SANTA MARIA, Ca. (August 9, 2017) — This Saturday, August 12th, the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will make their second of three appearances at Santa Maria Raceway. Promoted by Mike Kappmeyer, the “31st Annual Bud Stanfield Memorial” is co-sanctioned with the Santa Maria 360 Sprints and will also feature Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, American Stocks, Mini Stocks, and WRA Vintage Cars. Located in Nipomo, California, the front gates at “The West’s Best Short Track” will open at 4:00pm and racing will begin at 5:30pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.santamariaraceway.com or call 805.922.2232.
NOTICE TO RACERS: 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 and the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Rule Book can be found online at www.westcoastsprintcars.com and www.usacracing.com. USAC MEMBERSHIPS ARE MANDATORY AT THE FIRST RACE and can be purchased at the track or online at https://usacracing.redpodium.com/2017-usac-sprint-midget-sc. SANTA MARIA MEMBERSHIPS WILL BE HONORED at this event.
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.
To date, Santa Maria Raceway has held thirty-one USAC West Coast Sprint Car events. Peter Murphy won the May 2, 2009 debut and Ryan Bernal and Richard Vander Weerd lead all drivers with five victories. Ryan Bernal set the USAC West Coast qualifying record of 13.529 on September 17, 2011 and “Showtime” Danny Sheridan holds the all-time 360 non-wing record of 13.354 on September 11, 2004.
With two point races remaining, Jake Swanson (Anaheim, California) has a 50-point lead over the competition. Piloting Matt Dale’s #12 Gage Huntley Design / West Evans Motorsports Maxim, Swanson ran fourteenth at Petaluma on July 29th. At press time, the 2012 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has three Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, one BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Award, ten top-10 finishes, and 48 feature laps led. Jake is tied with Dave Darland, Josh Hodges, Cory Kruseman, Brody Roa, and Danny Sheridan for thirteenth on the series win list and will be looking add the “Bud Stanfield Memorial” to his resume.
Austin Liggett (Tracy, California) ranks second in the point standings. Driving the family owned #83 Excel Environmental / Lucas Oil Maxim, Liggett has three feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, two BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Awards, eleven top-10 finishes, and 64 feature laps led to his credit. The 2012 Rookie of the Year ranks ninth on the series win list and will have his sights on his first Santa Maria victory.
Ryan Bernal (Hollister, California) sits third in the USAC West Coast point chase. Racing Mike Phulps’ #56 Metal Works ART, Bernal skipped Petaluma to compete in a winged sprint car race. At press time, the two-time USAC Western Classic Champion has six feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, five heat race victories, two BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Awards, nine top-10 finishes, and 69 feature laps led to his credit. Ryan leads all drivers with thirty-three wins and it is unknown if he will be at Santa Maria.
Jace Vander Weerd (Visalia, California) is fourth in the chase for the championship. The pilot of the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim missed the action at Petaluma Speedway. As this writing goes to press, the 2010 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has three heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and 2 feature laps led on the season. Vander Weerd is tied with Peter Murphy for sixth on the series win list and will have his sights on another Stanfield Memorial triumph.
Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, California) ranks fifth in the championship standings. Like his twin brother Jace, the driver of the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim did not compete at Petaluma. At press time, the 2011 Champion has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, and eight top-10 finishes on the year. Vander Weerd ranks second with nineteen main event wins and will be looking for his first victory of 2017.
Currently eleventh in points, Brandon Wiley (Santa Maria, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Steve Hix (Ventura, California), Steven Garris (Escalon, California), and Cory Elliott (Bakersfield, California) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr., Tristan Guardino, Ryan Timmons, Max Adams, “The Milkman” Joe Stornetta Jr., Ryan Stolz, Kyle Smith, Hobie Conway, “The G-Man” Geoffrey Strole, Austin Ervine, Gary Nelson Jr., and more.
“Turd Ferguson” Trent Carter (Terra Bella, California) leads the Santa Maria 360 point chase. “Junkyard” Jimmy Thompson, Ryan Stolz, James Herrera, “G-Man” Geoffrey Strole, Jordan Linson, Bill Jones, Sean Martin Jr., Charlie Butcher, and Ryan Bernal round out the top-10 in points.
Santa Maria Raceway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo, California. Adult tickets are $16 and 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, BR Motorsports, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Chris Kearns Presents, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, 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, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com and www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC West Coast Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
Loudpedal Productions has USAC West Coast Sprint Car DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.