USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGETS INVADE SANTA MARIA SATURDAY
By Lance Jennings
AUGUST 16, 2017... After a break in the schedule, the Light Up The World Beverages USAC Western States Midgets will make their only Santa Maria Raceway appearance this Saturday, August 19th. Promoted by Mike Kappmeyer, the fifth point race will also showcase the Western RaceSaver Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, American Stocks, Santa Maria Dwarf Cars, NMRA TQ Midgets, and QRC Karts. The Spectator Gates will open at 4:00pm and Racing at "The West’s Best Short Track" will start at 5:30pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.santamariaraceway.com or call 805.922.2232.
NOTICE TO RACERS: 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.
2017 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
*Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
Saturday's event will be the 35th appearance of the “mighty midgets” at Santa Maria Raceway. Ron “Sleepy” Tripp, the all-time series leader with 104 victories, won the Santa Maria debut on May 11, 1985 and leads all drivers with six wins. At press time, J.R. Lawson holds the 1-lap qualifying record of 13.667, set on August 26, 1995, and a complete series win list at Santa Maria is at the bottom of this release.
Entering the fifth point race, Ronnie Gardner (Corona, California) has a twenty-seven point lead over the competition. Racing the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 PAC Springs / Wilwood Brakes Stewart, Gardner finished sixth at Petaluma on July 15th. To date, the defending four-time champion has two feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, two heat race victories, four top-10 finishes, and 40 feature laps led to his credit. Ronnie ranks fourth on the series win list and will be looking to claim his twenty-second career victory.
Cory Elliott (Bakersfield, California) is second in the championship point chase. Piloting the family owned #11E FK Indy / Oilwize Spike, Elliott ran seventh at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds. At press time, the 2015 Rookie of the Year has three heat race victories and four top-10 finishes on the season. Cory has one career series triumph and will have his sights on adding Santa Maria to his win list.
After running second at Petaluma, Frankie Guerrini (San Rafael, California) has climbed to third in the point standings. Driving the family owned #63 F&F Racing / Davis Motorsports Spike, Guerrini has four top-10 finishes and 13 feature laps led in the campaign. To date, the 2015 BCRA Champion has one career USAC victory and will be looking to gain valuable points with the Saturday night win.
Courtney Crone (Corona, California) ranks fourth in the chase for the championship. Racing Jerome Rodela’s #25 Trench Shoring / Ed Pink Racing Engines Breka, Crone scored thirteenth at Petaluma after a flip ended her night. As this writing goes to press, the 2016 Rookie of the Year has three top-10 finishes and six feature laps led to her credit. Courtney will have her sights on earning her first USAC Western States Midget win at Santa Maria.
After winning the USAC/BCRA “Jack London Hall of Fame Race” at Petaluma, Michael Faccinto (Hanford, California) has climbed to fifth in the Western point chase. Driving the MF Motorsports’ #35 CP Carrillo / OZV Spike, Faccinto has one top-qualifier award, three top-10 finishes, and 7 feature laps led on the year. The 2016 Louie Vermeil Classic Champion will be looking to move up the standings by scoring his sixth career series win.
Currently ranked twelfth 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 Robert Dalby, “The Panda” Terry Nichols, David Prickett, Randi Pankratz, Shannon McQueen, Alex Schutte, Maria Cofer, C.J. Sarna, Robby Josett, J.J. Ercse, Nate Wait, Ron Hazelton, Brennan Rogers, and more.
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 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-Michael Faccinto, 1-Shane Golobic.
SANTA MARIA LIGHT UP THE WORLD BEVERAGES USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS: 6-Sleepy Tripp, 3-Rusty Rasmussen, 2-Billy Boat, 1-Mario Bringetto Jr., 1-Tyler Brown, 1-Johnny Cofer, 1-Tommie Estes Jr., 1-Nic Faas, 1-Terry Farrar, 1-Robby Flock, 1-Ronnie Gardner, 1-Frankie Guerrini, 1-Garrett Hansen, 1-Johnathon Henry, 1-Cory Kruseman, 1-Brad Kuhn, 1-Jeff Meyer, 1-Wally Pankratz, 1-Bryan Stanfill, 1-Chase Stockon, 1-Danny Stratton, 1-Cody Swanson, 1-Jake Swanson, 1-Richard Vander Weerd, 1-Tommy White, 1-Josh Wise.
LIGHT UP THE WORLD BEVERAGES USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET POINT STANDINGS: 1. Ronnie Gardner-307, 2. Cory Elliott-280, 3. Frankie Guerrini-251, 4. Courtney Crone-237, 5. Michael Faccinto-220, 6. Robert Dalby-186, 7. Terry Nichols-178, 8. David Prickett-177, 9. Randi Pankratz-175, 10. Shannon McQueen-147, 11. Alex Schutte-138, 12. Mason Daniel-137, 13. Maria Cofer-130, 14. Tyler Dolacki-113, 15. C.J. Sarna-108, 16. Robby Josett-101, 17. Shane Golobic-81, 18. J.J. Ercse-80, 19. Jake Swanson-79, 20. Geoff Ensign-78.
2017 LIGHT UP THE WORLD BEVERAGES USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
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.
