USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGETS RETURN TO VENTURA SATURDAY
By Lance Jennings
MAY 9, 2017... After a rainout and a break in the schedule, the Light Up The World Beverages USAC Western States Midgets are back in action this Saturday, May 13th at Ventura Raceway. Making their first of four appearances at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, the third point race will also feature Dwarf Cars, IMCA Modifieds, and Hobby Stocks. 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, 138 USAC Western States Midget events have been held at Jim Naylor’s Ventura Raceway. Sleepy Tripp claimed the inaugural victory and leads all drivers with eighteen wins at the 1/5-mile oval. Last year, NASCAR’s Kyle Larson won the 76th Turkey Night Grand Prix and other Ventura wins were claimed by Ronnie Gardner and Robby Josett. At press time, 1994 Champion Johnny Cofer holds the 1-lap qualifying record of 11.675, set on November 18, 1995 and a complete Ventura series win list is at the bottom of this release.
Heading to Ventura, Ronnie Gardner (Corona, California) has a thirteen point lead over the competition. Piloting the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 PAC Springs / Wilwood Brakes Stewart, Gardner led five laps at Placerville on March 29th before running second to Shane Golobic. To date, the defending four-time champion has one feature win, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, two top-10 finishes, and 30 feature laps led to his credit. Ronnie ranks fourth on the series win list and will be looking to earn his twenty-first victory this Saturday night.
Cory Elliott (Bakersfield, California) ranks second in the chase for the championship. Racing the family owned #11E FK Indy / Oilwize Spike, Elliott charged from ninth to score third at Placerville Speedway. At press time, the 2015 Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory and two top-10 finishes on the season. Cory has one career series win and will have his sights on adding a Ventura triumph to his resume.
Courtney Crone (Corona, California) sits third in the USAC Western States Midget point chase. Driving Jerome Rodela’s #25 Trench Shoring / Ed Pink Racing Engines Breka, Crone ran fourth in the Placerville main event. As this writing goes to press, the 2016 Rookie of the Year has two top-10 finishes in the campaign. Fresh off a Madera BCRA Midget victory, Courtney will be looking to earn her first USAC feature win at Ventura.
Frankie Guerrini (San Rafael, California) ranks fourth in the championship standings. Piloting the family owned #63 F&F Racing / Davis Motorsports Spike, Guerrini scored tenth in the “Placerville Short Track Outlaw Showdown.” At press time, the 2015 BCRA Champion has two top-10 finishes on the season and will have his sights on his second career USAC victory.
Leading rookie contender Mason Daniel (Visalia, California) is fifth in the championship points. Racing the family owned #33M Young’s Racing / Dylon Risk Management Spike, Daniel claimed seventh in the March 29th main event. To date, Mason has one Esslinger Engineering Hard Charger Award and two top-10 finishes on the year. The young driver will be looking to earn his first victory at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
Other drivers in contention for rookie of the year honors are Clayton Ruston (Upland, California) and Bryan Drollinger (Lomita, California).
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Panda” Terry Nichols, Robert Dalby, Randi Pankratz, David Prickett, Michael Faccinto, Maria Cofer, Alex Schutte, J.J. Ercse, Shannon McQueen, Nate Wait, Tyler Dolacki, Robby Josett, Jake 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, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, 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: 1-Ronnie Gardner, 1-Shane Golobic.
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-Cory Kruseman, 4-Robert Dolacki, 4-Ronnie Gardner, 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-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-161, 2. Cory Elliott-148, 3. Courtney Crone-131, 4. Frankie Guerrini-114, 5. Mason Daniel-110, 6. Terry Nichols-104, 7. Robert Dalby-98, 8. Randi Pankratz-94, 9. David Prickett-82, 10. Shane Golobic-81, ... Michael Faccinto-81, 12. Nic Faas-77, 13. Maria Cofer-76, 14. Alex Schutte-66, 15. J.J. Ercse-54, 16. Chris Ennis-50, 17. Geoff Ensign-44, ... Buddy Kofoid-44, 19. Clayton Ruston-42, 20. Matt Mitchell-40.
2017 LIGHT UP THE WORLD BEVERAGES USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
May 13: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
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 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.