By Lance Jennings
AUGUST 18, 2015… This Saturday, August 22nd, the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will make their final appearance of the year at Santa Maria Raceway. Promoted by Mike Kappmeyer, the “29th Annual Bud Stanfield Memorial” will also feature the Santa Maria 360 Sprints, Sport Mods, Mini Stocks, American Stocks, Mod Lites and Winged Outlaw Karts. Located in Nipomo, California, the pit gates at “The West’s Best Short Track” will open at 8:00am, the front gates open at 4:00pm, and racing will begin at 6:00pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.santamariaraceway.com or call 805.922.2232.
Saturday’s event honors Bud Stanfield, a former driver, race car builder, and crew chief at Santa Maria Speedway. After serving in the Air Force during the Korean War, Bud built Stock Cars in the late 1950s and wrenched for Al Smith’s Super Modified. When the Santa Maria track opened in 1964, Stanfield served as crew chief for several teams and later drove in the Limited Stock Car division. In 1978, Bud started a family owned Modified and Sprint Car team for his sons Ed and Allen. The low budget team built their own cars for several years and enjoyed moderate success. Unable to find the sponsorship needed to rebuild the team’s equipment, Stanfield became the crew chief for Mike Knopf. Driving the Larabee Brothers Coors Racing Sprint Car, Knopf had immediate results with several fast times and strong finishes. Unfortunately, on July 14, 1984, Bud was struck by an out of control sprinter that came off the track. After having brain surgery and spending a month in a coma, Stanfield would later succumb to his injuries. Since then, Santa Maria Speedway continues to honor the memory of a racer’s racer- Bud Stanfield.
The “Bud Stanfield Memorial” will be the 28th West Coast Sprint Car event at the fast 1/3-mile oval. On April 11th, Richard Vander Weerd swept the show and rookie Tristan Guardino won the June 20th feature. On September 17, 2011, Ryan Bernal set the USAC West Coast qualifying record of 13.529 and “Showtime” Danny Sheridan posted the all-time 360 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 at Hanford on August 1st, Tipton, California’s “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. heads to Santa Maria with a 120-point lead. Racing Junior Bowman’s #17V Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / SurfnSprint Spike, the 2013 Champion has two feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, one high-point driver award, five heat race victories, ten top-10 finishes, and 64 feature laps led to his credit. Currently tied with Peter Murphy for fourth on the series win list, “Hollywood” will be looking to continue his championship bid with his ninth victory.
Visalia, California’s Richard Vander Weerd is second in the chase for the championship. Piloting the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd took third in the Hanford main event. 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, nine top-10 finishes, and 37 feature laps led. Currently ranked second on the West Coast win list, Richard will have his sights on claiming his eighteenth main event.
Jace Vander Weerd of Visalia, California sits third in the West Coast point standings. Driving the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd placed seventh on August 1st. Entering the “Bud Stanfield Memorial,” the former USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has two heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main Win, and twelve top-10 finishes in the campaign. Currently tied with Davey Pombo and T.J. Smith for eighth on the series win list, Jace will be looking to collect his fifth winning trophy.
Trey Marcham of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is currently fourth in the point chase. Piloting Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Marcham scored tenth at the Hanford checkered flags. To date, the leading Rookie of the Year contender has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, nine top-10 finishes, and 4 feature laps led on the season. Trey continues to impress as he will have his sights on making the “Bud Stanfield Memorial” 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 led the first nineteen laps at the Kings County Fairgrounds before finishing second to Faria. Entering Saturday’s show, the former USAC Western Classic Rookie of the Year has five heat race victories, one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, eight top-10 finishes, and 37 feature laps led in 2015. D.J. will be looking to claim his first West Coast victory at Santa Maria Raceway.
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, Luke Boles, and more.
James Herrera of New Cuyama, California sits atop the local track point standings with Bill Jones, Jordan Linson, Luke Boles, Tristan Guardino, Shannon McQueen, Richard Vander Weerd, Trent Carter, D.J. Johnson, and Trey Marcham rounding out the top-10 drivers.
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 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.
BUD STANFIELD MEMORIAL SPRINT CAR WINNERS:
2004-Danny Sheridan; 2005-Peter Murphy; 2006-Davey Pombo; 2007-Greg Porte; 2008-Danny Faria Jr.; 2009-Peter Murphy; 2010-T.J. Smith; 2011-Danny Sheridan; 2012-Ryan Bernal, 2013-Richard Vander Weerd.
SANTA MARIA USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS:
5-Richard Vander Weerd, 4-Ryan Bernal, 3-Peter Murphy, 3-Danny Sheridan, 2-Cory Kruseman, 2-T.J. Smith, 2-Jace Vander Weerd, 1-Greg Alexander, 1-Danny Faria Jr., 1-Tristan Guardino, 1-Davey Pombo, 1-Craig Stidham.
2015 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS:
6-Ryan Bernal, 2-Danny Faria Jr., 2-Richard Vander Weerd, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Tristan Guardino, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Matt Mitchell, 1-Stevie Sussex.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
- Danny Faria Jr.-725, 2. Richard Vander Weerd-605, 3. Jace Vander Weerd-573, 4. Trey Marcham-562, 5. D.J. Johnson-554, 6. Ryan Bernal-478, 7. Tristan Guardino-458, 8. Landon Hurst-396, 9. Brody Roa-362, 10. Bud Kaeding-334, 11. Jeff Sibley-311, 12. Austin Liggett-273, 13. Shannon McQueen-265, 14. Troy Rutherford-225, 15. Max Adams-186, 16. Matt Mitchell-181, 17. Colby Copeland-166, 18. Johnathon Henry-144, 19. Kevin Barnes-142, 20. Kyle Smith-134.
SANTA MARIA 360 SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
- James Herrera-229, 2. Bill Jones-226, 3. Jordan Linson-199, 4. Luke Boles-162, 5. Tristan Guardino-133, 6. Shannon McQueen-106, 7. Richard Vander Weerd-89, 8. Trent Carter-88, 9. D.J. Johnson-86, 10. Trey Marcham-81, 11. Jace Vander Weerd-73, 12. Danny Faria Jr.-72. –. Tye Mihocko-72, 14. Bud Kaeding-44, 15. Brody Roa-43, 16. Landon Hurst-40, –.Pat Manzula-40, 18. Ronnie Gardner-38, –. Max Adams-38, –. Ryan Guy-38, –. Cole Caberera-38.