MERCED AND PLACERVILLE ON TAP FOR USAC WEST COAST SPRINTS
By Lance Jennings
JULY 6, 2021... Starting this Friday, the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars are set for a rare doubleheader. On July 9th, the traditional 360s will invade the Merced Speedway (Merced, CA) for the first time in series history. Promoted by Chris Shannon and Paul Stone, the fifth point race will also feature the USAC Western States Midgets, Hobby Stocks, Mini Late Models, and IMCA Modifieds. Located on the Merced County Fairgrounds, the Pit Gates will open at 3:00PM, the Front Gates open at 5:30PM, Driver’s Meeting at 5:45PM, with Racing scheduled at 7:00PM. For more Merced information, visit the track’s website at mercedspeedway.net or call 209.600.8382.
The following night, Saturday, July 10th, the series will travel to the Placerville Speedway (Placerville, CA) and headline the “Gold Dust Fever.” Promoted by Scott Russell and Kami Arnold, the action packed card will also showcase the USAC Western States Midgets and wingless BCRA Lightning Sprints. Located on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds, the Pit Gates will open at 2:00PM, the Front Gates open at 3:00PM, with Racing scheduled at 6:30PM. For more Merced information, visit the track’s website at placervillespeedway.com or call 530.344.7592.
For those that cannot travel to the races, floracing.com will broadcast a live stream of both night’s action over the internet.
MERCED NOTES:
- Any USAC West Coast Sprint Car and USAC Western States Midget driver that has ran a USAC race this season is eligible for a free driver pit pass at Merced.
- Fuel WILL NOT be available at the race track.
- ANY HOOSIER TIRE ON ALL FOUR CORNERS ARE ALLOWED UNTIL JULY 11th.
- 2021 APPROVED/LEGAL MUFFLERS: EXTREME: 6014-3535, 3615-3535, BILLY BOAT: FRAC-0375S, COAST FABRICATION: 350x625x17-2S, FLOWMASTER: 53545-10, 13516100, 13516101, SCHOENFELD: 14272535, 14272735-78, SPINTECH: 1545P SUPER STOCK. *Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
PLACERVILLE NOTES:
- The Flowmaster “Suitcase” (53545-10) and the Spin Tech 1545P Super Stock with turndowns ARE THE ONLY MUFFLERS ALLOWED AT PLACERVILLE SPEEDWAY. *Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
- ANY HOOSIER TIRE ON ALL FOUR CORNERS ARE ALLOWED UNTIL JULY 11th.
NOTICE TO RACERS:
- NO ENTRY FEE IN 2021.
- 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.
- ALL RACERS MUST PURCHASE THEIR USAC LICENSE / MEMBERSHIPS OR TEMPORARY PERMITS (TPs) ONLINE PRIOR TO THE EVENT AT USACRACING.COM OR USACLICENSE.COM. TPs are $25 and Memberships are $150.
- 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.
- Any Wingless Spec Sprint is invited to race with the USAC West Coast Sprints and can run their rules 100 percent, including their tire rule.
- 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.
New to the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Schedule, Merced Speedway will host their first of two appearances this Friday night. The quarter-mile oval has previously hosted the USAC Western States Midgets and the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series. A new track record will be set and we will see who will add the inaugural Merced trophy to their collection.
On October 10, 2020, Placerville Speedway held it’s only USAC West Coast 360 event and Ryan Timmons claimed victory over Jake Morgan, “Wild” Billy Aton, Kaleb Montgomery, and Rob Lindsey. On that night, Timmons also set the 1-lap track record of 12.243 at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds.
Heading to Merced, D.J. Johnson (Stockton, CA) has a seventeen point advantage over the competition. Racing his #33 Bill’s Tire Service of Pacheco / The Halstead Real Estate Eagle, Johnson finished third in his first ever race at Ventura Raceway on June 26th. To date, the 2013 USAC Western Classic Sprint Car Rookie of the Year has posted two heat race victories, four top-10 finishes, and 5 feature laps led on the season. D.J. has two career series wins and will be looking to add Merced and Placerville to his resume.
