From Lance Jennings
Santa Maria, CA — (September 29, 2012) — This Saturday night, September 29th, the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will return to Chris Kearns’ Santa Maria Speedway for the “John Jewett Memorial Billet Cup” presented by Southwest Contractors. The final series appearance of 2012 at Santa Maria will feature a passing points format with a fully inverted main event paying $2,500-to-win, $300-to-start, and $100-to-non-transfers. In addition, the 40-lap main event will have an extra $10,000 point fund, making this the richest night in series history. Joining the action packed card will be the Toste Construction Mini Stocks and Super Modifieds. The front gates will open at 4:30pm, time trials will start at 5:00pm, and racing at “The West Coast’s Best Short Track” will begin at 6:00pm.
Showcasing a format similar to the popular “Trophy Cup,” Promoter Chris Kearns has put together nearly $25,000 in total payout for this one day event. With the extra point fund, the high point driver entering the main event could take home $5,000 if they win from the rear of the field. The “John Jewett Memorial Billet Cup” winner will also get a one-of-a-kind custom billet aluminum cup trophy. For placing last in the feature, that driver will get a minimum bonus of $200, bringing their payday to $500. The entry fee is $75 and both the main event purse and point fund are listed at the end of this release.
Heading into Saturday’s non-point “Billet Cup,” Campbell’s Bud Kaeding leads the standings and has a lock on the championship. Driving Junior Bowman’s #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Bullet, the 3-time USAC Silver Crown Champion has four main event wins, six heat race victories, two Ringers Gloves / Kaeding Performance Hard Charger Awards, ten top-5 finishes, and 47 feature laps led. With the extra money up for grabs, Kaeding will be looking to score his first series win at Santa Maria.
Ryan Bernal of Hollister is second in the point chase. Piloting Keith Ford’s #73 King Racing Products / A&A Precision Machine Spike, the 2-time Santa Maria track champion has three feature wins, two Sander Engineering / Rod End Supply Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, two Competition Suspension Inc. / Diversified Machine Inc. Semi-Main wins, two Ringers Gloves / Kaeding Performance Hard Charger Awards, eight top-5 finishes, and 81 feature laps led. Bernal won the $5,000 USAC vs. ASCS Grudge Series Championship last week at Canyon and will be looking for another big payday on Saturday.
Sitting third in the point standings is Rauma, Finland’s Markus Niemela. Competing in his first season with the USAC West Coast Sprints, the pilot of Steve Watt’s #81 Lost Reality / Steve Watt Enterprises Maxim has yet to win feature. To date, the hard charging driver has one Sander Engineering / Rod End Supply Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, four top-5 finishes, and 17 feature laps led. Niemela will be among the favorites to score the Billet Cup main event win.
Tipton’s “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. is fourth in the championship points. Driving his #17V Johnston Calf Pens / Buster & Ziggy Enterprises Bullet, Faria is another fast driver that has yet to score a series win in 2012. “Hollywood” has one Sander Engineering / Rod End Supply Fast Time Award, four heat race victories, one Ringers Gloves / Kaeding Performance Hard Charger Award, and four top-5 finishes. Danny has had a tough season and will have his sights on the extra money up for grabs at Santa Maria.
“Showtime” Danny Sheridan of Santa Maria is currently fifth in points. Last Saturday, the pilot of Keith Ford’s #73X King Racing Products / A&A Precision Machine Spike ran fifth at Canyon, placing him second in the Grudge Series. To date, the former Bandit Sprint Car Champion has yet to claim a series feature in 2012, but has one Sander Engineering / Rod End Supply Fast Time Award, four heat race victories, one Ringers Gloves / Kaeding Performance Hard Charger Award, six top-5 finishes, and 10 feature laps led. Sheridan won the August 11th USAC/CRA feature at his hometown track and will be looking to win the John Jewett Memorial Billet Cup.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are 2011 Champion Richard Vander Weerd, “The Rickster” Ricky Kirkbride, “The Bakersfield Bullet” Rusty Carlile, 2009 Champion Justyne Hamblin, Austin Liggett, Chris Gansen, Don Gansen, 4-Time USAC/CRA Champion Mike Spencer, 2004 SCRA Champion “Super” Rickie Gaunt, and many more.
Santa Maria Speedway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo, California. Adult tickets are $18, Senior, Military, and Student tickets (13-17) are $16, Kids tickets (6-12) are $6, and Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.racesantamariaspeedway.com or call (805) 922-2232.
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-360S/369549755817 ).
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BILLET CUP MAIN EVENT PURSE:
1. $2,500; 2. $1,250; 3. $800; 4. $700; 5. $600; 6. $500; 7. $450; 8. $400; 9. $350; 10. $300; 11. $300; 12. $300; 13. $300; 14. $300; 15. $300; 16. $300; 17. $300; 18. $300; 19. $300; 20. $300; 21. $300; 22. $300. TOTAL=$11,450.
BILLET CUP POINT FUND:
1. $2,500; 2. $1,250; 3. $750; 4. $650; 5. $600; 6. $500; 7. $400; 8. $350, 9. $325; 10. $300; 11. $250; 12. $225; 13. $200; 14. $200; 15. $200; 16. $200; 17. $200; 18. $200; 19. $200; 20. $200; 21. $200; 22. $200. TOTAL=$10,000.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT STANDINGS:
1. Bud Kaeding 615; 2. Ryan Bernal 489; 3. Markus Niemela 484; 4. Danny Faria Jr. 464; 5. Danny Sheridan 398; 6. Matt Mitchell 391; 7. Richard Vander Weerd 391; 8. Ricky Kirkbride 362; 9. Rusty Carlile 351; 10. Justyne Hamblin 317; 11. Austin Liggett 299; 12. Chris Gansen 279; 13. Kevin Barnes 272; 14. Chris Ennis 198; 15. Don Gansen 183; 16. Steve Conrad 181; 17. Jace Vander Weerd 176; 18. Tyler Dolacki 165; 19. Jared Little 158; 20. Jonathon Logan 154.
2012 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
September 29: Santa Maria Speedway – Santa Maria, CA (Billet Cup / John Jewett Memorial / Non-Points)
October 13: Kings Speedway – Hanford, CA (Cotton Classic)