From Dick Jordan
Ryan Bernal of Hollister, Calif. leads the 2013 USAC West Coast Sprint Cars to Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway this Saturday night after sweeping a pair of series openers last weekend at the Tulare (Calif.) Thunderbowl Raceway.
Bernal finished third in last year’s Bakersfield outing behind winner Bud Kaeding, who trails by 10 points in the standings after a pair of thirds at Tulare.
Bernal piloted the Keith Ford King Racing Products/A & A Precision Machine Spike/Mopar in a wire-to-wire win Saturday and led the final five laps of an abbreviated 15-lapper Friday after time constraints interrupted the scheduled 25-lapper.
Markus Niemela led the first 10 laps and finished second Saturday ahead of Kaeding, Danny Faria Jr. and Jace Vander Weerd. On Friday, Richard Vander Weerd was second ahead of Kaeding, Austin Liggett and Jace Vander Weerd.
2013 USAC West Coast Sprint Car Standings: 1-Ryan Bernal-134, 2-Bud Kaeding-124, 3-Jace Vander Weerd-111, 4-Danny Faria Jr.-108, 5-Richard Vander Weerd-95, 6-Markus Niemela-93, 7-Ricky Kirkbride-86, 8-Landon Hurst-83, 9-Austin Liggett-80, 10-Marty Hawkins-79.