By Lance Jennings
JULY 29, 2015… The popular USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will return to action this Saturday, August 1st, at the Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds. Promoted by Ron Vander Weerd and Bubby Morse, the Hanford, California oval will host the twelfth point race of the season. The action packed card will also feature the Western RaceSaver 305 Wing Sprints, IMCA Stock Cars, Mini Stocks, and the WRA Vintage Sprints. The pit gates will open at 2:00pm, the front gates open at 4:30pm, and racing is scheduled for 7:00pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.racekingsspeedway.com or call 559.651.1990.
Saturday’s event will be the 40th West Coast Sprint Car event at the Kings County Fairgrounds. Since March 14, 2009, Ryan Bernal and Richard Vander Weerd lead all drivers with seven victories at Hanford. This season, Bernal scored the March 28th opener and Vander Weerd claimed the June 27th race with a last corner pass. As this writing goes to press, veteran Peter Murphy holds the 1-lap qualifying track record of 15.290, set on March 13, 2010. A series win list at the Hanford facility is posted at the bottom of this release.
NOTICE TO RACERS: Saturday’s race at Hanford 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. Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds has 95db at 100 feet state mandated sound rule and the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Rule Book can be found online at www.westcoastsprintcars.com and www.usacracing.com.
After scoring third last Saturday at Tulare, “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton, California sits atop the standings with a 109-point advantage. Piloting Junior Bowman’s #17V Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / SurfnSprint Spike, Faria has one feature win, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, one high-point driver award, four heat race victories, nine top-10 finishes, and 53 feature laps led. Currently ranked fifth on the West Coast win list, the 2013 Champion will be looking for the $1,500 triumph.
Visalia, California’s Richard Vander Weerd is second in the USAC West Coast point standings. Driving the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd ran second to Matt Mitchell in Tulare’s “Peter Murphy Classic.” To date, the 2011 Champion has two feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, two DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Awards, eight top-10 finishes, and 37 feature laps led. Currently ranked second on the series win list, Richard will have his sights on claiming his eighteenth main event.
Jace Vander Weerd of Visalia, California is third in chase for the championship. Racing the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd placed eighth in the Tulare main event. Heading to Hanford, the former USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main Win, and eleven top-10 finishes on the season. Currently tied with Davey Pombo and T.J. Smith for eighth on the West Coast win list, Jace will be looking to add another winning trophy to his collection.
Trey Marcham of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has climbed to fourth in the point chase. Piloting Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Marcham ran a strong sixth place finish at Tulare. To date, the leading Rookie of the Year contender has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and 4 feature laps led in the campaign. Trey continues to impress as he will have his sights on his first series win.
Stockton, California’s D.J. Johnson sits fifth in the point standings. Driving the family owned #33 Proplant Farm Services / J. Milano Company Eagle, Johnson scored twenty-second at Tulare after a hard crash. Entering Saturday’s event, the former USAC Western Classic Rookie of the Year has five heat race victories, one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, seven top-10 finishes, and 18 feature laps led in the campaign. D.J. will be looking to rebound with his first series win at the Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds.
While Marcham leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors, California’s Tristan Guardino, and Shannon McQueen are also in contention. Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Ryan Bernal, “Shifter” Landon Hurst, Brody Roa, Jeff Sibley, Austin Liggett, Troy Rutherford, Max Adams, Johnathon Henry, Kevin Barnes, Kyle Smith, and more.
Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds is located at 801 South 10th Avenue in Hanford, California. Adult Reserved Grandstand tickets are $15, Adult General Admission tickets are $12 (with $3 discounts available for Seniors (55+) and Students 6-18). Kids General Admission tickets (6 and under) are $5. Camping is available on the fairgrounds and for more event information, visit www.racekingsspeedway.com or call 559.651.1990.
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.
HANFORD USAC WEST COAST SPRINT WINS:
7-Ryan Bernal, 7-Richard Vander Weerd, 4-Danny Faria Jr., 4-Bud Kaeding, 2-Justyne Hamblin, 2-Peter Murphy, 2-T.J. Smith, 2-Craig Stidham, 2-Jace Vander Weerd, 1-Aaron Altaffer, 1-Rusty Carlile, 1-Wes Gutierrez, 1-Cory Kruseman, 1-Davey Pombo, 1-Troy Rutherford, 1-Terry Schank Jr.
2015 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS:
6-Ryan Bernal, 2- Richard Vander Weerd, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Danny Faria Jr., 1-Tristan Guardino, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Matt Mitchell, 1-Stevie Sussex.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
- Danny Faria Jr.-654, 2. Richard Vander Weerd-545, 3. Jace Vander Weerd-523, 4. Trey Marcham-518, 5. D.J. Johnson-489, 6. Ryan Bernal-478, 7. Tristan Guardino-405, 8. Landon Hurst-396, 9. Bud Kaeding-334, 10. Brody Roa-299, 11. Jeff Sibley-291, 12. Austin Liggett-273, 13. Troy Rutherford-225, 14. Shannon McQueen-209, –. Max Adams-186, 16. Matt Mitchell-181, 17. Colby Copeland-166, 18. Jonathan Henry-144, 19. Kevin Barnes-142, 20. Kyle Smith-134.