USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGETS CLASH AT PETALUMA
By Lance Jennings
JULY 26, 2021... The cars and stars of the USAC Western States Midget Series will head to Petaluma Speedway (Petaluma, CA) this Saturday, July 31st. Promoted by Rick Faeth, the eighth point race is the second of three appearances at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds and will also feature the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Cars, WMR Western Midgets, and 600 Micro Sprints. The Pit Gates will open at noon, The Front Gates open at 4:00pm, Practice starts at 5:00pm, and Racing at “The Fastest 3/8 Mile Dirt Oval in Northern California” will begin at 6:00pm. For event information, visit the track’s website at petaluma-speedway.com or call 707.763.7223 (RACE). For those that cannot travel to the races, floracing.com will broadcast a live stream of both night’s action over the internet.
PETALUMA NOTES:
- PETALUMA SPEEDWAY HAS A MANDATORY COMPETITOR COVID-19 WAIVER FORM AT petaluma-speedway.com/covid-waiver.
- PETALUMA TARP RULE: Tarps are mandatory under all racecars in the pit area and must stick out at least one foot at each side.
NOTICE TO RACERS:
- NO ENTRY FEE IN 2021. 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.
- 2021 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, 14272730-78 *Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
- FULL CONTAINMENT SEATS ARE MANDATORY.
- ONE WAY DRIVER RADIOS ARE MANDATORY.
- TRANSPONDERS ARE MANDATORY.
- The USAC Western States Midget Rule Book can be found online at usacracing.com.
Since October 6, 2012, thirteen USAC Western States Midget events have been held at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds. “Sugar” Shane Golobic claimed the inaugural victory as “Fireball” Maria Cofer, Ronnie Gardner, and Alex Schutte lead all drivers with three Petaluma wins. When the series last visited the 3/8-mile oval on May 15th, Cofer led all 25-laps to a popular victory. Gardner set the 1-lap qualifying record of 14.200 on October 5, 2013 and a complete series win list at Petaluma is at the bottom of this release.
Heading to Merced, Austin Liggett (Linden, CA) holds a 40-point lead over the competition. Racing the family owned #83 Excel Environmental Services / Liggett Trucking Spike, Liggett scored twelfth at Merced on July 9th and won the following night at Placerville. At press time, the 2018 USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Champion has two feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, one heat race victory, six top-10 finishes and 57 feature laps led on the season. With four career wins, Liggett will be racing double duty with the USAC West Coast 360 Sprints and will be looking to win both shows.
Rookie contender Blake Bower (Brentwood, CA) has climbed to second in the USAC Western States Midget point chase. Piloting Tony Boscacci’s #9 Orland Public Auto Auction / Mountain Cascade Inc. Spike, Bower ran third at Merced and placed seventh at Placerville. At press time, Blake has three heat race victories and six top-10 finishes on the year. Bower will have his sights on earning his first USAC win at Petaluma Speedway.
Brody Fuson (Bakersfield, CA) has climbed to third in the USAC point standings. Driving Rusty Carlile’s #51 RacePa Motorsports / W.E. Spike, Fuson finished second to Chase Johnson at Merced and scored sixth at Placerville. To date, the rookie contender has posted one Woodland Auto Display Top Qualifier Award, two heat race wins, and six top-10 finishes on the year. Brody will be looking to earn his first USAC Western States Midget win this Saturday night.
C.J. Sarna (Brea, CA) has climbed to fourth in the chase for the championship. Racing his #20 ZMAX / Final Final Clothing Spike, Sarna ran fourth at Merced and eighth at Placerville. At press time, the 2007 Co-Rookie of the Year has two heat race victories, two Rod End Supply Hard Charger Awards, and five top-10 finishes to his credit. Sarna has one career triumph and will have his sights on adding a Petaluma victory to his resume.
Ben Worth (Coalinga, CA) ranks fifth in the championship point standings. Racing Dean Alexander’s #5K Walker Air Filtration / WFX Spike, Worth scored tenth at Merced and twelfth at Placerville. To date, the 2019 Rookie of the Year has posted one feature win, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, four top-10 finishes, and 29 feature laps led. Ben has two career wins and will be looking to add another winning trophy to his collection.
