By Dick Jordan
The USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will return to Santa Maria (Calif.) Speedway June 22 and Richard Vander Weerd will continue his pursuit of series point leader Ryan Bernal. Vander Weerd trails Bernal by just 25 points after winning last Saturday’s 30-lap feature at Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif.
Vander Weerd, of Visalia, Calif., led the final 12 laps of Saturday night’s race in his Vander Weerd Construction/Battery Worx Maxim/Shark. Bernal was second ahead of Danny Faria Jr., Austin Liggett and fast qualifier Dennis Howell. Faria led the first 18 laps.
Vander Weerd was his third this season, while Bernal has five wins and three seconds in just eight starts!
2013 USAC West Coast Sprint Car Standings: 1-Ryan Bernal-521, 2-Richard Vander Weerd-496, 3-Danny Faria Jr.-439, 4-Bud Kaeding-399, 5-Jace Vander Weerd-356, 6-Markus Niemela-344, 7-Rusty Carlile-314, 8-Ricky Kirkbride-276, 9-Austin Liggett-266, 10-Dennis Howell-250.