By Dick Jordan
Markus Niemela continues his pursuit of his first USAC driving title this Saturday when the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars convene at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif.
Joining the Sprint cars will be USAC’s Honda Western Midgets on the one-third mile dirt oval.
Niemela has a 38-point lead over Jace Vander Weerd in the latest point tally. Niemela continues to seek his first 2014 USAC race win.
Ryan Bernal of Hollister, Calif. won the most recent USAC West Coast Sprints, at Watsonville and Tulare, while Jace Vander Weerd won at Hanford in March. Dennis Howell, ninth in the current points, was the March 14 winner at Tulare.
2014 USAC West Coast Sprint Car Standings: 1-Markus Niemela-355, 2-Jace Vander Weerd-317, 3-Matt Mitchell-300, 4-Troy Rutherford-289, 5-Danny Faria Jr.-283, 6-Nic Faas-281, 7-Austin Liggett-237, 8-Richard Vander Weerd-233, 9-Dennis Howell-230, 10-Landon Hurst-215.