USAC West Coast Sprint Cars head to Bakersfield

Austin Liggett. (Steve Lafond / Tear-Off Heaven Fotos)
Austin Liggett. (Steve Lafond / Tear-Off Heaven Fotos)
Austin Liggett. (Steve Lafond / Tear-Off Heaven Fotos)

From Lance Jennings

Phoenix, AZ — (March 31, 2015) — This Saturday, April 4th, the popular USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will make their only appearance of the year at Bakersfield Speedway. Promoted by Scott Schweitzer, the fifth point race of the season will also showcase Hobby Stocks, Street Stocks, American Stocks, and Hard Tops. The Pit Gates will open at 2:00pm, the Front Gates open at 4:00pm with Racing at “The West’s Fastest 1/3-Mile High Banked Clay Oval” set for 6:00pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.bakersfieldspeedway.com or call 661.393.3373.

Since April 2009, the Bakersfield facility has hosted eleven West Coast Sprint Car events. Davey Pombo leads all drivers with three feature wins and Jace Vander Weerd holds the 1-lap qualifying track record of 12.597, set on March 22, 2014. On that date, Troy Rutherford won the last Bakersfield main event and other winners are Peter Murphy (1), Craig Stidham (1), “The Rickster” Ricky Kirkbride (1), Bud Kaeding (1), Richard Vander Weerd (1), Ryan Bernal (1), and “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. (1).

NOTICE TO RACERS: Saturday’s race at Bakersfield 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. The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Rule Book can be found online at www.westcoastsprintcars.com and www.usacracing.com.

After earning last Saturday’s feature win at Hanford, Ryan Bernal of Hollister, California has a fourteen point lead over the competition. Piloting the Mike Phulps owned #56 Tri-L Mandarin Ranch / Core Power ART, Bernal has four main event wins, 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, five top-10 finishes, and 50 feature laps led on the year. Ryan leads all drivers with twenty-four career series wins and will be looking to add another trophy to his collection.

Tipton, California’s “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. is second in the point standings. Racing Junior Bowman’s #17V Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / SurfnSprint Spike, Faria led thirteen laps at Hanford before taking second at the checkered flags. To date, the 2013 Champion has one high point driver award, two heat race victories, three top-10 finishes, and 21 feature laps led to his credit. “Hollywood” will have his sights on gaining valuable points at Bakersfield with his seventh career USAC West Coast victory.

Jace Vander Weerd of Visalia, California has climbed to third in the USAC West Coast point chase. Driving the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd took third at Hanford’s opening night. Heading to Saturday, the Bakersfield 1-lap track record holder has one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main Win and four top-10 finishes on the season. Jace will be looking to win his fifth career series win this Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.

After scoring ninth last Saturday, Tracy, California’s Austin Liggett has risen to fourth in championship points. Piloting the family owned #83 Excel Environmental Services / Home Connections Inc. ART, Liggett has two heat race victories and three top-10 finishes in the campaign. At Bakersfield, the former Rookie of the Year will have his sights on claiming his second career feature win.

Richard Vander Weerd of Visalia, California sits fifth in the West Coast standings. Racing the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd was leading the Hanford feature before mechanical issues ended his night. Scoring eighteenth, the 2011 Champion has one heat race victory, three top-10 finishes, and 24 feature laps led in the campaign. Richard will be looking to claim his sixteenth career USAC West Coast victory at Bakersfield.

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, Shannon McQueen, and Colton Slack are also in contention.

Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “Shifter” Landon Hurst, D.J. Johnson, Jeff Sibley, Max Adams, Kevin Barnes, Brody Roa, Matt Mitchell, “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, Johnathon Henry, Matt Day, Trent Carter, and more.

Bakersfield Speedway is located at 5001 North Chester Extension in Bakersfield, California. Adult tickets are $16, Senior tickets (65 & older) are $14, Military tickets (with ID) are $14, Kids tickets (12-6) are $6, and Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.bakersfieldspeedway.com or call 661.393.3373.

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.