ALL COAST CHALLENGE UPDATE: 57 CARS ENTERED - RACE FORMAT - $500.00 BONUS FOR WINNER!
(Ventura, CA, May 7, 2015) Thankfully for the sprint car population in California, the May 9th All Coast Challenge for the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars at the Ventura Raceway, is less than two days away. Anticipation for the historic race has reached a fever pitch and just when you thought things could not get any bigger or better for the race, they do. On Thursday the race format was announced, two star drivers - one who has been out of the cockpit for a couple years - entered the event and a $500.00 bonus was added to the race purse.
Spectator gates will open at 3:00 PM with qualifying right after hot laps around 4:00. The first race will get the green flag at 5:30. Track officials are urging fans to arrive early to get the best choice of seats.
Race Format:
Qualifications - Two laps to be run consecutively with the faster counting as the official qualifying time.
Heat Races: Four 10-lap heat races with 10 cars in each. Cars finishing 1st through 4th will start in 40-lap A Main. Cars finishing 5 through 10th will go to the B Main (s).
C Main: For cars who do not qualify in the top 40. 8-Laps with the top six transferring to the back of the B Main (s).
B Main: Depending on car count, there will be one or two 12-Lap B mains with a total of six cars transferring to the A Main.
A-Main: 40-Laps with 22 starters (24 if two provisionals are applicable): First three rows will feature the six fastest qualifiers who transfer out of their heat race and they will be inverted by qualifying time.
The entry list now stands at 57-cars and includes Santa Maria, California resident “Showtime” Danny Sheridan who is making a return to race at All Coast Challenge. A past title contender and a 7-time winner in the USAC/CRA Series, the popular Sheridan has secured the ride in the Shawn McDonald #9 for Saturday’s big race. The other driver to announce his intentions to compete on Thursday was two-time defending series champ and current USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series point leader R.J. Johnson of Laveen, Arizona. Johnson, who became a father last week for the first time, has reeled off four straight wins in the Southwest series. He will be driving the California based #91 car owned by Bob Ferro.
All Coast’s Mike Grosswendt continues to add perks to the show and announced on Thursday morning a $500.00 cash bonus to the highest placing driver who displays a sticker from “Surf N’ Sprint” on their car. Considering that every driver will get the stickers in the driver’s swag bag that will also include the event poster, All Coast Construction t-shirt, In N’ Out Burger gift card, “Saugus Speedway Scrapbook”, surf stickers, Ventura Raceway stickers and other surprises, it is hard to believe that anyone but the winner will walk away with the extra $500.00. That bonus is in addition to the huge purse that already pays $5,000.00 to win, $2,500 for second, $1,250 for third and $500.00 to start. In addition, Jimbo McCoskey is kicking in with another $500.00 for the driver who passes the most cars in the main event. The fast qualifier will get a $500.00 bonus courtesy of the Woodland Auto Display and All Coast Construction.
In addition to the lion’s share of the purse, the first place finisher is going to take home a custom Roberts Surfboard 6’0” White Diamond 2 Tri Fin personally shaped by owner Robert Weiner especially for this event. Awarded “Shaper of the Year” for 2011 by Surfing Magazine, Weiner and his family will be at Saturday’s race on the well-known beachside dirt oval.
During intermission while the teams are getting their cars ready for the All Coast Challenge main event, kids in the grandstand will dance it out to The Beatles “Twist and Shout” and the best dancer will take home a brand new Trek 820 Mountain Bicycle. The bike is being provided by Michael's Bicycles in Newbury Park, a family owned and operated bike store with the largest selection of mountain bikes in the Conejo Valley! Be sure to visit Michael's Bicycles at the Newbury Square Shopping Center, 2257 Michael Drive, Newbury Park, CA.
Thus far $500.00 bounties are being paid for the car owners who have entered Danny Sheridan, Hunter Schuerenberg, Nic Faas, Jonathon Henry and Ryan Bernal. Still eligible for $500.00 bounties are Dave Darland, Jon Stanbrough, Bud Kaeding, Shane Golobic, Brandon Thomson, Gary Taylor, David Cardey and D.J. Johnson.
As earlier announced, any past VRA (Ventura Racing Association) champion or any locals who normally race with VRA (who started two VRA races prior to May 9th) will receive a free Hoosier right rear tire from All Coast. Also, Arizona teams will receive $500.00 in tow money (if two teams travel together in one hauler, the $500.00 will be paid to the team that owns the hauler).
Teams that did not pre-enter will still receive all of the non-deadline perks, but they will be mailed after the race.
Dozens of lucky fans will get free All Coast T-shirts given away during the night and the house will be rocked by The Beatles on a special P.A. system and D.J. being brought in just for the race. Longtime Perris Auto Speedway announcer Scott Daloisio will be on the microphone to call the action with Ventura’s Jim Naylor.
Adult tickets for the race are $25.00. For seniors 60 & older, active military with id and students with id it is $15.00. Kids age 7-12 are $10.00 and children 6 and under are free. Spectator gates will open at 3:00 PM with qualifying at 5:30.
Media, for more information on this historic race, please contact Scott Daloisio at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 909 226-7768.
