DALBY LEADS USAC WESTERN MIDGETS TO “WESTERN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS”
By Lance Jennings
NOVEMBER 12, 2019... The cars and stars of the USAC Western States Midget Series will make their debut with the NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midgets at Arizona Speedway’s “52nd Annual Western World Championships presented by San Tan Ford.” Promoted by Jonah Trussel, the prestigious event opens with a practice session on Thursday, November 14th (6:00pm), followed by two nights (November 15 & 16) of racing that also features the AMSOIL USAC National, AMSOIL USAC/CRA, and Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars. Located at 47800 N. Ironwood Road in San Tan Valley, Arizona, the spectator gates on Friday and Saturday will open at 3:00pm with racing scheduled for 6:00pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
NOTICE TO RACERS:
- 2019 APPROVED/LEGAL MUFFLERS: EXTREME: 3515-3030, 3615-3030, 3515-3030-8, 3615-3030-8, BILLY BOAT: FRAC-0375-S, COAST FABRICATION: 300x625x17-2s, 350x625x17-2s, 400x625x17-2s, FLOWMASTER: 13009130, 13509130, 13509135, SCHOENFELD: 14272535, 14272530-78. *Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
- FULL CONTAINMENT SEATS ARE MANDATORY.
- DRAG LINK STRAPS ARE MANDATORY.
- The weight rule is 1,035 lbs. with driver and the USAC Western States Midget Rule Book can be found online at usacracing.com.
- USAC MEMBERSHIPS can be purchased at the track or online at usaclicense.com.
PRACTICE SESSION: The festivities will begin on Thursday, November 14th with a special practice session. Admission to the grandstands is FREE and cars will be on the track around 6:00pm. Adult pit passes are $30 and Kids (7-12) pit passes are $10.
Noted as an Arizona tradition since 1968 when Bob Cleberg took the checkered flags at the Manzanita Speedway, the “Western World Championships” has been a premier event for sprint car racing. While racing under various sanctioning bodies (AMRA, MMOA, USAC) and various tracks, the “mighty midgets” have also been a part of the Arizona classic. While popular drivers such as “The Tempe Tornado” Lealand McSpadden, “The Flying Shoe” Ron Shuman, and Bryan Clauson have added their names to the winner’s list, Darren Hagen topped the last Western midget feature at Canyon Speedway Park in 2014. An incomplete winner’s list is posted at the end of this release.
To date, there have been six different winners with five earning their first victory in the 2019 campaign. Making his first career start, Ben Worth won the April 6th Bakersfield season opener with Austin Liggett topping the April 20th Merced and April 27th Santa Maria features. Robby Josett claimed the June 22nd Ventura win and Maria Cofer earned her first victory at Petaluma on July 20th. Robert Dalby joined the winner’s list at Merced on June 27th and topped the following two races (Santa Maria on August 10th and Ventura on September 14th.) Chase Johnson claimed his first series win on October 26th at Ventura.
Heading to the “Western World,” Robert Dalby (Anaheim, CA) has a 36-point lead over the competition. On October 26th, engine issues sidelined the family owned #4D R-D Spring & Stamping / Lucas Oil Spike in time trials. From there, Dalby replaced Brennan Rogers in the #4 team car and finished ninth at Ventura Raceway. At press time, the point leader has three feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and 46 feature laps led on the year. Robert will be looking to add the Western World Championships to his resume.
Cory Elliott (Bakersfield, CA) is second in the Western States Midget point standings. Driving the family owned #11E Capital E Trucking / Nagel Earthworks Spike, Elliott placed third at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. To date, the 2015 Rookie of the Year has two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, one Saldana Racing Products Hard Charger Award, eight top-10 finishes, and 30 feature laps led to his credit. Cory has two career wins and will have his sights on his first triumph at Arizona Speedway.
After running fourth at Ventura, Shannon McQueen (Bakersfield, CA) has climbed to third in the championship point chase. Piloting the McQueen Racing #7 Simpson Race Products / Lucas Oil Bullet, McQueen has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and seven top-10 finishes in the campaign. At San Tan Valley, Shannon will be looking to add the Western World trophy to her collection.
David Prickett (Fresno, CA) sits fourth in chase for the championship. Driving the Neverlift Motorsports’ #15DJ Monster Seal Tire Sealant / Western Performance Spike, Prickett raced to a seventh place finish at Ventura Raceway. At press time, the 2012 Dirt Champion has two heat race victories, two Saldana Racing Products Hard Charger Awards, and six top-10 finishes on the year. David will have his sights on his first win of the year at Arizona Speedway.
