JAKE SWANSON LEADS USAC WEST COAST SPRINTS TO SANTA MARIA’S CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT
By Lance Jennings
OCTOBER 4, 2017... After a break in the schedule, the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will return to Santa Maria Raceway this Saturday, October 7th. Promoted by Mike Kappmeyer, the “Championship Night” is co-sanctioned with the Santa Maria 360 Sprints and will also feature Hobby Stocks, Dwarf Cars, American Stocks, NMRA TQ Midgets, USAC Micro Sprints, Mini Dwarfs, and Junior Midgets. Located in Nipomo, California, the front gates at "The West's Best Short Track" will open at 4:00pm and racing will begin at 5:30pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.santamariaraceway.com or call 805.922.2232.
NOTICE TO RACERS: The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is the ONLY legal right rear tire and all four corners must be Hoosier. Cockpit adjustable shocks are NOT allowed and engine restrictor rules are 1-7/8” with open heads and 2-3/16” with ASCS cylinder heads. The weight rule is 1,475 lbs. with driver and the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Rule Book can be found online at www.westcoastsprintcars.com and www.usacracing.com. USAC MEMBERSHIPS ARE MANDATORY AT THE FIRST RACE and can be purchased at the track or online at https://usacracing.redpodium.com/2017-usac-sprint-midget-sc. SANTA MARIA MEMBERSHIPS WILL BE HONORED at this event.
To date, Santa Maria Raceway has held thirty-two USAC West Coast Sprint Car events. Peter Murphy won the May 2, 2009 debut and Ryan Bernal and Richard Vander Weerd lead all drivers with five victories. On August 12th, Max Adams set a new USAC West Coast qualifying record of 13.384 and “Showtime” Danny Sheridan holds the all-time 360 non-wing record of 13.354, set on September 11, 2004.
Entering the final point race, Jake Swanson (Anaheim, California) has a 106-point lead over the competition and will be crowned the series champion. Racing three different cars to secure the crown, Swanson began the year in the Sertich / Moose Racing #92 Triple X and drove the Larry Henry / Tony Jones #41 DRC before moving to Matt Dale’s #12 Maxim. After finishing seventh at Santa Maria’s Bud Stanfield Memorial on August 12th, Jake has two feature wins, three Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, four heat race victories, one BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Award, eleven top-10 finishes, and 48 feature laps led. Swanson is currently tied with Dave Darland, Josh Hodges, Cory Kruseman, Brody Roa, and Danny Sheridan for thirteenth on the series win list and will be looking add the “Championship Night” to his resume.
Austin Liggett (Tracy, California) ranks second in the championship point standings. The pilot of the family owned #83 Excel Environmental / Lucas Oil Maxim skipped the Stanfield Memorial and has three feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, two BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Awards, eleven top-10 finishes, and 64 feature laps led to his credit. The 2012 Rookie of the Year ranks ninth on the series win list and will have his sights on his first Santa Maria victory.
After running third in the Stanfield Memorial, Tristan Guardino (Fremont, California) has climbed to third in the point chase. Racing the family owned #15T Dorso’s Automotive / Allied Auto Sales Maxim, Guardino has three heat race victories, ten top-10 finishes, and 22 feature laps led on the year. Currently tied with nine other drivers for nineteenth on the win list, the young driver will be looking to claim his third USAC West Coast victory this Saturday night.
“Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. (Tipton, California) sits fourth in the chase for the championship. Driving his #17V Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / DeBoer & Sons Trucking Spike, Faria ran second to Max Adams in the August 12th Santa Maria feature. At press time, the two-time champion has one feature win, seven heat race victories, nine top-10 finishes, and 62 feature laps led in the campaign. “Hollywood” is tied with Bryan Clauson for fourth on the West Coast win list and will have his sights on his eleventh triumph.
Ryan Bernal (Hollister, California) is fifth in the USAC West Coast point standings. The driver of Mike Phulps’ #56 Metal Works ART has missed the last two races but has six feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, five heat race victories, two BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Awards, nine top-10 finishes, and 69 feature laps led to his credit. Bernal leads all drivers with thirty-three USAC West Coast wins and it is unknown if he will be at Santa Maria.
Currently tenth in points, Brandon Wiley (Santa Maria, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Steve Hix (Ventura, California), Steven Garris (Escalon, California), and Cory Elliott (Bakersfield, California) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Richard Vander Weerd, Max Adams, Jace Vander Weerd, Ryan Timmons, Ryan Stolz, Kyle Smith, Hobie Conway, Gary Nelson Jr., “The G-Man” Geoffrey Strole, Austin Ervine, and more.
“Turd Ferguson” Trent Carter (Terra Bella, California) leads the Santa Maria 360 point chase. “Junkyard” Jimmy Thompson, Ryan Stolz, James Herrera, Jordan Linson, “G-Man” Geoffrey Strole, Bill Jones, Max Adams, Jake Swanson, and Brandon Wiley round out the top-10 in points.
Santa Maria Raceway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo, California. Adult tickets are $16 and for more event information, visit the track’s website at www.santamariaraceway.com or call 805.922.2232.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series thanks AMSOIL, Hoosier Tire, BR Motorsports, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Chris Kearns Presents, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, 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, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com and www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC West Coast Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
Loudpedal Productions has USAC West Coast Sprint Car DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
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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.
2017 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS: 6-Ryan Bernal, 3-Austin Liggett, 2-Jake Swanson, 1-Max Adams, 1-Geoff Ensign, 1-Danny Faria Jr., 1-Kyle Hirst.
SANTA MARIA USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS: 5-Ryan Bernal, 5-Richard Vander Weerd, 3-Peter Murphy, 3-Danny Sheridan, 3-Jace Vander Weerd, 2-Danny Faria Jr., 2-Cory Kruseman, 2-T.J. Smith, 1-Max Adams, 1-Greg Alexander, 1-Tristan Guardino, 1-Wes Gutierrez, 1-Davey Pombo, 1-Brody Roa, 1-Craig Stidham.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Jake Swanson-904, 2. Austin Liggett-798, 3. Tristan Guardino-768, 4. Danny Faria Jr.-703, 5. Ryan Bernal-699, 6. Richard Vander Weerd-648, 7. Max Adams-638, 8. Jace Vander Weerd-618, 9. Ryan Timmons-586, 10. Brandon Wiley-567, 11. Cody Majors-549, 12. Steve Hix-529, 13. Shannon McQueen-413, 14. Geoff Ensign-401, 15. Ryan Stolz-386, 16. Joe Stornetta Jr.-336, 17. Steven Garris-327, 18. Kyle Smith-324, 19. Jeff Sibley-280, 20. Cory Elliott-217.
2017 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
October 7: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (Championship Night)
November 22: Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix / Non-Points)
November 23: Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix / Battle of the Beach Race #4 / Non-Points)
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This schedule is subject to change.