While Bower leads the chase for rookie honors, Fuson (Bakersfield, CA), Jarrett Soares (Gilroy, CA), Tony Gualda (Modesto, CA), Colby Johnson (Penngrove, CA), Jake Andreotti (Castro Valley, CA), and Colton Raudman (Redding, CA) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Shannon McQueen, “Fireball” Maria Cofer, David Prickett, Dylan Ito, “The Panda” Terry Nichols, Ron Hazelton, Alex Schutte, Randi Pankratz, Beau Lemire, Sparky Howard, and more.
Petaluma Speedway is located on the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, California at 100 Fairgrounds Drive. Adult Grandstand Tickets are $18 and Senior Tickets (65 & Over) are $15. Military Tickets are $15, Junior Tickets (12-15) are $13, Children Tickets (6-11) are $13, and Kids (5 & Under) are FREE. For more information, visit the track's website at petaluma-speedway.com or call 707.763.7223 (RACE).
The USAC Western States Midget Series thanks AMSOIL, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, FloRacing, Hoosier Racing Tire, Loudpedal Productions, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, 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 USAC Western States Midget Series, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at usacracing.com and the social media for USAC Racing. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC Western States Midget Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
FloRacing.com has live, flag-to-flag coverage of the USAC Western States Midget 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 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-Ronnie Gardner, 2018-Michael Faccinto, 2019-Robert Dalby, 2020-NO AWARD.
PETALUMA USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET TRACK RECORD: Ronnie Gardner – 14.200 (10/05/13)
PETALUMA USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS: 3-Maria Cofer, 3-Ronnie Gardner, 3-Alex Schutte, 2-Michael Faccinto, 1-Shane Golobic, 1-Frankie Guerrini.
2021 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS: 2-Chase Johnson, 2-Austin Liggett, 1-Maria Cofer, 1-Mitchel Moles, 1-Ben Worth.
2021 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET POINT STANDINGS: 1. Austin Liggett-483, 2. Blake Bower ®-443, 3. Brody Fuson ®-422, 4. C.J. Sarna-358, 5. Ben Worth-351, 6. Shannon McQueen-320, 7. Maria Cofer-282, 8. David Prickett-279, 9. Chase Johnson-236, 10. Jarrett Soares ®-212, 11. Mitchel Moles-205, 12. Dylan Ito-190, 13. Terry Nichols-173, 14. Ron Hazelton-157, 15. Tony Gualda ®-141, 16. Kyle Beilman-133, 17. Alex Schutte-113, 18. Kyle Mentch-108, 19. Colby Johnson ®-90, ---. Randi Pankratz-90, 21. Jake Andreotti ®-77, ---. Shane Golobic-77, 23. Ryan Bernal-75, 24. Robby Josett-73, 25. Davey Ray-72, 26. Michael Faccinto-68, 27. Max Adams ®-65, 28. Troy Rutherford-60, 29. Beau Lemire-58, 30. Ashlyn Rodriguez-55, 31. Troy Morris III-50, 32. Sparky Howard-50, 33. Ronnie Gardner-50, 34. Ben Wiesz-49, 35. Colton Raudman ®-41, 36. Mike Leach Jr.-41, ---. Dylan Bloomfield-41, 38. Matt Mitchell-39, 39. Kaleb Montgomery-36, 40. Jake Vermeer-27, 41. Robert Carson-11.
2021 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
March 27: #Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA (Winner: Chase Johnson)
April 10: #Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA (Winner: Mitchel Moles)
April 17: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA (Winner: Austin Liggett)
May 15: Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA (Winner: Maria Cofer)
June 5: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Winner: Ben Worth)
July 9: Merced Speedway – Merced, CA (Winner: Chase Johnson)
July 10: Placerville Speedway – Placerville, CA (Winner” Austin Liggett)
July 31: Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA
August 7: #Merced Speedway – Merced, CA (Kevin Triplett Memorial)
August 28: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Ron Otto Memorial)
September 11: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
October 9: #Placerville Speedway – Placerville, CA (Prospector Pandemonium)
October 10: #Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA
October 16: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
October 29: Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA (Tom Tarlton Classic)
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# = Co-Sanctioned Event with Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA)
This schedule is subject to change.
