From Lance Jennings
Santa Maria, CA — (April 8, 2015) — After a successful Bakersfield show, the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will head to Santa Maria Raceway this Saturday, April 11th. Promoted by Mike Kappmeyer, the co-sanctioned event with the Santa Maria 360 Sprint Cars will also feature IMCA Modifieds, Mini Stocks, American Stocks, and Sport Mods. The pit gates will open at 3:00pm, the front gates open at 4:00pm, and racing at “The West’s Best Short Track” will begin at 6:00pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.santamariaraceway.com or call 805.922.2232.
Since May 2009, “The West’s Best Short Track” has showcased 25 West Coast Sprint Car races. Point leader Ryan Bernal and Richard Vander Weerd lead all drivers with four wins, while “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman (2) won the last Santa Maria appearance on July 6, 2013. Other winners are Peter Murphy (3), “Showtime” Danny Sheridan (3), T.J. Smith (2), Jace Vander Weerd (2), Greg Alexander (1), “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr., (1), Wes Gutierrez (1), Davey Pombo, (1), and Craig Stidham (1). On September 17, 2011, Bernal set the USAC West Coast qualifying record of 13.529 and Sheridan posted the all-time 360 1-lap record of 13.354 on September 11, 2004.
NOTICE TO RACERS: Saturday’s race at Santa Maria will be run under the USAC West Coast Rule Book and a $35 entry fee will be collected. The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is the ONLY legal right rear tire and all four corners must be Hoosier. Cockpit adjustable shocks are NOT allowed and engine restrictor rules are 1-7/8″ with open heads and 2-3/16″ with ASCS cylinder heads. The weight rule is 1,475 lbs. with driver. The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Rule Book can be found online at www.westcoastsprintcars.com and www.usacracing.com.
After winning his third consecutive main event, Ryan Bernal of Hollister has a twenty-three point lead over the competition. Racing Mike Phulps’ #56 Tri-L Mandarin Ranch / Core Power ART, Bernal has five main event wins on the year, along with one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two high-point driver awards, three heat race victories, one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, six top-10 finishes, and 75 feature laps led to his credit. The two-time Santa Maria track champion will be looking to extend his point lead by earning his series leading twenty-sixth career victory.
Tipton’s “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. is second in the USAC West Coast point standings. Piloting Junior Bowman’s #17V Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / SurfnSprint Spike, Faria led the first five laps at Bakersfield before scoring third at the checkered flags. To date, the 2013 Champion has one high point driver award, two heat race victories, four top-10 finishes, and 26 feature laps led. “Hollywood” will have his sights on gaining valuable points on Saturday with his seventh career West Coast victory.
Jace Vander Weerd of Visalia is third in the chase for the championship. Driving the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd charged from ninth to claim second in the Bakersfield feature. Heading to Santa Maria, the former USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main Win, and five top-10 finishes on the year. Jace will be looking to score his fifth career series win on Saturday.
Visalia’s Richard Vander Weerd has climbed to fourth in the USAC West Coast point chase. Racing the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd rebounded from an early spin to finish eighth at Bakersfield Speedway. Entering Saturday’s race, the 2011 Champion has two heat race victories, four top-10 finishes, and 24 feature laps led in the campaign. At Santa Maria, Richard will have his sights on winning his sixteenth career USAC West Coast feature.
Trey Marcham of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has taken over fifth in the championship standings. Piloting Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Marcham ran a strong race at Bakersfield and claimed sixth in the main event. As this writing goes to press, the leading Rookie of the Year contender has one heat race victory, three top-10 finishes, and 4 feature laps led on the season. Trey continues to impress as he looks for his first USAC West Coast Sprint Car win.
While Marcham leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Fremont’s Tristan Guardino, Ryan Timmons of Pleasant Hill, Bakersfield’s Shannon McQueen, and Colton Slack of Brentwood are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “Shifter” Landon Hurst, D.J. Johnson, Austin Liggett, Jeff Sibley, Brody Roa, Kevin Barnes, Max Adams, Johnathon Henry, “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, Trent Carter, and more.
Santa Maria Raceway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo, California. Adult tickets are $15, Senior, Military, and Student tickets (13-17) are $13, Kids tickets (6-12) are $6, and Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.santamariaraceway.com or call 805.922.2232.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series thanks Amsoil, Hoosier Tire, Chris Kearns Presents, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Ultra Shield Race Products, 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, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, Facebook (www.facebook.com/#!/pages/USAC-West-Coast-Sprint-Car-Series/369549755817), or Twitter (www.twitter.com/USACwc360). Mike Truex’s Loudpedal Productions has DVDs available for purchase that feature the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars and for more information, call 805.407.7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com.
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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS:
2009-Justyne Hamblin, 2010-Craig Stidham, 2011-Richard Vander Weerd, 2012-Bud Kaeding, 2013-Danny Faria Jr., 2014-Matt Mitchell.
2015 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS:
5-Ryan Bernal, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Stevie Sussex.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ryan Bernal-320, 2. Danny Faria Jr.-297, 3. Jace Vander Weerd-261, 4. Richard Vander Weerd-221, 5. Trey Marcham-213, 6. Landon Hurst-205, 7. D.J. Johnson-200, 8. Austin Liggett-175, 9. Colby Copeland-166, 10. Tristan Guardino-134, 11. Jeff Sibley-128, 12. Brody Roa-125, 13. Bud Kaeding-122, 14. Kevin Barnes-101, 15. Max Adams-91, 16. Troy Rutherford-87, 17. Jonathan Henry-78, 18. Chris Ennis-73, 19. Ryan Timmons-72, —. Stevie Sussex-72.