Austin Liggett (Tracy, CA) ranks fifth in the Western Midget point standings. The pilot of the family owned Liggett’s #83 Excel Environmental Services / Liggett Trucking Spike skipped the last race but has two feature wins, one heat race victory, one Wilwood Disc Brakes Lucky 13 Award, six top-10 finishes, and 21 feature laps led on the season. The leading rookie contender will be looking to gain valuable points with a win at the Western World.
While Liggett leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors, Ben Worth (Coalinga, CA), Gage Rucker (Truxton, MO), Troy Morris III (Bakersfield, CA), Mike Leach Jr. (Orange, CA), Anthony Lopiccolo (Yorba Linda), Robert Carson (Concord, CA), Jackson Dukes (Clovis, CA), Beau Lemire (Placerville, CA), and Ricky Lewis (Oxnard, CA) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are C.J. Sarna, Kyle Beilman, Jake Swanson, Marvin Mitchell, Randi Pankratz, Cody Swanson, Dylan Ito, Robby Josett, and more.
“Sunshine” Tyler Courtney (Indianapolis, IN) leads the NOS Energy Drink USAC National point chase. “The Bear” Chris Windom, Logan Seavey, “KTJ” Kevin Thomas Jr., Zeb Wise, Tanner Carrick, Jerry Coons Jr., Chad Boat, Jason McDougal, and Tucker Klassmeyer round out the top-10 in points.
Arizona Speedway is located at 47800 N. Ironwood Road in San Tan Valley, just five minutes from Mesa, Arizona. To get to the track, exit Ironwood Drive on US 60, then head four miles south. Advance Tickets are available and for more event and ticket information, visit arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
The USAC Western States Midget Series thanks AMSOIL, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Butlerbuilt Professional Seat Systems, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Five Star Grafix, Hoosier Racing Tire, Loudpedal Productions, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Saldana Racing Products, Ultra Shield Race Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes, 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 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.
FloSports has USAC Western States Midget live videos and on demand coverage available for purchase at floracing.com.
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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.
WESTERN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS MIDGET WINNERS: (Incomplete) 1985-Lealand McSpadden, 1986-Ron Shuman, 1988-Jack Yeley, 1989-Gary Faucet, 1991-Ron Shuman, 1992-Bob Broseman, 1995-Josh Pelkey, 2013-Bryan Clauson, 2014-Darren Hagen.
2019 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS: 3-Robert Dalby, 2-Austin Liggett, 1-Maria Cofer, 1-Chase Johnson, 1-Robby Josett, 1-Ben Worth.
2019 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET POINT STANDINGS: 1. Robert Dalby-611, 2. Cory Elliott-575, 3. Shannon McQueen-477, 4. David Prickett-466, 5. Austin Liggett ®-458, 6. Ben Worth ®-450, 7. C.J. Sarna-400, 8. Kyle Beilman-372, 9. Jake Swanson-348, 10. Marvin Mitchell-347, 11. Randi Pankratz-328, 12. Cody Swanson-309, 13. Alex Schutte-257, 14. Dylan Ito-250, 15. Terry Nichols-207, --. Michael Faccinto-207, 17. Maria Cofer-204, 18. Gage Rucker ®-199, --. Robby Josett-199, 20. Mike Leach Jr. ®-179.
2019 NOS ENERGY DRINK USAC NATIONAL MIDGET POINT STANDINGS: 1. Tyler Courtney-1718, 2. Chris Windom-1564, 3. Logan Seavey-1534, 4. Kevin Thomas Jr.-1478, 5. Zeb Wise-1435, 6. Tanner Carrick-1287, 7. Jerry Coons Jr.-1274, 8. Chad Boat-1255, 9. Jason McDougal-1229, 10. Tucker Klaasmeyer-1193, 11. Tanner Thorson-1056, 12. Andrew Layser ®-986, 13. Kersyn Elledge ®-717, 14. Jesse Colwell ®-712, 15. Justin Grant-658, 16. Tyler Thomas-631, 17. C.J. Leary ®-614, 18. Holley Hollan ®-568, 19. Ethan Mitchell ®-518, 20. Brady Bacon-466.
2019 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
April 6: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA (Winner: Ben Worth)
April 20: Merced Speedway – Merced, CA (Winner: Austin Liggett)
April 27: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Winner: Austin Liggett)
June 22: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Winner: Robby Josett)
July 20: Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA (Winner: Maria Cofer)
July 27: Merced Speedway – Merced, CA (Winner: Robert Dalby)
August 10: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Winner: Robert Dalby)
September 14: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Winner: Robert Dalby)
October 26: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Winner: Chase Johnson)
November 15: *Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 16: *Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 19: *Placerville Speedway – Placerville, CA (Hangtown Hundred)
November 20: *Placerville Speedway – Placerville, CA (Hangtown Hundred)
November 23: *Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA (November Classic)
November 28: *Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midgets.
This schedule is subject to change.
