Tulare, CA — (May 13, 2015) — After a break in the schedule, the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will return to action this Saturday, May 16th, at Tulare’s Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway. Promoted by Steve Faria, the “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial” will also showcase the winged King of the West and Western RaceSaver Sprint Cars. The front gates will open at 4:00pm, time trials will begin at 6:00pm, with racing scheduled for 7:00pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.tularethunderbowl.com or call 559.688.0909.
The “Chris and Brian Faria Memorial” is one of the most prestigious dates on the USAC West Coast schedule. While this year’s event marks the twenty-second running of the race for winged sprints, Peter Murphy won the non-winged 360 memorial in 2009. The popular driver has been joined by Craig Stidham, Bud Kaeding, Kyle Larson, and Ryan Bernal on the winner’s list.
Since March 2010, twenty-four USAC West Coast Sprint Car races have been held at the Tulare County Fairgrounds. Ryan Bernal leads all drivers with nine wins and set the new 1-lap qualifying track record of 15.133 on March 13th. Bud Kaeding (5), Richard Vander Weerd (3), Kyle Larson (2), Craig Stidham (2), Dean Alexander (1), Dennis Howell (1), and Peter Murphy (1) have also earned Tulare victories. Saturday’s event will be the third of six dates at the lightning fast 1/3-mile, as Kaeding raced to victory on March 13th and Bernal won the following night.
NOTICE TO RACERS: Saturday’s race at Tulare 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 finishing third at Santa Maria on April 11th, “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton, California sits atop the standings with a 43-point lead. Piloting Junior Bowman’s #17V Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / SurfnSprint Spike, Faria has one high point driver award, two heat race victories, five top-10 finishes, and 26 feature laps led to his credit. “Hollywood” will be looking to gain valuable points at Tulare with his seventh career West Coast victory.
Hollister, California’s Ryan Bernal is second in the USAC West Coast point chase. Racing Mike Phulps’ #56 Tri-L Mandarin Ranch / Core Power ART, Bernal has five main event wins on the season. In addition, the two-time Santa Maria track champion has 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. At Tulare, Ryan will have his sights on his series leading twenty-sixth career win.
Jace Vander Weerd of Visalia, California is third in the chase for the championship. Driving the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd took seventh in the Santa Maria feature. To date, the former USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main Win, and six top-10 finishes on the season. Jace will be looking to claim the “Faria Memorial” as his fifth career series triumph.
Fresh off Saturday’s USAC/CRA “All Coast Challenge” win at Ventura, Visalia, California’s Richard Vander Weerd sits fourth in the point standings. Piloting the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd won the April 11th Santa Maria feature. Entering Saturday’s race, the 2011 Champion has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, five top-10 finishes, and 36 feature laps led. This Saturday, Richard will have his sights on winning his seventeenth career West Coast main event.
Trey Marcham of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is fifth in the championship point chase. Piloting Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Marcham placed fifth at Santa Maria. As this writing goes to press, the leading Rookie of the Year contender has one heat race victory, four top-10 finishes, and 4 feature laps led in the campaign. Trey continues to impress as he looks for his first USAC West Coast Sprint Car victory.
While Marcham leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Tristan Guardino, Ryan Timmons, and Shannon McQueen, and Colton Slack are also in contention. Among the other drivers expected to be in action are D.J. Johnson, “Shifter” Landon Hurst, Austin Liggett, Jeff Sibley, Kevin Barnes, Brody Roa, Max Adams, Johnathon Henry, “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, Matt Day, and more.
Tulare, California’s Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds at the corner of Bardsley and K Streets. Reserved Grandstand Tickets are $20 and General Admission Seats are $18. Advance tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling the track office at 559.688.0909. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.tularethunderbowl.com.
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 on the series, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, and www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC West Coast Facebook and Twitter pages. 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.
CHRIS & BRIAN FARIA MEMORIAL NON-WING 360 WINNERS:
2009-Peter Murphy, 2010-Craig Stidham, 2011-Bud Kaeding, 2012-Kyle Larson, 2013-Not Held, 2014-Ryan Bernal.
2015 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS:
5-Ryan Bernal, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Stevie Sussex, 1-Richard Vander Weerd.
WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Danny Faria Jr.-363, 2. Ryan Bernal-320, 3. Jace Vander Weerd-307, 4. Richard Vander Weerd-295, 5. Trey Marcham-270, 6. D.J. Johnson-266, 7. Landon Hurst-260, 8. Tristan Guardino-186, 9. Austin Liggett-175, 10. Jeff Sibley-70, 11. Colby Copeland-166, 12. Kevin Barnes-141, 13. Brody Roa-125, 14. Bud Kaeding-122, 15. Tye Mihocko-99, 16. Shannon McQueen-92, 17. Max Adams-91, 18. Troy Rutherford-87, 19. Jonathan Henry-78, 20. Chris Ennis-73.