by Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – JUNE 20, 2012... This Saturday night, June 23rd, the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will return to Chris Kearns' Santa Maria Speedway for the 27th Annual Bud Stanfield Memorial. Joining the action packed card will be the Super Late Models, Richie McGowan Hobby Stocks, Mini Dwarfs, and American/Enduro Stocks. The front gates will open at 4:30pm, time trials will start at 5:00pm, and racing at "The West Coast's Best Short Track" will begin at 6:00pm.
Saturday's event honors Bud Stanfield, a former driver, race car builder, and crew chief at Santa Maria Speedway. After serving in the Air Force during the Korean War, Bud built Stock Cars in the late 1950s and wrenched for Al Smith's Super Modified. When the Santa Maria track opened in 1964, Stanfield served as crew chief for several teams and later drove in the Limited Stock Car division. In 1978, Bud started a family owned Modified and Sprint Car team for his sons Ed and Allen. The low budget team built their own cars for several years and enjoyed moderate success. Unable to find the sponsorship needed to rebuild the team's equipment, Stanfield became the crew chief for Mike Knopf. Driving the Larabee Brothers Coors Racing Sprint Car, Knopf had immediate results with several fast times and strong finishes. Unfortunately, on July 14, 1984, Bud was struck by an out of control sprinter that came off the track. After having brain surgery and spending a month in a coma, Stanfield would later succumb to his injuries. Since then, Santa Maria Speedway continues to honor the memory of a racer's racer- Bud Stanfield.
The 27th Annual Bud Stanfield Memorial will mark the 21st appearance of the USAC West Coast Sprints at Santa Maria Speedway. The 30-lap feature on May 2, 2009 was won by Kerman's Davey Pombo and ten other drivers have claimed victories at Santa Maria. Ryan Bernal, Peter Murphy, and "Showtime" Danny Sheridan are currently tied for the series lead with three wins at the 1/3-mile oval. Sheridan, who won last year's Stanfield Memorial, will be going for his third win of the event.
Heading into the eighth race of campaign, Campbell's Bud Kaeding holds a fifty-nine point advantage over the competition. Driving Junior Bowman's #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Bullet, Bud won at Hanford on June 9th. Also winning at Las Vegas and Bakersfield, the series leader in feature wins has three heat race victories, one hard charger award, seven top-5 finishes, and forty-one feature laps led on the season. Kaeding has yet to score a series win at Santa Maria and will be looking to add the Stanfield Memorial to his resume.
Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda is second in the championship points. Piloting Steve Watt's #18 Christian Stover Foundation / Steve Watt Enterprises Maxim, Mitchell placed third at Kings Speedway. The former USAC Western Midget Series Rookie of the Year has one fast time award, three heat race victories, four top-5 finishes, and nineteen feature laps led. The USAC/CRA standout will be looking to score his first West Coast Sprint Car feature win at this Saturday night.
After finishing third on June 9th, Visalia's Richard Vander Weerd has climbed to third in the standings. Driving Ron Vander Weerd's #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Richard has two heat race victories, three top-5 finishes, and twenty-six feature laps led. As the writing goes to press, last year's series champion is gearing up to race in Indiana and may miss the Bud Stanfield Memorial.
"Hollywood" Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton is fourth in the point chase. Piloting his #17V Johnston Calf Pens / Buster & Ziggy Enterprises Bullet, Faria claimed tenth at Hanford after restarting at the back. The 2008 Bud Stanfield Memorial winner has one fast time award, three heat race victories, and two top-5 finishes on the year. "Hollywood" will be among the favorites to watch in Saturday's 30-lap main event.
Rauma, Finland's Markus Niemela is fifth in the championship points. Driving Steve Watt's #81 Lost Reality / Steve Watt Enterprises Maxim, Niemela scored seventeenth at Hanford. To date, the VRA main event winner has two heat race victories and three top-5 finishes on the season. Markus will be looking to rebound at Santa Maria and claim the Bud Stanfield Memorial.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are Ryan Bernal, Ricky Kirkbride, "Showtime" Danny Sheridan, Justyne Hamblin, Kevin Barnes, Rusty Carlile, Steve Conrad, Chris Gansen, Austin Liggett, Don Gansen, and many more.
