By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – MAY 26, 2010… The USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series hold their ninth round of competition this Saturday night, May 29th, at the Bakersfield Speedway. The "Memorial Day Classic" is the second race of the Southwest Contractors 360 Clash Mini-Series and will also showcase American Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Mini Dwarf Cars. The Front Gates will open at 4:30pm with Racing at 6:00pm.
In addition to the May 29th event, the remaining 360 Clash dates are August 28th at Santa Maria and September 11th at Hanford. The Southwest Contractors 360 Clash will carry it’s own $5000 point fund, with $2500 to the series winner, $1500 for second, and $1000 for third. As this writing goes to press, the 360 Clash main events will pay $1200 to win and $200 to start. In addition to the regular contingencies with the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series, Kirkey Racing Fabrication will award a $100 certificate to the driver that earns "Hard Charger / Best Passing Job" honors in the 30-lap main event.
When the series last visited Bakersfield on March 27th, it was Kerman's Davey Pombo that scored the victory. Currently sitting third in the point standings, Pombo has enjoyed success over his career at “The West’s Fastest 1/3-Mile High Banked Clay Oval.” Last year, the pilot of Junior Bowman's Buster & Ziggy #3 Bullet won two features at Bakersfield, including a 360 Grand Slam series event. In 1998, Davey won a USAC Regional Rebel Sprint Car feature win on the 1/3-mile track. The former Bandit Sprint Car champion had an eighth place finish at Tulare on May 15th and has seven top-10 finishes and one fast time award.
Point leader Craig Stidham of Fresno is the only driver on the circuit with multiple wins. The driver of the Brad Johnson Trucking / KRC Safety #3S Maxim visited the Tulare victory circle on April 3rd and 10th. On May 8th, the former Trophy Cup champion won again at the Santa Maria Speedway. When the series last raced at Tulare on May 15th, Stidham had a fourth place finish, but his car failed to pass a post-race technical inspection. Officials found a top oil in his fuel that was deemed illegal, resulting in a disqualification. With a sixteen point advantage over Peter Murphy of Clovis, Craig has seven top-10 finishes, four heat race wins, a one fast time award.
Peter Murphy is back to last year's form after a tough start to his 2010 campaign. The 2009 Santa Maria track champion will be looking for his first victory of the season. Driving Tom Tarlton's potent Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino #21 KPC entry, Murphy had a second place finish after starting sixth at Tulare on May 15th. That performance marked his fifth straight podium appearance with the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series. The versatile driver has six top-10 finishes, four heat race wins, and one fast time award.
Currently fourth in the point chase is Bakersfield's Rusty Carlile. At Tulare on May 15th, Carlile took his Southwest Contractors / N.T.S. Incorporated #51 Bullet to his first Sander Engineering fast time award of the season. In the feature, last year's Cotton Classic winner had a sixth place finish after starting eighth. Rusty has six top-10 finishes and one King Racing Products hard charger award on the season. Look for Carlile to be among the favorites in front of his hometown fans.
Fresno's T.J. Smith is fifth in the point standings. Smith took Steve LeGras' UHL Rubber #14 Maxim to a seventh place finish after starting fourteenth at Tulare on May 15th. The former Plaza Park track champion has five top-10 finishes and will be working for his first series win this Saturday night at Bakersfield.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are defending series champion Justyne Hamblin of Hanford, "Hollywood" Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton, Mariposa's Andy Ferris, Chris Ennis of Bakersfield, 2006 SCRA 360 Champion Jonathan Logan of Hanford, and 4-time Santa Maria track champion "Junkyard" Jimmy Thompson from Arroyo Grande.
The USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series would like to thank Southwest Contractors, Hoosier Tire, Amsoil, BR Motorsports, Competition Suspension, Cory Kruseman's Sprint Car & Midget Driving School, Crow Enterprizes, DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Hinchman-Indy Racing Uniforms, Integra Shocks, Kaeding Performance, Keizer Wheels, King Racing Products, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Port City Racing, Saferacer.com, Saldana Racing Products, and Sander Engineering for their support.
Bakersfield Speedway is located at 5001 North Chester Extension in Bakersfield. Adult tickets are $15, Kids tickets (6-12) are $5, and Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. The Pit Gate will open at 2:00pm. For event information, please visit www.bakersfieldspeedway.com or call (661) 393-3373.
For more information on the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series, please visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, www.racesantamariaspeedway.com, or follow the series on facebook.
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USAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Craig Stidham 455
2. Peter Murphy 439
3. Davey Pombo 415
4. Rusty Carlile 356
5. T.J. Smith 356
6. Justyne Hamblin 340
7. Jace VanderWeerd 331
8. Danny Faria Jr. 307
9. Andy Ferris 297
10. Richard VanderWeerd 277
11. Chris Ennis 267
12. Jonathan Logan 259
13. Danny Sheridan 226
14. Jimmy Thompson 187
15. Jesse Mack 168
16. Wes Gutierrez 155
17. Geoffrey Strole 150
18. Garrett Ishii 146
19. Dean Alexander 137
20. Dave Knott 132
SOUTHWEST CONTRACTORS 360 CLASH POINT STANDINGS:
1. Peter Murphy 69
2. Craig Stidham 68
3. Rusty Carlile 60
4. Davey Pombo 58
5. Jonathan Logan 54
6. Justyne Hamblin 48
7. Jesse Mack 47
8. Andy Ferris 44
9. Ronnie Case 44
10. Wes Gutierrez 39
11. Danny Faria Jr. 37
--- Jared Little 37
13. Dave Knott 34
14. Geoffrey Strole 33
15. Chris Ennis 30
16. Jimmy Thompson 27
17. Kevin Barnes 24
18. T.J. Smith 22
19. Ray Knight 17
SANTA MARIA, CA – MAY 26, 2010… The USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series hold their ninth round of competition this Saturday night, May 29th, at the Bakersfield Speedway. The "Memorial Day Classic" is the second race of the Southwest Contractors 360 Clash Mini-Series and will also showcase American Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Mini Dwarf Cars. The Front Gates will open at 4:30pm with Racing at 6:00pm.
