USAC WESTERN MIDGET & 360 SPRINT CAR DOUBLEHEADER AT SANTA MARIA
By Lance Jennings
APRIL 24, 2018... This Saturday, April 28th, the Light Up The World USAC Western States Midget Series presented by CBD Living Water will invade the Santa Maria Raceway. Also featuring the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars, the second point race will be the first of three appearances at “The West’s Best Short Track.” Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks, QRC Outlaw Karts, and Junior Midgets will join the action packed card. Located in Nipomo, California, the front gates at Santa Maria Raceway will open at 4:00pm, time trials at 5:00pm, 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: USAC memberships can be purchased at the track or online at https://usacracing.redpodium.com/2018-usac-sprint-midget-sc.
2018 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
*Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
Saturday's event will be the 36th appearance of the “mighty midgets” at Santa Maria Raceway. Ron “Sleepy” Tripp, the all-time series leader with 104 victories, won the Santa Maria debut on May 11, 1985 and leads all drivers with six wins. J.R. Lawson holds the 1-lap qualifying record of 13.667, set on August 26, 1995, and a complete series win list at Santa Maria is at the bottom of this release.
Heading to Santa Maria, Alex Schutte (Redding, California) holds a slim 5-point lead over the competition. Piloting the Schutte/McElwee #28 Proficio / Aircraft Electrical Components Spike, Schutte won the April 14th feature at Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway. The 2010 champion has seven career victories and will be looking to add Santa Maria to his win list.
Shannon McQueen (Bakersfield, California) ranks second in the point standings. Driving the McQueen Racing #7 Simpson Race Products / Lucas Oil Boss, Shannon earned Tulare’s Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and placed fourth in the feature. This Saturday, the 2012 champion will have her sights on winning the USAC Midget and West Coast 360 sprint car main events.
Cory Elliott (Bakersfield, California) sits third in the chase for the championship. Driving a new family owned #11E Capital E Trucking / FK Indy CS9, Elliott raced from ninth to third at the Tulare County Fairgrounds. The 2015 Rookie of the Year won at Santa Maria last August and will be looking to add another trophy to his collection.
Austin Liggett (Tracy, California) is fourth in the championship point chase. Driving Ted Finkenbinder’s #3F Western Industrial X-Ray Bullet, Liggett earned Tulare’s Saldana Racing Products / Racing Optics Hard Charger / Best Passing Job honors with a second place run from thirteenth. The 2012 USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Rookie of the Year will have his sights on his first Western Midget triumph.
Robert Dalby (Anaheim, California) ranks fifth in the USAC Western States Midget point standings. Driving the family owned #4D R-D Spring & Stamping / Monster Seal Spike, Dalby claimed fifth in Tulare’s 25-lap main event. Robert will be looking to earn his first series win this Saturday night.
Currently twentieth in points, Kyle Beilman (Mar Vista, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Ronnie Gardner, Frankie Guerrini, Clayton Ruston, C.J. Sarna, Dylan Ito, Maria Cofer, Matt Mitchell, Ron Hazelton, Robby Josett, Bryan Drollinger, Michael Faccinto, David Prickett, Britton Bock, and more.
Santa Maria Raceway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo, California. Adult tickets are $17, Kids Tickets (6-12) are $6, and Kids (5 & Under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.santamariaraceway.com or call 805.922.2232.
The Light Up The World USAC Western States Midget Series presented by CBD Living Water thanks Hoosier Tire, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Five Star Grafix, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Racing Optics, 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 on the series, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the Light Up The World USAC Western States Midget Series presented by CBD Living Water Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
Loudpedal Productions has USAC Western States Midget DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
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LIGHT UP THE WORLD USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET SERIES PRESENTED BY CBD LIVING WATER 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.
SANTA MARIA LIGHT UP THE WORLD USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET SERIES PRESENTED BY CBD LIVING WATER WINS: 6-Sleepy Tripp, 3-Rusty Rasmussen, 2-Billy Boat, 1-Mario Bringetto Jr., 1-Tyler Brown, 1-Johnny Cofer, 1-Cory Elliott, 1-Tommie Estes Jr., 1-Nic Faas, 1-Terry Farrar, 1-Robby Flock, 1-Ronnie Gardner, 1-Frankie Guerrini, 1-Garrett Hansen, 1-Johnathon Henry, 1-Cory Kruseman, 1-Brad Kuhn, 1-Jeff Meyer, 1-Wally Pankratz, 1-Bryan Stanfill, 1-Chase Stockon, 1-Danny Stratton, 1-Cody Swanson, 1-Jake Swanson, 1-Richard Vander Weerd, 1-Tommy White, 1-Josh Wise.
2018 LIGHT UP THE WORLD USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGETS PRESENTED BY CBD LIVING WATER SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
April 28: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA
June 16: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA
July 21: *Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA (Jack London Hall of Fame Picnic Event)
August 11: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Bud Stanfield Memorial)
September 1: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 2: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 15: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
October 6: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA
October 27: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
November 17: #Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA (November Classic)
November 22: #Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with BCRA Midgets.
# = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC National Midgets.
This schedule is subject to change.
