by Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – MAY 7, 2013… This Saturday, May 11th, the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will make their first of six appearances at Kings Speedway in Hanford. The “2nd Annual Southwest Contractors Billet Cup” will feature a special points format with a fully inverted 30-lap main event paying $1,500-to-win and $200-to-start. In addition, an extra $8,350 point fund with $2,000 awarded to the highest point driver will be up for grabs. With over $16,000 available in total purses and contingencies, the “Billet Cup” will have one of the biggest paydays of the season. The winged Rebel Cup 360 Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCS Stock Cars, and Vintage Cars will join the action packed card. The Spectator Gates will open at 5:00pm with racing scheduled for 6:30pm.
Showcasing a format similar to the popular “Trophy Cup,” Promoters Chris Kearns and Scott Woodhouse are offering $3,500 to the driver that can win from the rear of the field. For placing last in the feature, that driver will get a minimum payout of $400. Each driver that attends the special event will earn 50 championship points and the entry fee is $50. Both the main event purse and point fund are listed at the end of this release.
Since 2009, the Hanford clay oval has showcased twenty-nine West Coast Sprint Car events. Ryan Bernal, Bud Kaeding, and Richard Vander Weerd lead all drivers with four wins each. Other drivers to have claimed victories are Danny Faria Jr. (2), Justyne Hamblin (2), Peter Murphy (2), T.J. Smith (2), Craig Stidham (2), Aaron Altaffer (1), Rusty Carlile (1), Wes Gutierrez (1), Cory Kruseman (1), Davey Pombo (1), Terry Schank Jr. (1), and Jace Vander Weerd (1).
Ryan Bernal of Hollister continues to lead the point chase with a thirty point advantage over the competition. Piloting Keith Ford’s #73 King Racing Products / A&A Precision Machine Spike, Bernal claimed his fourth win of the season at Bakersfield on April 27th. To date, the 2-time Santa Maria track champion has three heat race victories, one Woodland Auto Display Dash win, one BR Motorsports / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, eight top-5 finishes, and 81 feature laps led. Ryan and Crew Chief Jimmy May will be looking for a big payday this Saturday at Hanford.
Visalia’s Richard Vander Weerd is second in the championship points. Racing the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Richard claimed second at Bakersfield. The 2011 Champion has two feature wins, two Weld Racing Fast Time Awards, two heat race victories, two Woodland Auto Display Dash wins, one semi-main win, two BR Motorsports / Racing Optics Hard Charger Awards, seven top-5 finishes, and 59 feature laps led. At Hanford, Vander Weerd will be looking to add another “Billet Cup” victory to his resume.
“Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton has climbed to third in the point standings. Driving his #17V Johnston Calf Pens / DeBoer & Sons Trucking Spike, Faria led three laps at Bakersfield before scoring fourth at the checkered flags. Currently, “Hollywood” has two heat race victories, two top-5 finishes, and four feature lap led to his credit. Danny and Crew Chief Vinnie Lattner will have their sights on a breakthrough victory at Kings Speedway.
Visalia’s Jace Vander Weerd of Visalia sits fourth in the points chase. Piloting the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Jace flipped in the April 27th feature and finished sixteenth. To date, the former USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has two heat race victories, one Woodland Auto Display Dash win, and four top-5 finishes in the campaign. Vander Weerd will be looking to rebound with a $3,500 “Billet Cup” paycheck this Saturday night.
Bud Kaeding of Campbell is fifth in the USAC West Coast standing. Driving Junior Bowman’s #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Bullet, Kaeding scored third in the Bakersfield main event. Currently, the defending champion has two heat race victories, one Woodland Auto Display Dash win, and five top-5 finishes to his credit. On Saturday, Bud will be one of the favorites to claim the “Billet Cup” trophy.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Markus Niemela, “The Bakersfield Bullet” Rusty Carlile, “The Rickster” Ricky Kirkbride, Marty Hawkins, “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, Austin Liggett, Rookie Contender Landon Hurst, Kevin Barnes, Dennis Howell, Jonathan Logan, Matt Day, Andy Ferris, and more.
Kings Speedway is located on the Kings County Fairgrounds at 801 South 10th Avenue in Hanford, California. Reserved Grandstand tickets are $15 with discounts available for Seniors (55+), Military (with I.D.), and Children 7-12. Kids 6 and under are FREE at all non-special events. Advance tickets are on sale now and camping is available on the fairgrounds. For more event information, visit www.kingsspeedway.net or call (559) 584-RACE (7223).
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series would like to thank Southwest Contractors, Hoosier Tire, Amsoil, BR Motorsports, Chris Kearns Presents, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, Five Star Grafix, Kaeding Performance, Keizer Wheels, King Racing Products, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, SBI Fuel Systems, Saldana Racing Products, Weld Racing, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, email PR Director Lance Jennings at lwjennings@earthlink.net.
For more information on the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/#!/pages/
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BILLET CUP MAIN EVENT PURSE:
1. $1,500; 2. $800; 3. $600; 4. $500; 5. $400; 6. $350; 7. $300; 8. $250; 9. $225; 10. $200; 11. $200; 12. $200; 13. $200; 14. $200; 15. $200; 16. $200; 17. $200; 18. $200; 19. $200; 20. $200; 21. $200; 22. $200. TOTAL=$7,525.
BILLET CUP POINT FUND:
1. $2,000; 2. $800; 3. $650; 4. $550; 5. $450; 6. $400; 7. $350; 8. $300, 9. $250; 10. $200; 11. $200; 12. $200; 13. $200; 14. $200; 15. $200; 16. $200; 17. $200; 18. $200; 19. $200; 20. $200; 21. $200; 22. $200. TOTAL=$8,350.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1-Ryan Bernal-404, 2-Richard Vander Weerd-374, 3-Danny Faria Jr.-327, 4-Jace Vander Weerd-306, 5-Bud Kaeding-305, 6-Markus Niemela-294, 7-Rusty Carlile-264, 8-Ricky Kirkbride-226, 9-Marty Hawkins-200, 10-Chris Ennis-162, 11-Austin Liggett-158; 12-Landon Hurst-151; 13-Brody Roa-146; 14-Kevin Barnes-145; 15-Dennis Howell-140; 16-Jonathan Logan-136; 17-Matt Day-122; 18-Andy Ferris-115; 19-Trent Carter-111; 20-Jeff Sibley-103.
2013 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
May 11: Kings Speedway – Hanford, CA (Billet Cup)
June 8: Kings Speedway – Hanford, CA
June 22: Santa Maria Speedway – Santa Maria, CA (Bud Stanfield Memorial)
July 6: Santa Maria Speedway – Santa Maria, CA (Doug Fort Memorial)
July 20: Kings Speedway – Hanford, CA
August 3: Kings Speedway – Hanford, CA (Jim Evett Memorial)
September 7: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA
September 20: Kings Speedway – Hanford, CA (Jim Turner Memorial)
September 21: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA (John Anthony Sharp Memorial)
September 28: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series / Non-Points)
October 12: Kings Speedway – Hanford, CA (Cotton Classic)
October 31: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series / Non-Points)
November 14: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / Non-Points)
November 15: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / Non-Points)
November 16: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / $7,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC Southwest Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.