By Dick Jordan
Four different drivers have scored victories in the four USAC West Coast 360 Sprint races held this year at Santa Maria (Calif.) Speedway, site of this Saturday night’s racing program. Included are point leader Craig Stidham, T.J. Smith, Jace VanderWeerd and Danny Sheridan.
Stidham takes a 49-point lead over Davey Pombo into this Saturday’s Santa Maria race. Pombo is one of only three drivers to post a “top-10” finish in all four previous Santa Maria outings. Stidham and Richard VanderWeerd are the others.
T.J. Smith of Fresno, Calif. led the final 28 laps to win Saturday night’s 30-lap USAC West Coast 360 Sprint race at Hanford, Calif.’s Giant Chevrolet Speedway in his UHL Rubber/Simpson Maxim/S&S. Smith passed Peter Murphy on the third lap and led the rest of the way to beat Danny Faria Jr., Stidham, Justyne Hamblin and fast qualifier Pombo.
USAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1-Craig Stidham-961, 2-Davey Pombo-912, 3-T.J. Smith-816, 4-Justyne Hamblin-737, 5-Peter Murphy-685, 6-Danny Faria Jr.-671, 7-Rusty Carlile-646, 8-Richard VanderWeerd-585, 9-Jace VanderWeerd-562, 10-Chris Ennis-491.