In addition to the May 29th event, the remaining 360 Clash dates are August 28th at Santa Maria and September 11th at Hanford. The Southwest Contractors 360 Clash will carry it’s own $5000 point fund, with $2500 to the series winner, $1500 for second, and $1000 for third. As this writing goes to press, the 360 Clash main events will pay $1200 to win and $200 to start. In addition to the regular contingencies with the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series, Kirkey Racing Fabrication will award a $100 certificate to the driver that earns "Hard Charger / Best Passing Job" honors in the 30-lap main event.
When the series last visited Bakersfield on March 27th, it was Kerman's Davey Pombo that scored the victory. Currently sitting third in the point standings, Pombo has enjoyed success over his career at “The West’s Fastest 1/3-Mile High Banked Clay Oval.” Last year, the pilot of Junior Bowman's Buster & Ziggy #3 Bullet won two features at Bakersfield, including a 360 Grand Slam series event. In 1998, Davey won a USAC Regional Rebel Sprint Car feature win on the 1/3-mile track. The former Bandit Sprint Car champion had an eighth place finish at Tulare on May 15th and has seven top-10 finishes and one fast time award.
Point leader Craig Stidham of Fresno is the only driver on the circuit with multiple wins. The driver of the Brad Johnson Trucking / KRC Safety #3S Maxim visited the Tulare victory circle on April 3rd and 10th. On May 8th, the former Trophy Cup champion won again at the Santa Maria Speedway. When the series last raced at Tulare on May 15th, Stidham had a fourth place finish, but his car failed to pass a post-race technical inspection. Officials found a top oil in his fuel that was deemed illegal, resulting in a disqualification. With a sixteen point advantage over Peter Murphy of Clovis, Craig has seven top-10 finishes, four heat race wins, a one fast time award.
Peter Murphy is back to last year's form after a tough start to his 2010 campaign. The 2009 Santa Maria track champion will be looking for his first victory of the season. Driving Tom Tarlton's potent Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino #21 KPC entry, Murphy had a second place finish after starting sixth at Tulare on May 15th. That performance marked his fifth straight podium appearance with the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series. The versatile driver has six top-10 finishes, four heat race wins, and one fast time award.
Currently fourth in the point chase is Bakersfield's Rusty Carlile. At Tulare on May 15th, Carlile took his Southwest Contractors / N.T.S. Incorporated #51 Bullet to his first Sander Engineering fast time award of the season. In the feature, last year's Cotton Classic winner had a sixth place finish after starting eighth. Rusty has six top-10 finishes and one King Racing Products hard charger award on the season. Look for Carlile to be among the favorites in front of his hometown fans.
Fresno's T.J. Smith is fifth in the point standings. Smith took Steve LeGras' UHL Rubber #14 Maxim to a seventh place finish after starting fourteenth at Tulare on May 15th. The former Plaza Park track champion has five top-10 finishes and will be working for his first series win this Saturday night at Bakersfield.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are defending series champion Justyne Hamblin of Hanford, "Hollywood" Danny Faria Jr. of Tipton, Mariposa's Andy Ferris, Chris Ennis of Bakersfield, 2006 SCRA 360 Champion Jonathan Logan of Hanford, and 4-time Santa Maria track champion "Junkyard" Jimmy Thompson from Arroyo Grande.
The USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series would like to thank Southwest Contractors, Hoosier Tire, Amsoil, BR Motorsports, Competition Suspension, Cory Kruseman's Sprint Car & Midget Driving School, Crow Enterprizes, DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Hinchman-Indy Racing Uniforms, Integra Shocks, Kaeding Performance, Keizer Wheels, King Racing Products, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Port City Racing, Saferacer.com, Saldana Racing Products, and Sander Engineering for their support.
Bakersfield Speedway is located at 5001 North Chester Extension in Bakersfield. Adult tickets are $15, Kids tickets (6-12) are $5, and Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. The Pit Gate will open at 2:00pm. For event information, please visit www.bakersfieldspeedway.com or call (661) 393-3373.
For more information on the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series, please visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, www.racesantamariaspeedway.com, or follow the series on facebook.
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USAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Craig Stidham 455
2. Peter Murphy 439
3. Davey Pombo 415
4. Rusty Carlile 356
5. T.J. Smith 356
6. Justyne Hamblin 340
7. Jace VanderWeerd 331
8. Danny Faria Jr. 307
9. Andy Ferris 297
10. Richard VanderWeerd 277
11. Chris Ennis 267
12. Jonathan Logan 259
13. Danny Sheridan 226
14. Jimmy Thompson 187
15. Jesse Mack 168
16. Wes Gutierrez 155
17. Geoffrey Strole 150
18. Garrett Ishii 146
19. Dean Alexander 137
20. Dave Knott 132
SOUTHWEST CONTRACTORS 360 CLASH POINT STANDINGS:
1. Peter Murphy 69
2. Craig Stidham 68
3. Rusty Carlile 60
4. Davey Pombo 58
5. Jonathan Logan 54
6. Justyne Hamblin 48
7. Jesse Mack 47
8. Andy Ferris 44
9. Ronnie Case 44
10. Wes Gutierrez 39
11. Danny Faria Jr. 37
--- Jared Little 37
13. Dave Knott 34
14. Geoffrey Strole 33
15. Chris Ennis 30
16. Jimmy Thompson 27
17. Kevin Barnes 24
18. T.J. Smith 22
19. Ray Knight 17
