by Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – SEPTEMBER 5, 2013… After a break in the schedule, the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will make their final appearance of the year at Bakersfield Speedway. The Saturday, September 7th, event will also feature the popular Hobby Stocks, American Stocks, and Mini Stocks. The Front Gates will open at 4:00pm with Racing set for 6:00pm at “The West’s Fastest 1/3-Mile High Banked Clay Oval.”
In the five year history of the West Coast Sprint Car Series, Bakersfield Speedway has hosted nine events with the traditional sprint cars. Davey Pombo won the first of three main events on April 25, 2009 and other Bakersfield winners are Peter Murphy, Craig Stidham, Bud Kaeding, Richard Vander Weerd, and Ryan Bernal. Vander Weerd won the March 23rd feature and Bernal claimed victory on April 27th.
After winning the August 3rd “Jim Evett Memorial” at Hanford, Tipton’s “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. has a 21 point lead over the competition. Driving his #17V Johnston Calf Pens / DeBoer & Sons Trucking Spike, Faria has one Weld Racing Fast Time Award, six heat race victories, two Woodland Auto Display Dash wins, one BR Motorsports / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, twelve top-10 finishes, and 54 feature laps led to his credit. On Saturday, “Hollywood” and Crew Chief Vinnie Lattner will be looking extend their point lead by adding Bakersfield to their win list.
Ryan Bernal of Hollister is second in the point standings. Piloting Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Bernal scored fifth at Hanford after starting twenty-third. To date, the 2-time Santa Maria track champion has five main event wins, one Weld Racing Fast Time Award, four heat race victories, one Woodland Auto Display Dash win, two BR Motorsports / Racing Optics Hard Charger Awards, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 85 feature laps led. Ryan has parted ways with the Josh Ford Motorsports team and may miss the action at Bakersfield.
Campbell’s Bud Kaeding sits third in the championship points. Racing Junior Bowman’s #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Bullet, the defending champion ran third in the “Jim Evett Memorial.” Kaeding has yet to score a West Coast victory in 2013, but has three heat race victories, two Woodland Auto Display Dash wins, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 7 feature laps led to his credit. Bud won last Saturday’s $7,500 USAC/CRA “Vermeil Classic” opener at Calistoga and will be looking to add Saturday’s trophy to his collection.
Richard Vander Weerd of Visalia is fourth in the West Coast point standings. Driving the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Richard set fast time and ran second at the “Evett Memorial” after starting fourteenth. The 2011 Champion has four main event wins, three Weld Racing Fast Time Awards, four heat race victories, two Woodland Auto Display Dash wins, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rode End Supply Semi-Main win, two BR Motorsports / Racing Optics Hard Charger Awards, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 101 feature laps led. Vander Weerd won at Bakersfield in his first start at the 1/3-mile facility and will have his sights on another feature win.
Sitting fifth in the USAC West Coast standings is Markus Niemela of Rauma, Finland. Piloting Steve Watt’s #81 Christian Stover Foundation / Lost Reality Maxim, Niemela was second quick and scored sixteenth at Kings Speedway. The hard charging driver has yet to win a feature this season, but has two Weld Racing Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, one Woodland Auto Display Dash win, eight top-10 finishes, and 25 feature laps led. Niemela has returned to his native Finland and may miss the Bakersfield event.
Currently twelfth in the point standings, Landon Hurst of Riverdale leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Oakdale’s Jeff Sibley, Terra Bella’s Trent Carter, Springville’s Seth Hancock, and Garrett Long of Springville are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Bakersfield Bullet” Rusty Carlile, Jace Vander Weerd, 2012 Rookie of the Year Austin Liggett, Marty Hawkins, Kevin Barnes, Matt Day, Andy Ferris, “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, Kolby Araki, Jonathan Logan, Don Gansen, Chris Gansen, Terry Nichols, and more.
Bakersfield Speedway is located at 5001 North Chester Extension in Bakersfield, California. Adult tickets are $15, Kids tickets (12-6) are $5, and Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.bakersfieldspeedway.com or call (661) 393-3373.
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, 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, follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/#!/pages/
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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1-Danny Faria, Jr.-682, 2-Ryan Bernal 661, 3-Bud Kaeding-637, 4-Richard Vander Weerd-630, 5-Markus Niemela-559, 6-Rusty Carlile-482, 7-Jace Vander Weerd-435, 8-Ricky Kirkbride-377, 9-Austin Liggett-354, 10-Marty Hawkins-335, 11-Kevin Barnes-333, 12-Landon Hurst-321, 13-Jeff Sibley-304, 14-Dennis Howell-250, 15-Matt Day-237, 16-Andy Ferris-226, 17-Chris Ennis-216, 18-Kolby Araki-199, 19-Jonathan Logan-183, 20-Brody Roa-146.