By Dick Jordan
Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. hosts this Saturday night’s USAC West Coast Sprint race and Finland driver Markus Niemela will be out to protect a 34-point lead in the series standings.
Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda, Calif, who grabbed last Saturday’s AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint race at Perris, Calif., stands second in the current standings.
All eyes, however, will be focuses squarely on Ryan Bernal, the Hollister, Calif. driver who will try to extend the winningest streak in series history. He has won the last four races although he sits just outside the “top-10” in the points.
Two of Bernal’s most recent four wins were notched at Tulare!
2014 USAC West Coast Sprint Car Standings: 1-Markus Niemela-452, 2-Matt Mitchell-418, 3-Troy Rutherford-388, 4-Jace Vander Weerd-379, 5-Richard Vander Weerd-361, 5-Danny Faria Jr.-360, 7-Nic Faas-342, 8-Dennis Howell-339, 9-Austin Liggett-322, 10-Landon Hurst-297.