AMSOIL USAC/CRA & NATIONAL SPRINTS BATTLE AT 51ST WESTERN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
By Lance Jennings
OCTOBER 30, 2018... Starting, this Friday, November 2nd, the AMSOIL USAC/CRA and National Sprint Cars are set for two nights of action at San Tan Valley’s Arizona Speedway. Promoted by Jonah Trussel, the “51st Annual Western World Championships” will also showcase the Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars. On both days, the Pit gates will open at 2:00pm, spectator gates will open at 3:00pm, and racing is scheduled to start at 7:00pm. The event will be live on pay-per-view at www.speedshifttv.com and the festivities will begin on Thursday with an open practice with FREE Grandstand Admission from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
NOTICE TO RACERS: FRONT AXLE TETHER SYSTEMS ARE MANDATORY. Hoosier Tires are required on all four corners with the 105/16 Medium and the 105/18 Hard as the only approved right rear tires. The “Medium” is also legal with the USAC West Coast, USAC SouthWest, and VRA Sprint Cars. Cars must pass a tech inspection and one-way radios are mandatory for drivers. USAC/CRA charges a $25 entry fee to all competitors and the series rule book can be found online at www.usacracing.com. USAC MEMBERSHIPS can be purchased at the track or online at https://usacracing.redpodium.com/2018-usac-sprint-midget-sc
2018 APPROVED/LEGAL MUFFLERS:
EXTREME: 6014-3535, 3615-3535
SCHOENFELD: 14272535, 14272735-78
FLOWMASTER: 53545-10, 13516100, 13516101
COAST FABRICATION: 350x625x17-2S
B&B: FRAC-0375S
SPINTECH: 1545P SUPER STOCK
*Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
Noted as an Arizona tradition since 1968 when Bob Cleberg took the checkered flags at the Manzanita Speedway, the “Western World Championships” has been a premier event for sprint car racing. While the headlining divisions and host tracks may have changed, some of the most notable names in the sport have claimed victory at the Western World. Hall of Fame racers like Jan Opperman, Rick Ferkel, Ron Shuman, Bubby Jones, Lealand McSpadden, Sammy Swindell, and Steve Kinser have stood atop the podium. Last year, Chase Stockon added his name to the winner’s list and “T-Mez” Thomas Meseraull won the opening night. The winner’s list of the Western World Championships is posted at the end of this release.
Since November 4, 2016, Arizona Speedway has held six AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car events and five different drivers have claimed victory. Chris Windom leads all drivers with two wins as Jake Swanson and “The Demon” Damion Gardner earned victories at September’s “Hall of Fame Classic. At press time, “The Hanford Hornet” Chad Boespflug holds the one 1-lap track record of 14.625 set on November 5, 2016. A complete series win list at the San Tan Valley oval is at the end of this release.
Entering the twentieth point race, Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA) has a 20-point lead over the competition. Driving the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Burris Racing Maxim, Roa scored fourth at Perris Auto Speedway on October 20th. To date, the 2016 USAC West Coast 360 Champion has three feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, six heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Incorporated / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, two Saldana Racing Products / Racing Optics Hard Charger Awards, eighteen top-10 finishes, and 94 feature laps led to his credit. With six career USAC/CRA wins, Brody will be looking to add the Western World Championships to his resume.
“The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, CA) ranks second in the chase for the championship. Piloting Mark Alexander’s #4 Trench Shoring / Weld Racing Spike, Gardner ran second to Justin Grant at the October 20th main event. At press time, “The World’s Fastest Sprint Car Driver” has five feature wins, six Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, one dash win, twelve heat race victories, sixteen top-10 finishes, and 155 feature laps led on the season. The six-time champion has eighty career USAC/CRA victories and will have his sights on adding his name to the winner’s lest of the Western World Championships.
“The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, CA) is third in USAC/CRA point chase. Racing Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics DRC, Williams ran fifth at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds. To date, Williams has two feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one Saldana Racing Products / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, sixteen top-10 finishes, and 9 feature laps led in the campaign. The 2009 Co-Rookie of the Year has seven career wins and will be looking for a victory at Arizona Speedway.
“The Cadillac” Cody Williams (Corona, CA) sits fourth in the championship point chase. Piloting Jack Jory’s #44 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams finished eighth at Perris Auto Speedway. At press time, the 2010 Victorville Champion has three Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, four heat race victories, fourteen top-10 finishes, and 24 feature laps led on the year. “The Cadillac” has one career USAC/CRA triumph and will have his sights on his first win at San Tan Valley.
Jake Swanson (Anaheim, CA) is fifth in the USAC/CRA point standings. Driving John Grau and Mike Burkhart’s #34AZ Western Premier Hauling / KSE Custom Drywall DRC, Swanson placed sixth in the Perris 30-lap main event. To date, the 2017 USAC West Coast 360 Champion has one feature win, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, three Saldana Racing Products / Racing Optics Hard Charger Awards, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 43 feature laps led on the season. Jake has two career USAC/CRA victories and will be looking to add the Western World trophy to his collection.
