by Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – SEPTEMBER 19, 2012… This Saturday, September 22nd, Kevin Montgomery’s Canyon Speedway Park will host the final round of the USAC vs. ASCS “Grudge Series.” Showcasing many of the best non-winged 360 sprint car drivers in California and Arizona, the winner of the “Brawl For It All” will pocket $2,500 with $5,000 to be awarded to the mini-series champion. The Southwest Modlites and ASCS2 Mini Sprints will join the action packed card with racing scheduled to start at 7:00pm. An open practice will be held from 6:00pm-9:00pm on Friday night.
Thanks to sponsorship from Southwest Contractors, Hoosier Tire, and ParkerStore of Phoenix, the mini-series has a point fund of $15,000. Saturday’s feature will pay $300-to-start, with a $50 entry fee to all competitors. Promoters Chris Kearns and Montgomery are looking for more sponsorship to increase the point fund, which is contingent on 100% support of all three events and listed at the end of this release.
Heading into Saturday’s event, Ryan Bernal of Hollister leads the standings of the 3-race “Grudge Series.” Piloting Keith Ford’s #73 King Racing Products / A&A Precision Machine Spike, Bernal was a close second to Bud Kaeding at Las Vegas on March 8th and scored third on July 7th at Santa Maria. In USAC West Coast Sprint Car competition, the 2-time Santa Maria track champion is second in points with three feature wins to his credit.
“Showtime” Danny Sheridan of Santa Maria is second in the point chase. Splitting time between the Pace Lighting sponsored #21 KPC of Warren Dorathy and the Kittle Motorsports’ #18K Sherman, the former Bandit Sprint Car Champion was fifth at Las Vegas and second at his hometown track. Sheridan is currently fifth in USAC West Coast points with five top-5 finishes on the season.
Ojai’s Troy Rutherford sits third in the “Grudge Series” point standings. Driving his #11 Amsoil / Trench Shoring TCR, the former VRA Sprint Car Champion ran fourth in the Las Vegas “Sin City Showdown” and claimed seventh at Santa Maria. Currently seventh in VRA points, Rutherford has three top-five finishes and won the Ventura season opener on March 3rd.
Bud Kaeding of Campbell is currently fourth in the mini-series points. Piloting Junior Bowman’s #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Bullet, the 3-time USAC Silver Crown Champion won at Las Vegas and scored twelfth at Santa Maria’s “War at the Shore.” To date, Kaeding has won four USAC West Coast main events, locked up the series title, and is scheduled to be racing at Eldora’s 4 Crown Nationals on Saturday.
Phoenix’s R.J. Johnson is fifth in the “Grudge Series” point chase. Driving Bobby Martin’s #51 Weiler Farms / Pecon Builders Maxim, the former Arizona Midget Champion was seventh at Las Vegas and ran sixth at Santa Maria. The second generation driver is currently second in the ASCS Canyon standings with nine top-5 finishes on the season.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are 4-time USAC/CRA Champion Mike Spencer, 4-time ASCS Southwest Champion Rick Ziehl, Brody Roa, Mike Martin, ASCS Canyon Point Leader Charles Davis Jr., Josh Pelkey, “Bullet” Bob Ream Jr., “The Shermanator” Jeremy Sherman, and many more.
Canyon Speedway Park is located at 9777 West Carefree Highway in Peoria, Arizona. To get to the track, take Lake Pleasant Parkway, then 1.3 miles West on Carefree Highway. Grandstand tickets are $15 and $2 off for Military, Seniors (55+), and Students. Kids 7-12 are $6 and Children 6 and under are FREE. VIP passes are $20 and advance tickets are on sale now. More event information can be found at www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or calling (602) 258-7223 (RACE).
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series would like to thank Southwest Contractors, Hoosier Tire, Amsoil, ButlerBuilt, Competition Suspension Inc., Cory Kruseman’s Sprint Car & Midget Driving School, Crow Enterprizes, DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Hinchman-Indy Racing Uniforms, Integra Shocks, Kaeding Performance, Keizer Wheels, LRB Inc. Race Products, ParkerStore of Phoenix, Ringers Gloves, Rod End Supply, SBI Fuel Systems, Saferacer.com, Saldana Racing Products, Sander Engineering, and Weld Racing for their support.
For more information on the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, www.racesantamariaspeedway.com, or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/#!/pages/USAC-West-Coast-Sprint-Car-Series/369549755817)
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USAC vs. ASCS GRUDGE SERIES POINT FUND:
1. $5000; 2. $2500; 3. $1250; 4. $1000; 5. $800; 6. $700; 7. $600; 8. $550; 9. $525; 10. $500; 11. $300; 12. $300; 13. $300; 14. $300; 15. $300.
USAC vs. ASCS GRUDGE SERIES POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ryan Bernal 311; 2. Danny Sheridan 305; 3. Troy Rutherford 293; 4. Bud Kaeding 290; 5. R.J. Johnson 287; 6. Cory Kruseman 286; 7. Mike Spencer 271; 8. Danny Faria Jr. 271; 9. Rick Ziehl 260; 10. Brody Roa 256; 11. Mike Martin 244; 12. Tom Hendricks 236; 13. Ricky Kirkbride 189; 14. Rusty Carlile 172; 15. Casey Shuman 154; 16. Josh Ford 139; 17. Markus Niemela 139; 18. Nic Faas 136; 19. Charles Davis Jr. 133; 20. Brian Hosford 128.
2012 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
September 22: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / Non-Points)
September 29: Santa Maria Speedway – Santa Maria, CA (Billet Cup / John Jewett Memorial / Non-Points)
October 13: Kings Speedway – Hanford, CA (Cotton Classic)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event With ASCS Canyon Region Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.