Santa Maria Speedway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo, California. Adult tickets are $18, Senior, Military, and Student tickets (13-17) are $16, Kids tickets (6-12) are $6, and Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.racesantamariaspeedway.com or call (805) 922-2232.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series would like to thank Southwest Contractors, Hoosier Tire, Amsoil, ButlerBuilt, Competition Suspension Inc., Cory Kruseman's Sprint Car & Midget Driving School, Crow Enterprizes, DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Hinchman-Indy Racing Uniforms, Integra Shocks, Kaeding Performance, Keizer Wheels, LRB Inc. Race Products, ParkerStore of Phoenix, Ringers Gloves, Rod End Supply, SBI Fuel Systems, Saferacer.com, Saldana Racing Products, Sander Engineering, and Weld Racing for their support.
For more information on the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, www.racesantamariaspeedway.com, or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/USAC-WEST-COAST-360S/369549755817).
BUD STANFIELD MEMORIAL SPRINT CAR WINNERS:
2004- Danny Sheridan; 2005- Peter Murphy; 2006- Davey Pombo; 2007- Greg Porte; 2008- Danny Faria Jr.; 2009- Peter Murphy; 2010- T.J. Smith; 2011- Danny Sheridan.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT POINTS:
1. Bud Kaeding 388; 2. Matt Mitchell 329; 3. Richard Vander Weerd 294; 4. Danny Faria Jr. 292; 5. Markus Niemela 289; 6. Ryan Bernal 287; 7. Ricky Kirkbride 211; 8. Danny Sheridan 211; 9. Justyne Hamblin 199; 10. Kevin Barnes 186; 11. Rusty Carlile 181; 12. Steve Conrad 181; 13. Chris Gansen 158; 14. Chris Ennis 150; 15. Austin Liggett 147; 16. Kyle Larson 135; 17. Jace Vander Weerd 130; 18. Marty Hawkins 130; 19. Jonathan Logan 112; 20. Don Gansen 101.
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2012 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
June 23: Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA (Bud Stanfield Memorial)
July 7: *Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA (War At The Shore / Doug Fort Memorial)
July 14: Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (John Anthony Sharp Memorial)
August 4: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Jim Evett Memorial)
September 8: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Jim Turner Memorial)
September 22: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / Non-Points)
September 29: Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA (Billet Cup / John Jewett Memorial / Non-Points)
October 13: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Cotton Classic)
-----------------------------------------------
* = Co-Sanctioned Event With ASCS Canyon Region Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
SANTA MARIA, CA – JUNE 20, 2012... This Saturday night, June 23rd, the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will return to Chris Kearns' Santa Maria Speedway for the 27th Annual Bud Stanfield Memorial. Joining the action packed card will be the Super Late Models, Richie McGowan Hobby Stocks, Mini Dwarfs, and American/Enduro Stocks. The front gates will open at 4:30pm, time trials will start at 5:00pm, and racing at "The West Coast's Best Short Track" will begin at 6:00pm.
Saturday's event honors Bud Stanfield, a former driver, race car builder, and crew chief at Santa Maria Speedway. After serving in the Air Force during the Korean War, Bud built Stock Cars in the late 1950s and wrenched for Al Smith's Super Modified. When the Santa Maria track opened in 1964, Stanfield served as crew chief for several teams and later drove in the Limited Stock Car division. In 1978, Bud started a family owned Modified and Sprint Car team for his sons Ed and Allen. The low budget team built their own cars for several years and enjoyed moderate success. Unable to find the sponsorship needed to rebuild the team's equipment, Stanfield became the crew chief for Mike Knopf. Driving the Larabee Brothers Coors Racing Sprint Car, Knopf had immediate results with several fast times and strong finishes. Unfortunately, on July 14, 1984, Bud was struck by an out of control sprinter that came off the track. After having brain surgery and spending a month in a coma, Stanfield would later succumb to his injuries. Since then, Santa Maria Speedway continues to honor the memory of a racer's racer- Bud Stanfield.
The 27th Annual Bud Stanfield Memorial will mark the 21st appearance of the USAC West Coast Sprints at Santa Maria Speedway. The 30-lap feature on May 2, 2009 was won by Kerman's Davey Pombo and ten other drivers have claimed victories at Santa Maria. Ryan Bernal, Peter Murphy, and "Showtime" Danny Sheridan are currently tied for the series lead with three wins at the 1/3-mile oval. Sheridan, who won last year's Stanfield Memorial, will be going for his third win of the event.
Heading into the eighth race of campaign, Campbell's Bud Kaeding holds a fifty-nine point advantage over the competition. Driving Junior Bowman's #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Bullet, Bud won at Hanford on June 9th. Also winning at Las Vegas and Bakersfield, the series leader in feature wins has three heat race victories, one hard charger award, seven top-5 finishes, and forty-one feature laps led on the season. Kaeding has yet to score a series win at Santa Maria and will be looking to add the Stanfield Memorial to his resume.
Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda is second in the championship points. Piloting Steve Watt's #18 Christian Stover Foundation / Steve Watt Enterprises Maxim, Mitchell placed third at Kings Speedway. The former USAC Western Midget Series Rookie of the Year has one fast time award, three heat race victories, four top-5 finishes, and nineteen feature laps led. The USAC/CRA standout will be looking to score his first West Coast Sprint Car feature win at this Saturday night.
After finishing third on June 9th, Visalia's Richard Vander Weerd has climbed to third in the standings. Driving Ron Vander Weerd's #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Battery Worx Maxim, Richard has two heat race victories, three top-5 finishes, and twenty-six feature laps led. As the writing goes to press, last year's series champion is gearing up to race in Indiana and may miss the Bud Stanfield Memorial.
"Hollywood" Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton is fourth in the point chase. Piloting his #17V Johnston Calf Pens / Buster & Ziggy Enterprises Bullet, Faria claimed tenth at Hanford after restarting at the back. The 2008 Bud Stanfield Memorial winner has one fast time award, three heat race victories, and two top-5 finishes on the year. "Hollywood" will be among the favorites to watch in Saturday's 30-lap main event.
Rauma, Finland's Markus Niemela is fifth in the championship points. Driving Steve Watt's #81 Lost Reality / Steve Watt Enterprises Maxim, Niemela scored seventeenth at Hanford. To date, the VRA main event winner has two heat race victories and three top-5 finishes on the season. Markus will be looking to rebound at Santa Maria and claim the Bud Stanfield Memorial.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are Ryan Bernal, Ricky Kirkbride, "Showtime" Danny Sheridan, Justyne Hamblin, Kevin Barnes, Rusty Carlile, Steve Conrad, Chris Gansen, Austin Liggett, Don Gansen, and many more.
Santa Maria Speedway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo, California. Adult tickets are $18, Senior, Military, and Student tickets (13-17) are $16, Kids tickets (6-12) are $6, and Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.racesantamariaspeedway.com or call (805) 922-2232.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series would like to thank Southwest Contractors, Hoosier Tire, Amsoil, ButlerBuilt, Competition Suspension Inc., Cory Kruseman's Sprint Car & Midget Driving School, Crow Enterprizes, DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Hinchman-Indy Racing Uniforms, Integra Shocks, Kaeding Performance, Keizer Wheels, LRB Inc. Race Products, ParkerStore of Phoenix, Ringers Gloves, Rod End Supply, SBI Fuel Systems, Saferacer.com, Saldana Racing Products, Sander Engineering, and Weld Racing for their support.
For more information on the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, www.racesantamariaspeedway.com, or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/USAC-WEST-COAST-360S/369549755817).
BUD STANFIELD MEMORIAL SPRINT CAR WINNERS:
2004- Danny Sheridan; 2005- Peter Murphy; 2006- Davey Pombo; 2007- Greg Porte; 2008- Danny Faria Jr.; 2009- Peter Murphy; 2010- T.J. Smith; 2011- Danny Sheridan.
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT POINTS:
1. Bud Kaeding 388; 2. Matt Mitchell 329; 3. Richard Vander Weerd 294; 4. Danny Faria Jr. 292; 5. Markus Niemela 289; 6. Ryan Bernal 287; 7. Ricky Kirkbride 211; 8. Danny Sheridan 211; 9. Justyne Hamblin 199; 10. Kevin Barnes 186; 11. Rusty Carlile 181; 12. Steve Conrad 181; 13. Chris Gansen 158; 14. Chris Ennis 150; 15. Austin Liggett 147; 16. Kyle Larson 135; 17. Jace Vander Weerd 130; 18. Marty Hawkins 130; 19. Jonathan Logan 112; 20. Don Gansen 101.
-----------------------------------------------
2012 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
June 23: Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA (Bud Stanfield Memorial)
July 7: *Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA (War At The Shore / Doug Fort Memorial)
July 14: Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (John Anthony Sharp Memorial)
August 4: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Jim Evett Memorial)
September 8: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Jim Turner Memorial)
September 22: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / Non-Points)
September 29: Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA (Billet Cup / John Jewett Memorial / Non-Points)
October 13: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Cotton Classic)
-----------------------------------------------
* = Co-Sanctioned Event With ASCS Canyon Region Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