Currently ranked fifteenth in points, Joel Rayborne (West Covina, CA) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Austin Ervine (Bakersfield, CA) and Gary Paulson (Woodland, CA) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are R.J. Johnson, “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr., Logan Williams, Chris Gansen, Tommy “Thunder” Malcolm, Matt McCarthy, “The Real American” Matt Rossi, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., “The Bull” Tye Mihocko, Zack Madrid, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Logan Seavey, and more.
Kevin Thomas Jr. (Cullman, AL) leads the AMSOIL USAC National point chase. “Sunshine” Tyler Courtney, Chris Windom, “The Macho Man” Brady Bacon, “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland, C.J. Leary, Chase Stockon, Justin Grant, “The Mad Man” Robert Ballou, and Isaac Chapple round out the top-10 in points.
Arizona Speedway is located at 47800 N. Ironwood Road in San Tan Valley, just five miles south of Mesa. To get to the track, exit Ironwood Drive on US 60, then head four miles south. On Friday, General Admission tickets are $25 Adults, $25 Seniors, $15 Kids 11 & Under. On Saturday, $30 Adults, $30 Seniors, $15 Kids 11 & Under. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, All Coast Construction, BR Motorsports, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, surfNsprint.com, Ultra Shield Race Products, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, contact PR Director Lance Jennings at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
For more information on USAC/CRA, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC/CRA Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat pages.
Loudpedal Productions has USAC/CRA DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
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AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS: 2004-Rip Williams, 2005-Damion Gardner, 2006-Cory Kruseman, 2007-Tony Jones, 2008-Mike Spencer, 2009-Mike Spencer, 2010-Mike Spencer, 2011-Mike Spencer, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Damion Gardner, 2014-Damion Gardner, 2015-Damion Gardner, 2016-Damion Gardner, 2017-Damion Gardner.
WESTERN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SPRINT CAR WINNERS: 1968-Bob Cleberg; 1969-Bob Huebner; 1970-Jerry McClung; 1971-Jan Opperman; 1972-Jan Opperman; 1973-Earl Wagner; 1974-Rick Ferkel; 1975-Ron Shuman; 1976-Bubby Jones; 1977-Ron Shuman; 1978-Lealand McSpadden; 1979-Tim Green; 1980-Sammy Swindell; 1981-Ron Shuman; 1982-Steve Kinser; 1983-Steve Kinser; 1984-Ron Shuman; 1985-Steve Kinser; 1986-Bobby Davis Jr.; 1987-Steve Kinser; 1988-Mark Kinser; 1989-Sammy Swindell; 1990-Steve Kinser; 1991-Danny Lasoski; 1992-Steve Kinser; 1993-Lealand McSpadden; 1994-Ron Shuman; 1995-Lealand McSpadden; 1996-Steve Kinser; 1997-Mark Kinser; 1998-Tyler Walker; 1999-Donny Schatz; 2000-Jay Drake; 2001-Jeremy Sherman; 2002- Bud Kaeding; 2003-Tony Elliott; 2004-Bud Kaeding; 2005-Dave Darland; 2006-Josh Wise; 2007-Jerry Coons Jr.; 2008-Kevin Swindell; 2009-Sammy Swindell; 2010-Donny Schatz; 2011-Donny Schatz; 2012-Wayne Johnson; 2013-Bryan Clauson; 2014-Matt Rossi, 2015-Bryan Clauson, 2016-Chris Windom, 2017-Chase Stockon.
2018 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 5-Damion Gardner, 3-Brody Roa, 2-Justin Grant, 2-Austin Williams, 1-Max Adams, 1-Ryan Bernal, 1-Colby Copeland, 1-Chase Johnson, 1-Austin Liggett, 1-Jake Swanson, 1-Jace Vander Weerd.
SAN TAN VALLEY AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 2-Chris Windom, 1-Damion Gardner, 1-Thomas Meseraull, 1-Chase Stockon, 1-Jake Swanson.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Brody Roa-1362, 2. Damion Gardner-1342, 3. Austin Williams-1176, 4. Cody Williams-1065, 5. Jake Swanson-1012, 6. R.J. Johnson-945, 7. Max Adams-943, 8. Danny Faria Jr.-864, 9. Logan Williams-834, 10. Chris Gansen-783, 11. Tommy Malcolm-646, 12. Ryan Bernal-527, 13. A.J. Bender-512, 14. Matt McCarthy-477, 15. Joel Rayborne-430, 16. Austin Ervine-383, 17. Verne Sweeney-342, 18. Chase Johnson-322, 19. Austin Liggett-311, 20. Geoff Ensign-266.
2018 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
November 2: *Arizona Speedway - San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 3: *Arizona Speedway - San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 8: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
November 9: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
November 10: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with AMSOIL USAC National Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
