USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGETS RETURN TO VENTURA RACEWAY 

By Lance Jennings

OCTOBER 26, 2017... This Saturday, October 28th, the Light Up The World Beverages USAC Western States Midget Series will invade Ventura Raceway. Promoted by Jim Naylor, the eleventh point race and third of four appearances at the 1/5-mile oval will also feature Dwarf Cars, California Lightning Sprints, VRA Senior Sprints, and Focus Midgets. The Pit Gates will open at Noon, the Front Gates will open at 3:00pm, with Racing scheduled for 5:30pm at “The Best Little Dirt Track in America.”

NOTICE TO RACERS: 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.

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.

Since May 24, 1986, 140 USAC Western States Midget events have been held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Sleepy Tripp claimed the inaugural victory and leads all drivers with eighteen Ventura wins. At press time, 1994 Champion Johnny Cofer holds the 1-lap qualifying record of 11.675, set on November 18, 1995. A complete series Ventura win list is at the bottom of this release.

Entering Saturday’s race, Ronnie Gardner (Riverside, California) has a 103-point lead over the competition. Piloting the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 PAC Springs / Wilwood Brakes Stewart, Gardner has three feature wins, three Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, four heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and 72 feature laps led to his credit. The four-time champion ranks fourth on the series win list and will be looking to earn his twenty-third victory.

Frankie Guerrini (San Rafael, California) ranks second in the championship point standings. Racing the family owned #63 F&F Racing / Davis Motorsports Spike, Guerrini has one Esslinger Engineering Hard Charger Award, eight top-10 finishes, and 13 feature laps led in the campaign. This Saturday, the 2015 BCRA Champion will have his sights on his second career USAC win. 

David Prickett (Fresno, California) sits third in the USAC Western States Midget point chase. Driving the Neverlift Motorsports’ #22Q Crysalli Artesian Water / Mt. Rose Cocktails Spike, Prickett has one heat race victory, one Esslinger Engineering Hard Charger Award, one Light Up The World Beverages Hard Luck Award, and six top-10 finishes on the season. At Ventura, the 2012 Dirt Series Champion will be looking for his second career main event win. 

Cory Elliott (Bakersfield, California) is fourth in the chase for the championship. Piloting the family owned #11E Capital E Trucking / FK Indy Spike, Elliott has one feature win, four heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 30 feature laps led to his credit. Cory has two career series wins and will have his sights on adding a Ventura main event to his resume.

Robert Dalby (Anaheim, California) has climbed to fifth in the USAC Western States Midget point standings. Racing the family owned #4D R-D Spring & Stamping / Monster Seal Spike, Dalby has posted three heat race victories, one Esslinger Engineering Hard Charger Award, and six top-10 finishes on the year. The young driver will be looking to earn his first win this Saturday night. 

Leading rookie contender Mason Daniel (Visalia, California) is tenth in the championship point chase. Other drivers in contention are Clayton Ruston (Upland, California), Kyle Beilman (Santa Monica, California), and Bryan Drollinger (Lomita, California). 

Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Courtney Crone, Michael Faccinto, Randi Pankratz, Maria Cofer, “The Panda” Terry Nichols, Robby Josett, Jake Swanson, C.J. Sarna, Alex Schutte, J.J. Ercse, Nate Wait, Brennan Rogers, Matt Mitchell, Ron Hazelton, Cody Swanson, and more.

Ventura Raceway is located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 West Harbor Blvd. in Ventura, California. Adult tickets are $15, Senior tickets (60 and older), Active Military tickets (ID Required), and Student tickets (with ID) are $11. Kids tickets (12 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.venturaraceway.com or call 805.648.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: 3-Ronnie Gardner, 1-Rico Abreu, 1-Chad Boat, 1-Cory Elliott, 1-Michael Faccinto, 1-Shane Golobic, 1-Alex Schutte, 1-Tanner Thorson.

VENTURA LIGHT UP THE WORLD BEVERAGES USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS: 18-Sleepy Tripp, 13-Billy Boat, 8-Page Jones, 7-Garrett Hansen, 6-Jimmy Sills, 5-Johnny Cofer, 5-Robby Flock, 5-Ronnie Gardner, 5-Cory Kruseman, 4-Robert Dolacki, 4- P.J. Jones, 3-Jay Drake, 3-Robby Josett, 3-Chris Rahe, 3-Tony Stewart, 2-Tommy Astone, 2-Tyler Brown, 2-Josh Ford, 2-Dennis Hart, 2-Johnathon Henry, 2-Brad Kuhn, 2-Frank Pedregon, 2-Jerome Rodela, 2-Chuck West, 1-Mike Appio, 1-Wayne Bennet, 1-Chad Boat, 1-Bobby Boone, 1-Mario Bringetto Jr., 1-Hank Butcher, 1-Keith Chrisco, 1-Kevin Doty, 1-Tony Elliott, 1-Nic Faas, 1-Stan Fox, 1-Russ Gamester, 1-Chuck Gurney, 1-Daryl Haugh, 1-Rick Hendrix, 1-A.J. Johnson, 1-Ryan Kaplan, 1-Josh Lakatos, 1-Kyle Larson, 1-Brad Loyet, 1-Lealand McSpadden, 1-Matt Mitchell, 1-Steve Paden, 1-Rusty Rasmussen, 1-Keith Rauch, 1-Troy Rutherford, 1-Shane Scully, 1-Ron Shuman, 1-Bryan Stanfill, 1-Tommy White.

LIGHT UP THE WORLD BEVERAGES USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET POINT STANDINGS: 1. Ronnie Gardner-670, 2. Frankie Guerrini-567, 3. David Prickett-530, 4. Cory Elliott-514, 5. Robert Dalby-508, 6. Courtney Crone-501, 7. Michael Faccinto-451, 8. Randi Pankratz-404, 9. Shannon McQueen-400, 10. Mason Daniel-322, 11. Maria Cofer-321, 12. Terry Nichols-298, 13. Robby Josett-297, 14. Shane Golobic-286, 15. Jake Swanson-269, 16. Chad Boat-249, 17. C.J. Sarna-243, 18. Clayton Ruston-219, 19. Alex Schutte-216, 20. J.J. Ercse-194.

2017 LIGHT UP THE WORLD BEVERAGES USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET SCHEDULE

DATE-TRACK-LOCATION

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 USAC National Midgets.

This schedule is subject to change.

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ATTACHED PHOTOS/IMAGES:

#4D Robert Dalby. 5th in USAC Western States Midget Standings. Photo by MMRacingPhotos.com