By Lance Jennings
NOVEMBER 17, 2015… With three races left, the chase for the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car title will shift to Tucson, Arizona for the “48th Western World Championships.” Starting Thursday, November 19th, the prestigious three-day event at USA Raceway will feature the Amsoil USAC National, Amsoil USAC/CRA, USAC SouthWest, and USAC West Coast Sprints. At press time, close to 80 (410s & 360s) entries will battle for a total purse over $100,000. In addition, the track will host an open practice on Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.raceusaraceway.com or call 520.664.2074.
The traditional 410 sprints of United States Auto Club (USAC) last headlined the Western World Championships in 2008. That year, Kevin Swindell took the checkered flags at the legendary Manzanita Speedway. “The Madman” Robert Ballou currently leads the USAC National points and “The Demon” Damion Gardner has reclaimed the USAC/CRA point lead with a 45-point advantage. Saturday’s main event will pay $7,500 to the winner, second will earn $4,000, third will pay $2,000, and $600 to start. Thursday and Friday’s preliminary features will pay $5,000-to-win and $500 to start.
Currently eleventh in the point standings, “The Flying Peanut” Parker Colston of Lake Elsinore, California leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. “Thunder” Tommy Malcolm, Anthony Lopiccolo, and Michael Curtis are also in contention. Local 360 iron-block powered Sprint Cars are welcome to enter the Oval Nationals. Per USAC rules, all fuel-injected 410 and 360 powered sprint cars must run the Hoosier 105/16 Medium Right Rear Tire, cars must pass a tech inspection, and one-way radios are mandatory.
In addition to the powerful 410s of the USAC National and USAC/CRA Series, the 360s of the USAC SouthWest and West Coast Series are also on the card. Several drivers that will race double duty are: Brady Bacon (2014 USAC National Sprint Champion), Bryan Clauson (2-Time USAC National Sprint & Midget Champion), Danny Faria Jr. (2013 USAC West Coast Sprint Champion), Justin Grant (2008 Jim Turner Memorial Winner), Josh Hodges (2009 ASCS SouthWest Rookie of the Year), R.J. Johnson (2-Time USAC SouthWest Champion), C.J. Leary (2014 360 Oval Nationals Winner), Mike Martin (2012 Hall of Fame Classic Winner), Josh Pelkey (1997 ASCA Champion), Brody Roa (2-Time Wagsdash Winner), Matt Rossi (2014 Western World Sprint Winner), Jake Swanson (2012 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year), and Kevin Thomas Jr. (2013 Haubstadt Hustler Winner). The latest Western World Championships pre-entry list is at the end of this release.
USA Raceway is located at 4300 E. Los Reales Road in Tucson, Arizona. To get to the track, take Interstate 10 to exit 265. Drive 2.5 miles south on S. Alvernon Way, then 0.5 miles east on Los Reales Road. General Admission Tickets are $25 for each night and $5 more for Reserved Seats. Three day General Admission Tickets are $65 and three day VIP Suite Tickets (with pit passes) are $150. For more information, visit www.raceusaraceway.com or call 520.664.2074. Camping is available for FREE and no hookups are available.
Live pay per views of the “48th Western World Championships will be available on www.thecushion.com. A complete statewide Arizona blackout will be enforced on the telecasts.
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AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS:
2004-Rip Williams, 2005-Damion Gardner, 2006-Cory Kruseman, 2007-Tony Jones, 2008-Mike Spencer, 2009-Mike Spencer, 2010-Mike Spencer, 2011-Mike Spencer, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Damion Gardner, 2014-Damion Gardner.
WESTERN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SPRINT CAR WINNERS:
1968-Bob Cleberg; 1969-Bob Huebner; 1970-Jerry McClung; 1971-Jan Opperman; 1972-Jan Opperman; 1973-Earl Wagner; 1974-Rick Ferkel; 1975-Ron Shuman; 1976-Bubby Jones; 1977-Ron Shuman; 1978-Lealand McSpadden; 1979-Tim Green; 1980-Jeff Swindell; 1981-Ron Shuman; 1982-Steve Kinser; 1983-Steve Kinser; 1984-Ron Shuman; 1985-Steve Kinser; 1986-Bobby Davis Jr.; 1987-Steve Kinser; 1988-Mark Kinser; 1989-Sammy Swindell; 1990-Steve Kinser; 1991-Danny Lasoski; 1992-Steve Kinser; 1993-Lealand McSpadden; 1994-Ron Shuman; 1995-Lealand McSpadden; 1996-Steve Kinser; 1997-Mark Kinser; 1998-Tyler Walker; 1999-Donny Schatz; 2000-Jay Drake; 2001-Jeremy Sherman; 2002- Bud Kaeding; 2003-Tony Elliott; 2004-Bud Kaeding; 2005-Dave Darland; 2006-Josh Wise; 2007-Jerry Coons Jr.; 2008-Kevin Swindell; 2009-Sammy Swindell; 2010-Donny Schatz; 2011-Donny Schatz; 2012-Wayne Johnson; 2013-Bryan Clauson; 2014-Matt Rossi.
