By Lance Jennings
CALISTOGA, CA – APRIL 7, 2014… Starting from the outside of the front row, Nic Faas of Huntington Beach led all 20-laps to claim Saturday’s USAC Western Classic season opener. The $2,000 triumph at the famed Calistoga Speedway was his first series win as Geoff Ensign, Ryan Bernal, hard charger Richard Vander Weerd and Marty Hawkins rounded out the top-five finishers.
Using a pill pick based format, Nic Faas took Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Park / King Racing Products Spike to a second place finish in his heat race. Ranking fifth in overall passing points, the former USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year raced past pole-sitter Marty Hawkins to seize command of the main event. In dominating fashion, Nic was running away from the field and reached slower traffic on the seventh circuit. Three laps later, a caution flag erased a straightaway lead and gave Geoff Ensign an opportunity to challenge the leader. Ensign threatened on the restart, but it was not to be as Faas sailed to his first victory at the Napa County Fairgrounds.
Sebastopol’s “The Human Highlight Reel” Geoff Ensign pressured Faas but had to settle for second after starting fifth. Piloting Ted Finkenbinder’s #3F Western Industrial X-Ray Maxim, the 2011 Champion won the 8-lap Deist Safety Heat Race #2 and entered the feature second in passing points.
Ryan Bernal of Hollister placed third in the Calistoga season opener. Driving Mike Phulps’ #56 Core Power / Metal Works ART, the defending series champion scored fourth in his heat race after starting seventh. Ranking fourth in overall passing points, Bernal started third in the main event.
Making his first start at Calistoga, Visalia’s Richard Vander Weerd earned the night’s Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a fourth place run from eleventh. Racing the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, the former USAC West Coast Champion claimed seventh in this heat race and was eleventh in passing points.
Marty Hawkins of Santa Rosa salvaged a fifth place finish after bicycling his machine cost him many positions. Piloting his #3M Susie’s Bar / Vermeil Wines Maxim, Hawkins was sixth in passing points after running fifth in his heat race.
Santa Rosa’s Terry Schank Jr. won the Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1 after starting fourth and was the night’s high point driver entering the main event. Driving Roger Gleeson’s #1 Joe Hunt Magnetos / King Racing Products Spike, the veteran driver battled brake issues in the main event and scored eighth at the checkered flags.
Everyone with the USAC Western Classic Racing Series wishes Bradley Terrell of Sebastopol a speedy recovery after a wild crash in his heat race. Terrell suffered a broken leg and arm in the incident and has since undergone surgery. He is currently going through physical therapy and over $1,900 has been raised for his recovery. Benicia’s Billy Aton was shaken up in the same incident and is reported to be ok.
The USAC Western Classic Racing Series thanks Amsoil, Hoosier Tire, Competition Suspension Inc., Deist Safety, Engler Machine & Tool, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, Saldana Racing Products, VanLare Steering Repair, 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 Western Classic Racing Series, visit www.usacracing.com, follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/
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USAC WESTERN CLASSIC SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS:
April 5, 2014 – Calistoga, California – Calistoga Speedway
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE 1: (8 laps)
1. Terry Schank Jr (#1 Gleeson), 2. D.J. Johnson (#33 Johnson), 3. Landon Hurst (#179 Hurst), 4. Ryan Bernal (#56 Phulps), 5. Marty Hawkins (#3M Hawkins), 6. Scott Hall (#77J Campanile), 7. Billy Aton (#26 Aton), 8. Bradley Terrell (#5X McMichael). NT
DEIST SAFETY HEAT RACE 2: (8 laps)
1. Geoff Ensign (#3F Finkenbinder), 2. Nic Faas (#73 Ford), 3. Trevor Schmid (#2 Schmid), 4. Matt Mitchell (#42 Cheney), 5. Jace Vander Weerd (#88 Vander Weerd), 6. Richard Vander Weerd (#10 Vander Weerd), 7. Jim Richardson (#8 Richardson). NT
FEATURE: (20 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Nic Faas (2nd), 2. Geoff Ensign (5th), 3. Ryan Bernal (3rd), 4. Richard Vander Weerd (11th), 5. Marty Hawkins (1st), 6. Trevor Schmid (7th), 7. Matt Mitchell (9th), 8. Terry Schank Jr. (6th), 9. Scott Hall (12th), 10. Jim Richardson, 11. D.J. Johnson (4th), 12. Landon Hurst (8th), 13. Jace Vander Weerd (10th). NT
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**Billy Aton and Bradley Terrell flipped during first heat. Terrell was taken to local hospital for observation.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-20 Nic Faas.
KEIZER WHEELS / RACING OPTICS HARD CHARGER: Richard Vander Weerd (11th to 4th)