By Lance Jennings
NOVEMBER 17, 2015… The chase for several USAC Sprint Car titles will come to a close in Tucson, Arizona at the “48th Western World Championships.” Starting Thursday, November 19th, the prestigious three-day event at USA Raceway will showcase the USAC SouthWest and West Coast Sprint Cars along with the Amsoil USAC National and USAC/CRA Sprints. At press time, close to 80 (360s & 410s) 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 non-winged 360 sprints have been a part of Western World history dating back to 1991. Wayne Bennet claimed the Manzanita victory and Matt Rossi won last year’s event at Canyon Speedway Park. Point leaders R.J. Johnson (USAC SouthWest), “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. (USAC West Coast), and Stevie Sussex (Grudge Series) would like to finish their season with a Western World victory. Saturday’s feature will pay $3,000 to the winner, second will earn $1,500, third will pay $1,000, and $300 to start. Thursday and Friday’s preliminary main events will pay $1,500-to-win and $225 to start.
In addition to the popular 360s, the Amsoil USAC National and USAC/CRA 410s 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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USAC SOUTHWEST COAST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS:
2013-R.J. Johnson, 2014-R.J. Johnson.
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.
GRUDGE SERIES CHAMPIONS:
2012-Ryan Bernal, 2013-Mike Spencer, 2014-Mike Spencer.
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 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.
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.
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
- R.J. Johnson-1051, 2. Charles Davis, Jr.-983, 3. Matt Rossi-901, 4. Stevie Sussex-878, 5. Mike Martin-862, 6. Josh Pelkey-844, 7. Brian Hosford-698, 8. Andy Reinbold-604, 9. Nick Aiuto-592, 10. Bruce St. James-523, –. Tye Mihocko-523, 12. Dennis Gile-506, 13. Josh Shipley-479, 14. Chris Bonneau-444, 15. Mike Colegrove-432, 16. Shon Deskins-393, 17. Tom Ogle-366, 18. Michael Curtis-316, 19. Mike Bonneau-304, 20. Koty McGullam-222.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
- Danny Faria Jr.-892, 2. Richard Vander Weerd-775, 3. Jace Vander Weerd-724, 4. Trey Marcham-702, 5. D.J. Johnson-671, 6. Tristan Guardino-567, 7. Ryan Bernal-532, 8. Bud Kaeding-507, 9. Landon Hurst-443, 10. Jeff Sibley-408, 11. Austin Liggett-364, 12. Brody Roa-362, 13. Shannon McQueen-336, 14. Troy Rutherford-325, 15. Max Adams-301, 16. Kyle Smith-223, 17. Matt Mitchell-207, 18. Jake Swanson-205, 19. Mike Spencer-168, 20. Colby Copeland-166.
GRUDGE SERIES POINT STANDINGS:
- Stevie Sussex-130, 2. Mike Martin-99, 3. Charles Davis Jr.-98, 4. R.J. Johnson-76, 5. Ryan Bernal-71, 6. Matt Rossi-66, –. Josh Pelkey-66, –. Andy Reinbold-66, 9. Matt Mitchell-62, 10. Nick Aiuto-59, 11. Hinter Schuerenberg-57, 12. Chris Bonneau-56, 13. Brian Hosford-52, 14. Chris Windom-48, –. Colby Copeland-48, 16. Richard Vander Weerd-45, –. Shon Deskins-45, 18. Tom Ogle-41, 19. Max Adams-40, –. Josh Shipley-40.
2015 USAC SOUTHWEST / WEST COAST / GRUDGE SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
November 19: USA Raceway – Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series / $1,500-to-Win)
November 20: USA Raceway – Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series / $1,500-to-Win)
November 21: USA Raceway – Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series / $3,000-to-Win)