USAC WEST COAST & VRA 360 SPRINT CARS CLASH AT VENTURA
By Lance Jennings
JUNE 22, 2021... The chase for the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car championship resumes this Saturday, June 26th, at Ventura Raceway (Ventura, CA). Promoted by Jim Naylor, the fourth point race is co-sanctioned with the Ventura Racing Association (VRA) and will also feature Dwarf Cars, IMCA Modifieds, WMR Western Midgets, Mod Lites, and the NMRA TQ Midgets. The show will follow COVID-19 protocols and face coverings are required for people on the grounds. The Pit Gates will open at Noon, the Front Gates open at 3:00pm, with Racing scheduled for 5:30pm at “The Best Little Dirt Track in America.” For more event information, visit the track’s website at venturaraceway.com or call 805.648.RACE. For those that cannot travel to the races, floracing.com will broadcast a live stream of the night’s action over the internet.
NOTICE TO RACERS:
- 2021 ENGINE RULES: Legal ASCS spec cylinder head w/ 2 3/16 Injector/Restrictor; or 2 3/16 with any open legal head. All Open head must be within 1 degree of OEM Head. All heads ASCS and Open must be Chevy 23 degree plus or minus 1 degree. Ford 20 degree plus or minus 1 degree. Dodge 18 degree plus or minus 1 degree.
- 2021 WEIGHT RULE: 1,475 lbs. with driver for cars with an open cylinder head. Cars with an ASCS cylinder head must weigh 1,450 lbs. including driver.
- 2021 APPROVED/LEGAL TIRES: The 105/16 Medium, 105/18 Hard, and 105/18 F85A are the only approved right rear tires. The “Medium” is also legal with the USAC National, USAC/CRA, and VRA Sprint Cars. Hoosier Tires are required on all four corners
- ALL RACERS MUST PURCHASE THEIR USAC LICENSE / MEMBERSHIPS ONLINE PRIOR TO THE EVENT AT USACRACING.COM OR USACLICENSE.COM.
- California state protocol calls for competitors, crews, officials, and anyone on the grounds to practice safe social distancing, proper sanitizing, and follow local regulations regarding the COVID-19 Coronavirus.
- TRANSPONDERS ARE MANDATORY.
- ONE WAY DRIVER RADIOS ARE MANDATORY.
- FRONT AXLE TETHER SYSTEMS (2-Chassis, 1-King Pin to King Pin) ARE MANDATORY.
- FULL CONTAINMENT SEATS ARE MANDATORY.
- The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Rule Book can be found online at usacracing.com.
Since April 4, 2009, the Ventura County Fairgrounds has held sixteen West Coast 360 events and eleven different drivers have claimed victory. Led by Tristan Guardino and Jake Swanson with three wins, Guardino also set the 1-lap track record of 11.958 on March 23, 2019. When the series last raced at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, Chase Johnson took the checkered flags on November 29, 2019.
After running fifth at Petaluma on May 15th, D.J. Johnson (Stockton, CA) has taken over the point lead. Racing his #33 Bill’s Tire Service of Pacheco / The Halstead Real Estate Eagle, Johnson has posted one heat race victory, three top-10 finishes, and 5 feature laps led on the season. The 2013 USAC Western Classic Sprint Car Rookie of the Year will be looking for the third series win of his career.
Since finishing second to Geoff Ensign at Petaluma, Austin Liggett (Linden, CA) has climbed to second in the championship point standings. Piloting the family owned #83 Excel Environmental / Liggett Trucking Maxim, Liggett has two top-10 finishes in the campaign. Ranked third in series wins, the 2018 Champion will have his sights on his thirteenth victory this Saturday night.
Ryan Timmons (Pleasant Hill, CA) ranks third in the chase for the championship. Driving the family owned #29T Timmons Auto & Truck Repair / Evergood Fine Foods CS9, Timmons has posted one Rod End Supply Hard Charger Award and two top-10 finishes on the season. At Ventura Raceway, the 2016 Rookie of the Year will be looking for the fifth win of his career.
“The Pride of Garden Grove” Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA) sits fourth in the point standings. Piloting the May Motorsports’ #8M Fastenal / Coopers Propane Maxim, Roa has one feature win, one Woodland Auto Display Top Qualifier Award, two heat race victories, one hard charger award, two top-10 finishes, and 25 feature laps led on the season. The 2016 Champion has seven career wins and will have his sights on adding Ventura to his win list.
