USAC WESTERN STATES & BCRA MIDGETS CLASH AT TULARE AND HANFORD
By Lance Jennings
MARCH 1, 2022... The “mighty midgets” of the USAC Western States and Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA) will open their season with a special doubleheader in Central California. Starting this Friday, March 4th, the midgets will clash at the Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare for their first of two stops on the schedule. Promoted by Steve Faria, the first point race will also feature the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Cars and the winged Western RaceSaver 305 Sprint Cars. Located on the Tulare County Fairgrounds, the Spectator Gates will open at 4:00PM, Hot Laps at 5:00PM, Time Trials at 6:00PM, with Racing scheduled at 7:00PM. For more Tulare information, visit the track’s website at tularethunderbowl.com or call 559.688.0909.
The following night, Saturday, March 5th, the USAC and BCRA Midgets will invade the Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford. Promoted by Peter Murphy, the event will be the first of two appearances at the Kings County Fairgrounds. The action packed card will also showcase the AMSOIL USAC/CRA 410 Sprint Cars and the winged Western RaceSaver 305 Sprint Cars. The Front Gates open at 4:00PM, Hot Laps at 6:00pm, with Racing scheduled for 7:00pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at racekingsspeedway.com.
For those that cannot travel to the races, floracing.com will broadcast a live stream of the night’s action over the internet.
NOTICE TO RACERS:
- MEMBERSHIPS / TEMPORARY PERMITS: All racers MUST PURCHASE their USAC license / membership or temporary permit online PRIOR TO THE EVENT at usaclicense.com or usacracing.com. TPs are $25 and Memberships are $150. Season memberships come with extra insurance.
- ENTRY FEE: There is an entry fee due at registration / pill pick.
- TRANSPONDERS: Transponders ARE MANDATORY and will be available to rent.
- APPROVED/LEGAL MUFFLERS: B&B: FRAC-0375-S w/side outlet, COAST FABRICATION: 300x625x17-2s, 350x625x17-2s, 400x625x17-2s, EXTREME: 3515-3030 (15” Long 5” round shell with 3”inlet & 3” outlet), 3615-3030 (15” Long 6” round shell with 3” inlet & 3” outlet), 3515-3030-8 (15” Long 5” round shell with 3”inlet & 3” outlet with turnout), 3615-3030-8 (15” Long 6” round shell with 3” inlet & 3” outlet with turnout), FLOWMASTER: (BCRA Approved) 13009130, 13509130, 13509135, SCHOENFELD: 14272535, 14272730-78 *Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
- ONE WAY RADIOS / RACECEIVERS: One way radios ARE MANDATORY.
- FULL CONTAINMENT SEATS: Full containment seats ARE MANDATORY.
- RULE BOOK: The USAC Western States Midget Rule Book can be found online at usacracing.com.
- California state protocol calls for competitors, crews, officials, and anyone on the grounds to practice safe social distancing, proper sanitizing, and follow local regulations regarding the COVID-19 Coronavirus.
Since September 7, 1988, Thunderbowl Raceway has hosted ten USAC Western States Midget events and ten different drivers have claimed victory. Last season, Austin Liggett added his name to the winner’s list on April 17th over Ben Worth, Shannon McQueen, Jake Andreotti, and Mitchel Moles. Other drivers to have claimed victory at Tulare are Brady Bacon, Michael Faccinto, Robby Flock, Ronnie Gardner, Tracy Hines, P.J. Jones, Trey Marcham, Alex Schutte, and Sleepy Tripp. Bryan Clauson set the 1-lap track record of 15.628 on November 13, 2010.
The Keller Auto Speedway (formerly Kings Speedway and Giant Chevrolet Speedway) has hosted 46 USAC Western States Midget races and thirty-two different drivers have claimed victory. Robby Flock scored the inaugural victory as Mitchel Moles, Brody Fuson, and Michael Faccinto joined the winner’s list last season. Billy Boat leads all drivers with six Hanford triumphs and Ronnie Day set the 1-lap qualifying track record of 15.555 on October 3, 1998. The series win list at Hanford is at the end of this release.
Blake Bower (Brentwood, CA) earned last season’s championship and rookie of the year honors. Piloting Tony Boscacci’s #9 Orland Public Auto Auction / Mountain Cascade Inc. Spike, Bower had one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, five heat race victories, twelve top-10 finishes, and 26 feature laps led on the year. Blake will be looking to defend his championship with his first wins at Tulare and Hanford.
Brody Fuson (Bakersfield, CA) ran second in the chase for the championship and rookie points. Driving Rusty Carlile’s #51 RacePa Motorsports / W.E. Spike, Fuson had two feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Top Qualifier Award, four heat race wins, nine top-10 finishes, and 41 feature laps led to his credit. Brody is waiting to get his engine ready for the season and is expected to miss the doubleheader.
C.J. Sarna (Brea, CA) scored third in the championship point standings. Racing his #20 ZMAX / Final Final Clothing Spike, Sarna had four heat race victories, three Rod End Supply Hard Charger Awards, and eight top-10 finishes in the campaign. The 2007 Co-Rookie of the Year has one series triumph and will have his sights on victories at Tulare and Hanford.
Austin Liggett (Linden, CA) finished fourth in USAC Western Midget point standings. Piloting the family owned #83 Excel Environmental Services / Liggett Trucking Spike, Liggett had two feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, one heat race victory, seven top-10 finishes and 57 feature laps led in the campaign. The 2018 USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Champion has four career wins and may miss the midget portions of the Tulare and Hanford races.