Austin Liggett (Linden, CA) ranks second in the chase for the championship. Piloting the family owned #83 Excel Environmental / Liggett Trucking Maxim, Liggett led three laps at Ventura before placing second to Troy Rutherford. At press time, the 2018 Champion has recorded three top-10 finishes in the campaign. With twelve career victories, Austin will be racing double duty with the USAC Western States Midgets and will have his sights on sweeping both nights.
Ryan Timmons (Pleasant Hill, CA) sits third in the championship point standings. Driving the family owned #29T Timmons Auto & Truck Repair / Evergood Fine Foods entry, Timmons charged from fourteenth to sixth at Ventura. To date, the 2016 Rookie of the Year has two Rod End Supply Hard Charger Awards and three 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. Timmons has four career wins and will be looking to continue his championship bid with wins at Merced and Placerville.
“The Pride of Garden Grove” Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA) is fourth in the USAC West Coast point chase. Racing the May Motorsports’ #8M Fastenal / Coopers Propane Maxim, Roa scored a fifth place finish at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. At press time, the 2016 Champion has one feature win, one Woodland Auto Display Top Qualifier Award, two heat race victories, one hard charger award, three top-10 finishes, and 25 feature laps led on the season. Brody has seven career wins and will have his sights on winning both main events.
Tanner Boul (Auberry, CA) has climbed to fifth in the USAC 360 point standings. Driving the family owned #99T King Racing Products / BR Motorsports Triple X, Boul scored eighteenth at Ventura Raceway. To date, the young driver has one heat race victory, one Rod End Supply Hard Charger Award, and two top-10 finishes on the year. Tanner will be looking for his first wins at Merced and Placerville.
Cody Fendley (Placerville, CA) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors, Nate Schank (Santa Rosa, CA), Jarrett Soares (Gilroy, CA), and Brody Fuson (Bakersfield, CA) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Kyle Edwards, Kaleb Montgomery, Tristan Guardino, Hannah Mayhew, Jacob Tuttle, and more.
Merced Speedway is located on the Merced County Fairgrounds at 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Merced, California. Adult tickets are $20, Senior tickets are $18, Kids tickets (6-10) are $5, and Children (5 & Under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at mercedspeedway.net or call 209.600.8382.
Placerville Speedway is located on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville, California at 100 Placerville Drive. Adult tickets are $22, Military/Senior tickets are $18, Junior Tickets (12-17) are $18, Kids tickets (6-11) are $10, and Children (5 & Under) are FREE. Advance tickets can be purchased online and for more event information, visit the track’s website at placervillespeedway.com or call 530.344.7592.
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.
PLACERVILLE USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR TRACK RECORD: Ryan Timmons – 12.243 (10/10/20)
2021 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS: 1-Ryan Bernal, 1-Geoff Ensign, 1-Brody Roa, 1-Troy Rutherford.
2021 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. D.J. Johnson-277, 2. Austin Liggett-260, 3. Ryan Timmons-236, 4. Brody Roa-229, 5. Tanner Boul-148, 6. Kyle Edwards-140, 7. Kaleb Montgomery-137, 8. Cody Fendley ®-132, 9. Danny Faria Jr.-110, 10. Jake Hodges-91, 11. Trent Carter-90, 12. Nate Schank ®-89, 13. James Herrera-86, 14. Ryan Bernal-83, 15. Jarrett Soares ®-80, 16. Geoff Ensign-78, 17. Troy Rutherford-76, 18. Trent Williams-69, 19. Jace Vander Weerd-66, 20. Brody Fuson ®-60, ---. Tristan Guardino-60, 22. Cody Smith-59, 23. Bruce Douglass-47, 24. Logan Calderwood ®-44, 25. Hannah Mayhew-43, 26. Rick Hendrix-42, ---. Travis Buckley-42, 28. Jacob Tuttle-39, 29. Tuesday Calderwood ®-38, 30. Christopher Muraoka-36, 31. Tom Hendricks-25, 32. Steve Hix-10, ---. Kala Keliinoi-10.
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 (Winner: Troy Rutherford)
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.
