USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS INVADE TULARE’S THUNDERBOWL RACEWAY
By Lance Jennings
APRIL 4, 2017... This Saturday, April 8th, the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will tackle the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California. Located on the Tulare County Fairgrounds, the lightning fast 1/3-mile oval last hosted the traditional sprints on May 18, 2013. Promoted by Steve Faria, the third point race will also feature the Light Up The World Beverages USAC Western States Midgets, Western RaceSaver Sprint Cars, IMCA Stock Cars, and Legends of Kearney Bowl Vintage Cars. The spectator gates will open at 4:00pm, time trials at 5:00pm, and racing will start at 7:00pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.tularethunderbowl.com or call 559.688.0909.
NOTICE TO USAC/CRA COMPETITORS: The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is the ONLY legal right rear tire and all four corners must be Hoosier tires. The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is also the current legal tire with the USAC West Coast, USAC SouthWest, and VRA Sprint Cars. Cars must pass a tech inspection and one-way radios are mandatory for drivers. USAC/CRA charges a $25 entry fee to all competitors and the series rule book can be found online at www.usacracing.com. USAC MEMBERSHIPS ARE MANDATORY AT COMPETITIOR’S FIRST RACE and can be purchased at the track or online at https://usacracing.redpodium.com/2017-usac-sprint-midget-sc.
Heading into Saturday’s event, the Tulare County Fairgrounds has hosted seven USAC/CRA Sprint Car races. “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman won the May 27, 2007 Tulare debut and Mike Spencer won the last appearance. At press time, Bryan Clauson holds the 1-lap qualifying record of 14.606, set on November 14, 2009 and the series win list at Thunderbowl Raceway is at the bottom of this release.
Entering the third point race, “The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, California) has a thirteen point advantage after winning last Saturday’s “So Cal Showdown” at Perris Auto Speedway. Racing Mark Alexander's #4 Scott Sales Company / Weld Racing Spike, Gardner has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, two top-10 finishes, and 23 feature laps led on the season. “The Demon” has seventy-one USAC/CRA victories and will be looking to take top honors at Tulare.
Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, California) is second in the chase for the championship. Driving the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Richard took the lead from Brody Roa but had to settle for second at Perris. At press time, 2011 USAC West Coast Champion has one feature win, two top-10 finishes, and 31 feature laps led to his credit. Vander Weerd has seven career USAC/CRA victories and will have his sights on adding a Tulare 410 feature win to his resume.
Jake Swanson (Anaheim, California) has climbed to third in the championship point chase. Piloting Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Clackamas Rigging and Transfer XXX, Swanson ran fourth in the “So Cal Showdown.” As this writing goes to press, the 2012 Rookie of the Year has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, and two top-10 finishes on the season. Jake has one career USAC/CRA win and will be looking to gain valuable points with a victory this Saturday night.
Brody Roa (Garden Grove, California) is currently fourth in the USAC/CRA point standings. Racing the #91R BR Performance owned HD Industries / Frank Baldozier Racing Maxim, Roa led the first six laps at Perris before taking third at the “So Cal Showdown.” To date, last year’s USAC West Coast Champion has two top-10 finishes in the campaign. Brody has one career USAC/CRA victory and will have his sights on earning the $2,500 payday at Tulare.
Mike Spencer (Temecula, California) ranks fifth in the championship standings. Driving the Gansen Engineering Motorsports #4S Trench Shoring / Ram-Bull Racing Maxim, Spencer ran fifth in last Saturday’s main event. At press time, the five-time champion has two heat race victories and two top-10 finishes on the year. Mike has thirty-seven career USAC/CRA wins and will be looking to move up the standings with another Tulare triumph.
Currently thirteenth in points, Kyle Edwards (Fountain Valley, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Matt McCarthy (Riverside, California) is also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Jace Vander Weerd, Tommy “Thunder” Malcolm, “The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams, Logan Williams, Verne Sweeney, Chris Gansen, “The Flying Peanut” Parker Colston, “The Bear” Jeremy Ellertson, and more.
Tulare, California’s Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds at the corner of Bardsley and K Streets. Grandstand Tickets are $25 and Bleacher Seats are $20. Advance tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling the track office at 559.688.0909. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.tularethunderbowl.com.
The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, All Coast Construction, BR Motorsports, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, surfNsprint.com, Ultra Shield Race Products, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, contact PR Director Lance Jennings at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
For more information on USAC/CRA, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC/CRA Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
Loudpedal Productions has USAC/CRA DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
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AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS: 2004-Rip Williams, 2005-Damion Gardner, 2006-Cory Kruseman, 2007-Tony Jones, 2008-Mike Spencer, 2009-Mike Spencer, 2010-Mike Spencer, 2011-Mike Spencer, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Damion Gardner, 2014-Damion Gardner, 2015-Damion Gardner, 2016-Damion Gardner.
2017 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 1-Damion Gardner, 1-Richard Vander Weerd.
TULARE AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 1-Garrett Hansen, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Cory Kruseman, 1-Blake Miller, 1-Matt Mitchell, 1-Mike Spencer, 1-Jon Stanbrough.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Damion Gardner-164, 2. Richard Vander Weerd-151, 3. Jake Swanson-141, 4. Brody Roa-138, 5. Mike Spencer-134, 6. Cody Williams-113, 7. Jace Vander Weerd-102, 8. Tommy Malcolm-97, 9. Austin Williams-94, 10. Logan Williams-87, 11. Verne Sweeney-86, 12. Chris Gansen-80, 13. Kyle Edwards-76, 14. Matt McCarthy-73, 15. R.J. Johnson-71, ... Parker Colston-71, 17. Eddie Tafoya-65, 18. Jeremy Ellertson-63, 19. Chad Boespflug-51, 20. Cal Smith-33.
2017 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
April 8: Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
April 15: Bakersfield Speedway - Bakersfield, CA
May 6: Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA
May 27: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Salute to Indy)
June 24: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
July 1: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (Doug Fort Memorial)
July 22: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
August 5: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA
August 26: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (California Racers Hall of Fame Night)
September 2: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week)
September 3: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week)
September 4: Petaluma Speedway - Petaluma CA (California Sprint Week)
September 7: Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions / California Sprint Week)
September 8: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA (California Sprint Week)
September 9: Keller Auto Speedway - Hanford, CA (California Sprint Week)
September 23: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
October 21: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
November 3: *Arizona Speedway - San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 4: *Arizona Speedway - San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 9: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
November 10: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
November 11: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with AMSOIL USAC National Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.