By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – MARCH 18, 2014… This Saturday, March 22nd, the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will make their only appearance of 2014 at Bakersfield Speedway. The third point race of the season will also feature the popular Sport Mods, 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.”
Since April 2009, the Bakersfield facility has hosted ten West Coast Sprint Car events. Davey Pombo leads all drivers with three feature wins, as Peter Murphy, Craig Stidham, Ricky Kirkbride, Bud Kaeding, Richard Vander Weerd, Ryan Bernal, and Danny Faria Jr. have one victory.
Heading into Saturday’s action, Tracy’s Austin Liggett sits atop the standings with a four point advantage. Piloting the family owned #83 Excel Environmental Services / Home Connections Inc. Spike, Liggett ran eighth last Friday at Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway. The 2012 Rookie of the Year won the March 6th “Sin City Showdown” at Las Vegas and will be looking to add Bakersfield to his win list.
Markus Niemela of Rauma, Finland is second in the chase for the championship. Racing Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Niemela earned the Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and placed sixth in the Tulare feature. Last season’s USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year and current Bakersfield track record holder will have his sights on his first West Coast victory.
After claiming his first series win at Tulare, Rancho Palos Verdes’ Dennis Howell has climbed to third in the point standings. Driving the family owned #62 San Pedro Auto Body / Howell-Meyer Racing Maxim, Howell has one heat race victory and 30 feature laps led to his credit. The USAC Western Midget Series graduate will be looking to continue his winning ways at Bakersfield Speedway.
Troy Rutherford of Ojai ranks fourth in the West Coast point chase. Piloting Steve Watt’s #81 JD Machine Tech / AAA Propane Maxim, Rutherford rebounded from a heat race tangle to claim ninth at Tulare. The former VRA Champion has one heat race victory and two top-10 finishes on the season as he will have his sights on a feature win at Bakersfield.
Currently fifth in the standings, Visalia’s Richard Vander Weerd almost won the Tulare feature before settling for second. Racing the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, the 2011 Champion won the $5,000 “Winter Challenge” finale at Canyon Speedway on February 1st. Vander Weerd won his first Bakersfield start on March 23, 2013 and will be looking for another $1,500 main event win.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Jace Vander Weerd, Matt Mitchell, “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr., “Shifter” Landon Hurst, Marty Hawkins, “The Bakersfield Bullet” Rusty Carlile, Kevin Barnes, Garrett Long, Trent Carter, Jeff Sibley, “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, “The Rickster” Ricky Kirkbride, Matt Day, and more.
Bakersfield Speedway is located at 5001 North Chester Extension in Bakersfield, California. Adult tickets are $16, Senior tickets (65 & older) are $14, Military tickets (with ID) are $14, Kids tickets (12-6) are $6, 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 thanks Amsoil, Hoosier Tire, Chris Kearns Presents, Competition Suspension Inc., Deist Safety, Engler Machine & Tool, Extreme Mufflers, Five Star Grafix, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, Saldana Racing Products, SouthWest Contractors, VanLare Steering Repair, and Woodland Auto Display for their support.
For more information, 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. Austin Liggett-110; 2. Markus Niemela-106; 3. Dennis Howell-97; 4. Troy Rutherford-91; 5. Richard Vander Weerd-90; 6. Jace Vander Weerd-88; 7. Matt Mitchell-82; 8. Danny Faria Jr.-78; 9. J.J. Yeley-64; –. Landon Hurst-64; 11. Mike Spencer-60; 12. Bud Kaeding-58; 13. Nic Faas-54; 14. Josh Pelkey-52; 15. Marty Hawkins-46; 16. Charles Davis Jr.-44; 17. Rusty Carlile-40; –.Kevin Barnes-40; 19. Mike Martin-37; 20. Brody Roa-36.
2014 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
March 22: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA
March 29: Kings Speedway – Hanford, CA (Gary Jacob Memorial)
April 25: #Kings Speedway – Hanford, CA (Verne Brasel Classic)
April 26: #Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA
May 16: #Ocean Speedway – Watsonville, CA
May 17: #Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA (Chris & Brian Faria Memorial)
May 31: #Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA
June 7: Kings Speedway – Hanford, CA
June 21: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA
July 19: Kings Speedway – Hanford, CA
August 2: Kings Speedway – Hanford, CA (Billet Cup / $2,500-to-Win)
August 8: #Ocean Speedway – Watsonville, CA
August 9: #Chowchilla Speedway – Chowchilla, CA
September 27: *Canyon Speedway – Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series / Non-Points)
November 6: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series)
November 20: *Canyon Speedway – Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / Non-Points)
November 21: *Canyon Speedway – Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / Non-Points)
November 22: *Canyon Speedway – Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / $7,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC Southwest Sprints.
# = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC Western Classic Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.