Ben Worth (Coalinga, CA) ranked fifth in the chase for the championship. Driving Dean Alexander’s #5K Walker Air Filtration / WFX Spike, Worth had one feature win, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, six top-10 finishes, and 29 feature laps led. The 2019 Rookie of the Year has two career wins and will be looking to add Tulare and Hanford trophies to his collection.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Shannon McQueen, Ron Hazelton, Jarrett Soares, David Prickett, Jake Andreotti, Dylan Ito, Randi Pankratz, Kyle Beilman, Kyle Mentch, Colton Raudman, Alex Schutte, Caden Sarale, Matt Streeter, Matt Mitchell, A.J. Bender, K.J. Snow, and more.
Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds at the corner of Bardsley and K Streets in Tulare, California. Pit Passes are $45, Adult Grandstand tickets are $30, Adult Bleacher Tickets are #25, Senior Grandstand Tickets are $28, Senior Bleacher Tickets are $23, Kids (6-12) Grandstand Tickets are $15, Kids (6-12) Bleacher Tickets are $13, Kids tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at thunderbowlraceway.com or call 559.688.0909.
Keller Auto Speedway is located at the Kings County Fairgrounds at 801 South 10th Avenue in Hanford, California. General Admission Adult tickets are $20, General Admission Senior (62 and older), Active Military (ID Required), and General Admission Junior tickets (7 to 17) are $15. Kids tickets (6 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit kellerautospeedway.com or the track’s social media.
The USAC Western States Midget Series thanks Ammonia Refrigeration Service Inc., AMSOIL, BR Motorsports, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Finish Line Promotions by Stephanie Odom, Hoosier Racing Tire, Rod End Supply, Superior Bearing and Supply, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Wireless 101, 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
For more information on the USAC Western States Midget Series, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at usacracing.com and the social media for USAC Racing. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC Western States Midget Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
FloRacing.com has live, flag-to-flag coverage of the USAC Western States Midget Series. You can catch the action by subscribing to FloRacing on a monthly or yearly basis to view their huge catalog of live and on-demand auto racing and sporting events.
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USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET CHAMPIONS: *1982-Jeff Heywood, 1983-Sleepy Tripp, 1984-Tommy White, 1985-Sleepy Tripp, 1986-Robby Flock, 1987-Sleepy Tripp, 1988-Sleepy Tripp, 1989-Robby Flock, 1990-Sleepy Tripp, 1991-Sleepy Tripp, 1992-Sleepy Tripp, 1993-Robby Flock, 1994-Johnny Cofer, 1995-Billy Boat, 1996-Jay Drake, 1997-Ricky Shelton, 1998-Rick Hendrix, 1999-Marc DeBeaumont, 2000-Wally Pankratz, 2001-Danny Ebberts, 2002-Robby Flock, 2003-Steve Paden, 2004-Johnny Rodriguez, 2005-Jerome Rodela, 2006-Jerome Rodela, 2007-Johnny Rodriguez, 2008-Nic Faas, 2009-Garrett Hansen, 2010-Alex Schutte, 2011-Cory Kruseman, 2012-Shannon McQueen, 2013-Ronnie Gardner, 2014- Ronnie Gardner, 2015-Ronnie Gardner, 2016-Ronnie Gardner, 2017-Ronnie Gardner, 2018-Michael Faccinto, 2019-Robert Dalby, 2020-NO AWARD, 2021-Blake Bower.
TULARE USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET TRACK RECORD: Bryan Clauson – 15.628 (11/13/10)
TULARE USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS: 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Michael Faccinto, 1-Robby Flock, 1-Ronnie Gardner, 1-Tracy Hines, 1-P.J. Jones, 1-Austin Liggett, 1-Trey Marcham, 1-Alex Schutte, 1-Sleepy Tripp.
HANFORD USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET TRACK RECORD: Ronnie Day – 15.555 (10/3/98)
HANFORD USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS: 6-Billy Boat, 4- Robby Flock, 3-Jimmy Sills, 2-Ronnie Day, 2-Alex Harris, 2-Rusty Rasmussen, 2-Ron Shuman, 1-Tommy Astone, 1-Donnie Beechler, 1-Ryan Bernal, 1-Cory Elliott, 1-Mark DeBeaumont, 1-Danny Ebberts, 1-Nic Faas, 1-Michael Faccinto, 1-Brody Fuson, 1-Joe Gaerte, 1-Ronnie Gardner, 1-Garrett Hansen, 1-Levi Jones, 1-Dallen McKenney, 1-Carson Macedo, 1-Andy Michner, 1-Mitchel Moles, 1-Alex Schutte, 1-Ricky Shelton, 1-Tony Stewart, 1-Danny Stratton, 1-Matt Streeter, 1-Sleepy Tripp, 1-Rich Vogler, 1-Josh Wise.
2022 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
March 4: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA
March 5: Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA
March 26: Placerville Speedway – Placerville, CA (Spring Fever Frenzy)
April 2: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA (Chris & Brian Faria Memorial)
April 16: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA
April 23: Merced Speedway – Merced, CA
May 7: Placerville Speedway – Placerville, CA (Mother’s Day Madness)
May 21: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
June 18: Merced Speedway – Merced, CA
July 23: Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA
August 13: TBA
August 27: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
September 24: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
October 1: TBA
October 15: The Dirt Track at KCRP – Bakersfield, CA (Championship Night)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with BCRA Midgets.
TBA = To Be Announced.
This schedule is subject to change.