Kaleb Montgomery (Templeton, CA) is fifth USAC West Coast point standings. Racing the family owned #3 Mission Country Properties / David Crye Maxim, Montgomery has posted two top-10 finishes and 8 feature laps led in the campaign. Fresh off a winged SCCT 360 Sprint Car win at Petaluma, Kaleb has one career series win and will be looking to add a Ventura trophy to his collection.
Cody Fendley (Placerville, CA) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors, Brody Fuson (Bakersfield, CA), Jarrett Soares (Gilroy, CA), and Nate Schank (Santa Rosa, CA) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Tanner Boul, Kyle Edwards, James Herrera, Jake Hodges, Trent Carter, and more.
A strong contingent of racers with the Ventura Racing Association will be in competition. Former track champion Troy Rutherford won last Saturday’s race over Brandon Thomson, Travis Buckley, James Herrera, Rick Hendrix, Chris Meredith, and Charlie Butcher.
Ventura Raceway is located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 West Harbor Blvd. in Ventura, California. General Admission Adult tickets are $22, General Admission Senior (60 and older), Active Military (ID Required), and Student tickets (with ID) are $18. Kids tickets (12 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at venturaraceway.com or call 805.648.RACE.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series thanks AMSOIL, Chris Kearns Presents, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, FloRacing, Hoosier Racing Tire, Loudpedal Productions, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Sway-A-Way Torsion Bars, 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 usacracing.com and the social media for USAC Racing. You can also find exclusive content at the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
FloRacing.com has live, flag-to-flag coverage of the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series. You can catch the action by subscribing to FloRacing on a monthly or yearly basis to view their huge catalog of live and on-demand auto racing and sporting events.
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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS: 2009-Justyne Hamblin, 2010-Craig Stidham, 2011-Richard Vander Weerd, 2012-Bud Kaeding, 2013-Danny Faria Jr., 2014-Matt Mitchell, 2015-Danny Faria Jr., 2016-Brody Roa, 2017-Jake Swanson, 2018-Austin Liggett, 2019-Tristan Guardino, 2020-NO AWARD.
VENTURA USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR TRACK RECORD: Tristan Guardino – 11.958 (03/23/19)
2021 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS: 1-Ryan Bernal, 1-Geoff Ensign, 1-Brody Roa.
VENTURA USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS: (Includes Non-Point Races) 3-Tristan Guardino, 3-Jake Swanson, 2-Ryan Bernal, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Tyler Courtney, 1-Geoff Ensign, 1-Johnathon Henry, 1-Chase Johnson, 1-Austin Liggett, 1-Carson Macedo, 1-Troy Rutherford.
2021 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. D.J. Johnson-205, 2. Austin Liggett-181, 3. Ryan Timmons-176, 4. Brody Roa-161, 5. Kaleb Montgomery-137, 6. Cody Fendley ®-132, 7. Tanner Boul-117, 8. Danny Faria Jr.-110, -. Kyle Edwards-110, 10. Ryan Bernal-83, 11. Geoff Ensign-78, 12. Jace Vander Weerd-66, 13. Brody Fuson ®-60, 14. Cody Smith-59, 15. James Herrera-53, 16. Jarrett Soares ®-49, 17. Nate Schank ®-44, --. Logan Calderwood ®-44, 19. Jake Hodges-41, 20. Tuesday Calderwood ®-38, 21. Trent Carter-34.
2021 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK - LOCATION
April 3: *Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (CANCELLED)
April 10: Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA (Winner: Ryan Bernal)
April 17: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA (Winner: Brody Roa)
May 15: Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA (Winner: Geoff Ensign)
June 12: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA (CANCELLED)
June 26: *Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
July 9: Merced Speedway – Merced, CA
July 10: Placerville Speedway – Placerville, CA (Gold Dust Fever)
July 31: Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA
August 7: Merced Speedway – Merced, CA
August 28: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Ron Otto Memorial)
September 18: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA
September 19: Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park – Bakersfield, CA
October 9: Placerville Speedway – Placerville, CA (Prospector Pandemonium)
October 10: Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA
October 16: *Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA
November 26: *Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix / SE)
November 27: *Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix / SE)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with VRA Sprints.
SE = Special Event / Non-Points.
This schedule is subject to change.