By Dick Jordan
Ryan Bernal of Hollister, Calif. sits atop the 2011 USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car standings entering this Saturday night races at Thunderbowl Speedway in Tulare, Calif.
Bernal finished fifth in last Saturday’s 30-lap feature at Santa Maria, Calif. and has a nine-point lead over Greg Alexander, who was 10th at Santa Maria.
Jace VanderWeerd of Visalia, Calif. wheeled his VanderWeerd Construction/Battery Worx Maxim/Shark to victory at Santa Maria Speedway, leading the first seven and last seven laps. T.J. Smith, who led laps 8-23, finished second ahead of Danny Faria Jr., Justyne Hamblin and Bernal.
Bud Kaeding won last month at Tulare in a race where Bernal and Alexander finished second and third.
USAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS
1-Ryan Bernal-122, 2-Greg Alexander-113, 3-Jace VanderWeerd-110, 4-Wes Gutierrez-108, 5-T.J. Smith-101, 6-Justyne Hamblin-88, 7-Danny Faria Jr.-85, 8-Davey Pombo-84, 9-Richard VanderWeerd-77, 10-Bud Kaeding-76.