top-10 finishes, and eight feature laps led on the season. “Hollywood” will have his sights on claiming his seventh career USAC West Coast victory at Hanford.
Roseville, California’s Colby Copeland sits third in the USAC West Coast point chase. Piloting Ted Williams’ #74 Bandit Racing / Marks Bolts Maxim, Copeland raced to second at Tulare after starting eleventh. As this writing goes to press, the versatile driver has one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award and three top-10 finishes in 2015. Copeland and the Arizona based Williams team are not expected to compete at the Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds.
Richard Vander Weerd of Visalia, California is fourth in the championship standings. Racing the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd led nine laps at Tulare before taking fifth at the checkered flags. Heading to Hanford, the 2011 Champion has one heat race victory and three top-10 finishes on the year. Richard will be looking to gain valuable points with Saturday’s 30-lap victory at the Kings County Fairgrounds.
Richard’s twin brother Jace Vander Weerd sits fifth in the USAC West Coast point chase. Piloting the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, the Visalia, California driver scored eighth at Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway. Entering Saturday’s race, Vander Weerd has one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main Win and three top-10 finishes on the year. Jace won the inaugural West Coast Sprint Car race at Hanford and will have his sights on his fifth career triumph.
Currently ninth in points, Trey Marcham of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. California’s Tristan Guardino, Ryan Timmons, and Shannon McQueen are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Austin Liggett, “Shifter” Landon Hurst, D.J. Johnson, Jeff Sibley, Kevin Barnes, Brody Roa, “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, Max Adams, Matt Day, Jonathan Logan, and more.
Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds is located at 801 South 10th Avenue in Hanford, California. Adult Reserved Grandstand tickets are $15, Adult General Admission tickets are $12 (with $3 discounts available for Seniors (55+) and Students 6-18). Kids General Admission tickets (6 and under) are $5. Camping is available on the fairgrounds and for more event information, visit www.racekingsspeedway.com or call 559.651.1990.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series thanks Amsoil, Hoosier Tire, Chris Kearns Presents, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Ultra Shield Race Products, 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 lwjennings@earthlink.net.
For more information, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, Facebook (www.facebook.com/#!/pages/USAC-West-Coast-Sprint-Car-Series/369549755817), or Twitter (www.twitter.com/USACwc360). Mike Truex’s Loudpedal Productions has DVDs available for purchase that feature the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars and for more information, call 805.407.7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com.
———————————————–
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS:
2009-Justyne Hamblin, 2010-Craig Stidham, 2011-Richard Vander Weerd, 2012-Bud Kaeding, 2013-Danny Faria Jr., 2014-Matt Mitchell.
HANFORD USAC WEST COAST SPRINT WINS:
6-Ryan Bernal, 6-Richard Vander Weerd, 4-Danny Faria Jr., 4-Bud Kaeding, 2-Justyne Hamblin, 2-Peter Murphy, 2-T.J. Smith, 2-Craig Stidham, 2-Jace Vander Weerd, 1-Aaron Altaffer, 1-Rusty Carlile, 1-Wes Gutierrez, 1-Cory Kruseman, 1-Davey Pombo, 1-Troy Rutherford, 1-Terry Schank Jr.
HANFORD USAC WEST COAST 1-LAP QUALIFYING RECORD:
Peter Murphy – 15.290 (03/13/10)
2015 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS:
3-Ryan Bernal, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Stevie Sussex.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ryan Bernal 178, 2. Danny Faria Jr. 171, 3. Colby Copeland 166, 4. Richard Vander Weerd 145, 5. Jace Vander Weerd 136, 6. Austin Liggett 133, 7. Bud Kaeding 122, 8. Landon Hurst 117, 9. Trey Marcham 110, 10. D.J. Johnson 105, 11. Stevie Sussex 72, 12. Tristan Guardino 71, —. Ryan Timmons 71, 14. Tye Mihocko 69, 15. Jim Richardson 64, 16. Charles Davis Jr. 63, 17. Matt Mitchell 62, —. Jeff Sibley 62, 19. Hunter Schuerenberg 57, 20. Kevin Barnes 53.
2015 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
March 28: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds – Hanford, CA
April 4: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA
April 11: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA
May 16: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA (Chris & Brian Faria Memorial)
May 30: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA
June 20: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA
June 27: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds – Hanford, CA
July 25: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA (Peter Murphy Classic)
August 1: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds – Hanford, CA
August 22: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Bud Stanfield Memorial)
September 26: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series / Non-Points)
October 3: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds – Hanford, CA
October 10: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA (KRC Safety Fall Shootout)
November 19: *USA Raceway – Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series)
November 20: *USA Raceway – Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series)
November 21: *USA Raceway – Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series)
———————————————–
* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC Southwest Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.