2015 410 WESTERN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS PRE-ENTRY LIST: (Provided by USA Raceway)
2-Austin Williams, 4-Damion Gardner, 4X-Tracy Hines, 5-Justin Grant, 5X-Logan Williams, 10-Richard Vander Weerd, 12-Robert Ballou, 12X-Josh Pelkey, 15-Aaron Farney, 16-Mike Martin, 17RW-Kevin Thomas Jr., 17V Danny Faria Jr., 19-Brady Short, 20-Jerry Coons Jr., 21X-Chris Windom, 30-C.J. Leary, 32-Chase Stockon, 37-Matt Mitchell, 44-Cody Williams, 48-Brody Roa, 50-Mike Spencer, 51-R.J. Johnson, 51X-Jimmy Crawford, 56-Ryan Bernal, 63-Bryan Clauson, 66-Thomas Meseraull, 69-Brady Bacon, 71-Robert Bell, 71P-Dave Darland, 74X-Josh Hodges, 81-Jon Stanbrough, 92-Jake Swanson, 92M-TBA, 94-Nick Parker, 02-Matt Rossi, Casey Shuman, Chad Boespflug.
2015 360 WESTERN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS PRE-ENTRY LIST: (Provided by USA Raceway)
2-Josh Shipley, 2X-Larry Gibson, 5-Justin Grant, 5X-Tye Mihocko, 6- Ronnie Clark, 8AZ-Jordan Stetson, 12-Josh Pelkey, 13B-Dennis Gile, 16-Mike Martin, 16B-Bryan Clauson, 17RW-Kevin Thomas Jr., 17V Danny Faria Jr., 19-Andy Reinbold, 27-Nick Aiuto, 29-Mike Bonneau, 30-C.J. Leary, 33-D.J. Johnson, 50-Charles Davis Jr., 55-Kyle Smith, 73-Trey Marcham, 73X-Brady Bacon, 74-Colby Copeland, 74X-Josh Hodges, 77M-R.J. Johnson, 78-Chris Bonneau, 81-Tristan Guardino, 88-Jace Vander Weerd, 91R-Brody Roa, 92-Jake Swanson, 98-Matt Lundy, 02-Matt Rossi, Stevie Sussex, Gary Taylor, Chris Windom, Brian Hosford, Casey Shuman.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
- Damion Gardner-1266; 2. Mike Spencer-1221; 3. Richard Vander Weerd-1169; 4. Jake Swanson-1035; 5. Austin Williams-1024; 6. Brody Roa-984; 7. Matt Mitchell-799; 8. Cody Williams-760; 9. Logan Williams-663; 10. Ryan Bernal-563; 11. Parker Colston (R)-456; 12. Jace Vander Weerd-366; 13. Danny Faria Jr.-358; 14. Chris Gansen-355; 15. A.J. Bender-350; 16. R.J. Johnson-341; 17. Brady Bacon-334; 18. Jeremy Ellertson-300; 19. Dave Darland-281; 20. Josh Hodges-280.
AMSOIL USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
- Robert Ballou-2090, 2. Dave Darland-2030, 3. Chase Stockon-2002, 4. Brady Bacon-1895, 5. Jon Stanbrough-1724, 6. Kevin Thomas Jr.-1649, 7. Chris Windom-1517, 8. C.J. Leary-1378, 9. Tracy Hines-1342, 10. Justin Grant-1219, 11. Aaron Farney (R)-1130, 12. Chad Boespflug-963, 13. Jarett Andretti-723, 14. Kyle Cummins-718, 15. Jerry Coons Jr.-657, 16. Landon Simon-529, 17. Logan Jarrett-485, 18. Casey Shuman-451, 19. Carson Short (R)-395, 20. Max McGhee (R)-261.
2015 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE:
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
November 19: *USA Raceway – Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / $5,000-to-Win)
November 20: *USA Raceway – Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / $5,000-to-Win)
November 21: *USA Raceway – Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / $7,500-to-Win)