By Dick Jordan
Drivers from USAC’s West Coast and Southwest Sprint Car series converge on Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Ariz. for the 46th “Western World Championships” November 14-16 in conclusion to the 2013 calendar, with series points on the line for the Southwest participants.
The two series combined for last Friday night’s West Coast/Southwest “Budweiser Oval Nationals” special event at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway, won by Mike Spencer.
Spencer, of Temecula, Calif., emerged as the 2013 “Grudge Series” Champion after winning Thursday’s 30-lapper at the PAS, driving the Roy Miller Freightlines/Sander Engineering Bullet. He took the lead from Richard Vander Weerd on lap five, lost it to Bryan Clauson on lap 27, then outduelled Clauson in the closing laps to lead the final three for the win. Matt Mitchell finished second ahead of Ryan Bernal, Brody Roa and Jon Stanbrough after Clauson slid wide in turn four, slipping to 12th at the finish.
2013 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR STANDINGS: 1-R.J. Johnson-1,161, 2-Charles Davis Jr.-1,104, 3-Mike Martin-965, 4-Shon Deskins-860, 5-Ronnie Clark-827, 6-Josh Pelkey-788, 7-Andy Reinbold-765, 8-Bryan Hosford-629, 9-Chris Bonneau-625, 10-Bruce St. James-614.
2013 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR FINAL STANDINGS: 1-Danny Faria Jr.-930, 2-Richard Vander Weerd-903, 3-Bud Kaeding-862, 4-Markus Niemela-677, 5-Rusty Carlile-665, 6-Ryan Bernal-661, 7-Jace Vander Weerd-609, 8-Austin Liggett-545, 9-Landon Hurst-492, 10-Kevin Barnes-440.