USAC WESTERN STATES & BCRA MIDGETS CLASH AT PETALUMA
By Lance Jennings
JULY 13, 2017... After a break in the schedule, the Light Up The World Beverages USAC Western States Midgets are back in action this Saturday, July 15th, at Petaluma Speedway. The Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA) co-sanctioned “Jack London Hall of Fame Night” is the first of two appearances at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds. The action packed card will also feature Winged 360 Sprint Cars, Dwarf Cars, and Mini Stocks. The Pit Gates will open at noon, the Front Gates open at 4:00pm, Practice starts at 5:00pm, and Racing at “The Fastest 3/8 Mile Dirt Oval in Northern California” will begin at 6:00pm.
NOTICE TO RACERS:
-WEIGHT RULE: The weight rule for the combined BCRA & USAC Western States Midget shows is 1060 lbs. This will also be in effect at the September 7th Chico show.
-USAC POINTS: To earn USAC Western States Midget points at Petaluma, competitors must check in with USAC officials. This will also be in effect at the September 7th Chico show. USAC MEMBERSHIPS ARE MANDATORY AT FIRST RACE and can be purchased at the track or online at https://usacracing.redpodium.com/2017-usac-sprint-midget-sc.
-BCRA POINTS: For BCRA points, BCRA MEMBERSHIPS WILL BE RECOGNIZED at this event.
-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
*Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
-TARPS: Tarps are mandatory at Petaluma under all race cars in the pit area. The tarps must stick out at least one foot on each side.
Saturday’s race honors Jack London, a famous car owner and mechanic dating back to the Offenhouser days of BCRA. As part of the festivities, the Bay Cities Racing Association will induct car owner Doug Bock, driver Dick Geide, car owner Marietta Nichols, and photographer Jim Abreu into their Hall of Fame. Past winners of the popular race includes Michael Faccinto and Alex Schutte.
Since October 6, 2012, the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds has hosted six USAC Western States Midget races and four different drivers have claimed victory. Ronnie Gardner leads all drivers with three wins and Alex Schutte won last year’s “Hall of Fame Race.” Gardner set the 1-lap track record of 14.200 on October 5, 2013 and a complete series win list at Petaluma is at the end of this release.
Entering the fourth point race, Ronnie Gardner (Corona, California) has a twenty point lead over the competition. Piloting the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 PAC Springs / Wilwood Brakes Stewart, Gardner won the May 13th feature at Ventura Raceway. To date, the defending four-time champion has two feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, three top-10 finishes, and 36 feature laps led to his credit. Ronnie ranks fourth on the series win list and will be looking to earn his twenty-second career victory.
Cory Elliott (Bakersfield, California) ranks second in the chase for the championship. Driving the family owned #11E FK Indy / Oilwize Spike, Elliott scored third at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. At press time, the 2015 Rookie of the Year has two heat race victories and three top-10 finishes on the season. Cory has one career series win and will have his sights on adding Petaluma’s “Hall of Fame Race” to his resume.
Courtney Crone (Corona, California) sits third in the USAC Western States Midget point chase. Racing Jerome Rodela’s #25 Trench Shoring / Ed Pink Racing Engines Breka, Crone took seventh in the May 13th main event at Ventura. As this writing goes to press, the 2016 Rookie of the Year has three top-10 finishes and will be looking to earn her first career USAC win at Petaluma Speedway.
Frankie Guerrini (San Rafael, California) is fourth in the championship point standings. Piloting the family owned #63 F&F Racing / Davis Motorsports Spike, Guerrini raced from eleventh to score fifth at Ventura. At press time, the 2015 BCRA Champion has three top-10 finishes on the season and will have his sights on his second career USAC victory.
After running tenth at Ventura, Robert Dalby (Anaheim, California) climbed to fifth in the Western States point standings. Driving the family owned #4D R-D Spring & Stamping / Monster Seal Spike, Dalby has one heat race victory, one Esslinger Engineering Hard Charger Award, and two top-10 finishes to his credit. Robert will be looking to earn his first USAC Western Midget victory at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds.
Currently ranked tenth in points, Mason Daniel (Visalia, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Clayton Ruston (Upland, California) and Bryan Drollinger (Lomita, California) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are David Prickett, “The Panda” Terry Nichols, Michael Faccinto, Randi Pankratz, Shannon McQueen, J.J. Ercse, Tyler Dolacki, Maria Cofer, Alex Schutte, and more.
Maria Cofer (Macdoel, California) leads the overall BCRA point standings. Floyd Alvis, JR Williams, Chad Nichols, David Goodwill, Cory Elliott, Alex Schutte, David Prickett, Terry Nichols, and Danny Carroll round out the top-10 in points.
Petaluma Speedway is located on the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, California at 100 Fairgrounds Drive. Adult Tickets (64-12) are $16, Senior Tickets (65 and over) are $12, Junior Tickets (11-6) are $12, and Children (5 and under) are FREE. For more information, visit the track's website at www.petaluma-speedway.com or call 707.763.7223 (RACE).
The Light Up The World Beverages USAC Western States Midget Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Esslinger Engineering, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
For more information on the series, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the Light Up The World Beverages USAC Western States Midget Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
Loudpedal Productions has USAC Western States Midget DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
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LIGHT UP THE WORLD BEVERAGES 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 LIGHT UP THE WORLD BEVERAGES USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS: 2-Ronnie Gardner, 1-Shane Golobic.
JACK LONDON HALL OF FAME RACE WINNERS: 2015-Michael Faccinto, 2016-Alex Schutte.
PETALUMA LIGHT UP THE WORLD BEVERAGES USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS: 3-Ronnie Gardner, 1-Michael Faccinto, 1-Shane Golobic, 1-Alex Schutte.
2017 LIGHT UP THE WORLD BEVERAGES USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET POINT STANDINGS: 1. Ronnie Gardner-240, 2. Cory Elliott-220, 3. Courtney Crone-193, 4. Frankie Guerrini-177, 5. Robert Dalby-145, 6. David Prickett-141, 7. Terry Nichols-140, 8. Michael Faccinto-139, 9. Randi Pankratz-126, 10. Mason Daniel-110, 11. Robby Josett-101, 12. Shane Golobic-81, 13. Shannon McQueen-80, ... J.J. Ercse-80, 15. Jake Swanson-79, 16. Clayton Ruston-77, ... Nic Faas-77, ... Tyler Dolacki-77, 19. Maria Cofer-76, 20. Austen Figueroa-74.
2017 LIGHT UP THE WORLD BEVERAGES USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
July 15: *Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA (Jack London Hall of Fame Picnic Event)
August 19: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA
September 2: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 3: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 7: *Silver Dollar Speedway – Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions)
September 16: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
September 30: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA
October 14: Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA
October 28: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
November 18: #Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA
November 23: #Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with BCRA Midgets.
# = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC National Midgets.
This schedule is subject to change.
