By Dick Jordan
The VanderWeerd brothers, Richard and Jace of Visalia, Calif., lead the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint cars back to Santa Maria (Calif.) Speedway this Saturday, separated by 62 points in the latest tally. They will need to keep an eye on third-ranking Ryan Bernal, however. Bernal now sits just five points behind Jace after winning last Saturday’s 30-lapper at Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif.
Bernal, of Hollister, Calif., passed Danny Sheridan on lap nine and led the last 22 laps of Saturday’s race to beat T.J. Smith, fast qualifier Jace VanderWeerd, Peter Murphy and Richard VanderWeerd to the checkered flag.
Jace won the April pouting at Santa Maria, but Bernal is the most recent winner, taking the July 30 race at the one-third mile dirt oval.
USAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS
1-Richard VanderWeerd-574; 2-Jace VanderWeerd-512; 3-Ryan Bernal-507; 4-Wes Gutierrez-475; 5-Danny Faria Jr.-461; 6-Dennis Howell-398; 7-T.J. Smith-395; 8-Bud Kaeding-376; 9-Justyne Hamblin-367; 10-Greg Alexander-352;.