LVMS DIRT TRACK’S “SIN CITY SHOWDOWN” THURSDAY

OPENS WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES

Danny Faria Jr. opens defense of his 2013 USAC West Coast Sprint Car championship this Thursday when the 2014 series debuts in the “Sin City Showdown” at the Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway Dirt Track.

The half-mile oval has has hosted numerous USAC events in the past 18 years, including Sprint Cars, Midgets, Silver Crown Cars, TQ Midgets and even TORC Trucks. Thursday night’s race opens the three-race USAC West Coast/Southwest “Grudge Series” which also includes races September 27 at Canyon and November 11 at Perris, Calif.

AMSOIL USAC Sprint Car king Bryan Clauson won last year’s Sprint race at LVMS, while former LVMS USAC Sprint winners include NASCAR vets Josh Wise and Cole Whitt. Thursday night’s race helps kick off the facility’s big weekend which concludes with Sunday’s Kobalt 400 NASCAR Sprint race.

Faria, who beat Richard Vander Weerd by 27 points for the 2013 West Coast title, did not compete at LVMS last year, but Vander Weerd did and finished third behind National Champ Clauson and USAC Southwest Sprint Car Champ R.J. Johnson. Faria, who has five career West Coast wins to his credit, scored three of those on his way to the 2013 title.

Third-ranking West Coast Sprint driver Bud Kaeding was the winner of the 2012 LVMS Sprint clash.

Thursday’s race also includes USAC Southwest Sprint participants, who will compete under “special event” no points status.