by Lance Jennings
HANFORD, CA – MAY 12, 2013… Starting fourteenth, Hollister’s Ryan Bernal grabbed the lead from Dennis Howell on lap 37 to claim the “2nd Annual Southwest Contractors Billet Cup” at Kings Speedway. Bernal earned $2,300 for scoring his fifth USAC West Coast Sprint Car victory and “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. won the night’s point chase by a narrow margin. Bud Kaeding, Dennis Howell, Faria, and Landon Hurst followed rounded out the top-five drivers in the nonstop race.
Racing the Keith Ford owned #73 King Racing Products / A&A Precision Machine Spike, Ryan Bernal ranked fourth entering the 40-lap main event. The 2-time Santa Maria track champion qualified eighth overall, ran second in his heat race, and won the SBI Fuel Systems Qualifier #2. With the night’s full inversion format, Bernal started deep in the field and charged to fifth by the fifth lap. Running the outside line and gaining momentum, Ryan continued his forward march and was not to be denied on this night. Finishing second in the “Billet Cup” standings, the series point leader has four heat race victories, one Woodland Auto Display Dash win, one BR Motorsports / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, nine top-5 finishes, and 85 feature laps led. Bernal holds a thirty point lead over the competition heading to Hanford on June 8th.
Campbell’s Bud Kaeding started tenth in the feature and took the lead from Hurst on lap fourteen. Unfortunately, Kaeding’s lead was brief after an incident with traffic sent the last year’s champion into the infield. Junior Bowman’s #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Bullet recovered in fourth and Bud raced to second at the checkered flags. Scoring third in the “Billet Cup” points, the 3-time Oval Nationals Champion was ninth fast in time trials, second in his heat race, and fourth in his qualifying race. To date, Kaeding is fifth in the point standings with two heat race victories, one Woodland Auto Display Dash win, and six top-5 finishes to his credit.
Dennis Howell of Rancho Palos Verdes inherited the lead after Kaeding’s visit to the infield. Driving the family owned #62 San Pedro Auto Body / Howell-Meyer Racing Maxim, Howell led twenty laps before settling for third at the checkered flags. The USAC Midget graduate placed fourth in the “Billet Cup” points after qualifying fourth, running fourth in his heat race, and finishing fifth in his qualifier. Dennis is currently fifteenth in the standings with one Weld Racing Fast Time Award and four top-10 finishes on the year.
Tipton’s “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. had a night to remember at Kings Speedway. Piloting his #17V Johnston Calf Pens / DeBoer & Sons Trucking Spike, Faria was fourth in the feature and won the $2,000 “Billet Cup” title after a tangle on the initial start. “Hollywood” earned the program’s Weld Racing Fast Time Award, won the Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1, won the Keizer Wheels Qualifier #1, and scored the BR Motorsports / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award. To date, Danny is third in the point chase with four heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 4 feature laps led in the campaign.
Rookie contender Landon Hurst of Riverdale claimed fifth after leading the first thirteen laps. Racing the family owned #179 Kings River Commodities / Duinkerken Farms Maxim, Hurst ranked eighth in the “Billet Cup” after qualifying fifteenth, placing third in his heat race, and running sixth in the qualifier. Currently, Landon sits twelfth in points with one BR Motorsports / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award and two top-10 finishes in the campaign.
Tracy’s Austin Liggett won the program’s 10-lap DJ Safety Heat Race #2. Driving the family owned #83 Excel Environmental Services / Home Connections Inc. Maxim, Liggett scored fifteenth in the main event and twelfth in points after a flat tire ended his night. Earlier in the program, last season’s Rookie of the Year was eleventh quick in time trials and placed third in his qualifier. To date, Austin is eleventh in the point standings with one top-5 finish on the season.
Richard Vander Weerd of Visalia won the night’s 10-lap Saldana Racing Products Heat Race #3. Piloting the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Richard qualified third overall and was second in his qualifier. Entering the main event second in points, Vander Weerd was caught in a tangle on the initial start that sent his machine airborne. The crew made some quick repairs, but last year’s Billet Cup winner was unable to continue. Scoring eighteenth in the main event and eleventh in the “Billet Cup,” Richard is second in series points with two feature wins, two Weld Racing Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc., / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, two BR Motorsports / Racing Optics Hard Charger Awards, seven top-5 finishes, and 59 feature laps led.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will be back in action on Saturday, June 8th, at Hanford’s Kings Speedway. The action packed showcase will also feature the winged Rebel Cup Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCS Stock Cars, and Hobby Stocks. Located on the Kings County Fairgrounds at 801 South 10th Avenue, more event information can be found at www.kingsspeedway.net or calling (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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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS:
May 11, 2013 – Hanford, California – Kings Speedway – “Billet Cup”
WELD RACING TIME TRIALS:
1. Danny Faria Jr., 17V, Faria-16.100; 2. Markus Niemela, 81, Watt-16.198; 3. Richard Vander Weerd, 10, Vander Weerd-16.301; 4. Dennis Howell, 62, Howell-16.361; 5. Jace Vander Weerd, 88, Vander Weerd-16.369; 6. Mike Spencer, 7m, Priestley-16.440; 7. Andy Ferris, 4J, Ferris-16.499; 8. Ryan Bernal, 73, Ford-16.514; 9. Bud Kaeding, 29, Bowman-16.541; 10. Rusty Carlile, 51, Carlile-16.624; 11. Austin Liggett, 83, Liggett-16.818; 12. Ricky Kirkbride, 87, Van Meter-16.880; 13. Kevin Barnes, 36B, Barnes-16.949; 14. Jeff Sibley, 18, Watt-17.052; 15. Landon Hurst, 179, Hurst-17.230; 16. Kolby Araki, 30k, Araki-17.555; 17. Matt Day, 97, Day-17.796; 18. Garrett Long, 38, Long-18.085.
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE 1: (10 laps)
1. Danny Faria Jr., 2. Kevin Barnes, 3. Rusty Carlile, 4. Dennis Howell, 5. Andy Ferris, 6. Kolby Araki. NT
DJ SAFETY HEAT RACE 2: (10 laps)
1. Austin Liggett, 2. Ryan Bernal, 3. Jace Vander Weerd, 4. Matt Day, 5. Jeff Sibley, 6. Markus Niemela. NT
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS HEAT RACE 3: (10 laps)
1. Richard Vander Weerd, 2. Bud Kaeding, 3. Landon Hurst, 4. Ricky Kirkbride, 5. Mike Spencer, 6. Garrett Long. NT
KEIZER WHEELS FIRST QUALIFYING RACE: (12 laps)
1. Danny Faria Jr., 2. Jace Vander Weerd, 3. Markus Niemela, 4. Ricky Kirkbride, 5. Rusty Carlile, 6. Jeff Sibley, 7. Andy Ferris, 8. Kolby Araki, 9. Mike Spencer. NT
SBI FUEL SYSTEMS SECOND QUALIFYING RACE: (12 laps)
1. Ryan Bernal, 2. Richard Vander Weerd, 3. Austin Liggett, 4. Bud Kaeding, 5. Dennis Howell, 6. Landon Hurst, 7. Matt Day, 8. Kevin Barnes, 9. Garrett Long. NT
FEATURE: (40 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Ryan Bernal (14th), 2. Bud Kaeding (10th), 3. Dennis Howell (12th), 4. Danny Faria Jr. (17th), 5. Landon Hurst (4th), 6. Rusty Carlile (9th), 7. Andy Ferris (7th), 8. Markus Niemela (13th), 9. Kolby Araki (1st), 10. Ricky Kirkbride (8th), 11. Jeff Sibley (3rd), 12. Kevin Barnes (5th), 13. Jace Vander Weerd (15th), 14. Matt Day (2nd), 15. Austin Liggett (11th), 16. Mike Spencer (6th), 17. Garrett Long (18th), 18. Richard Vander Weerd (16th). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-13 Landon Hurst, Laps 14-15 Bud Kaeding, Laps 16-36 Dennis Howell, Laps 37-40 Ryan Bernal.
BR MOTORSPORTS / RACING OPTICS HARD CHARGER: Danny Faria Jr. (17th to 4th)
FINAL BILLET CUP STANDINGS / TOTAL PAYOUT:
1. Danny Faria Jr.-435 ($2,500); 2. Ryan Bernal-434 ($2,300); 3. Bud Kaeding-418 ($1,450); 4. Dennis Howell-416 ($1,150); 5. Markus Niemela-397 ($700); 6. Rusty Carlile-391 ($750); 7. Landon Hurst-383 ($750); 8. Andy Ferris-382 ($600); 9. Jace Vander Weerd-375 ($450); 10. Ricky Kirkbride-368 ($400); 11. Richard Vander Weerd-358 ($400); 12. Austin Liggett-354 ($400); 13. Jeff Sibley-351 ($400); 14. Kolby Araki-349 ($425); 15. Kevin Barnes-348 ($400); 16. Mike Spencer-333 ($400); 17. Matt Day-329 ($400); 18. Garrett Long-302 ($400).
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1-Ryan Bernal-454, 2-Richard Vander Weerd-424, 3-Danny Faria Jr.-377, 4-Jace Vander Weerd-356, 5-Bud Kaeding-355, 6-Markus Niemela-344, 7-Rusty Carlile-314, 8- Ricky Kirkbride-276, 9-Austin Liggett-208, 10-Landon Hurst-201.