By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA - JUNE 24, 2012... Retaking the lead from "Showtime" Danny Sheridan on lap eleven, Ryan Bernal of Hollister led the rest of the way to claim the "Bud Stanfield Memorial" at Santa Maria Speedway. The $1,500 triumph was Bernal's third USAC West Coast Sprint Car win of the year as the series returns to Santa Maria on July 7th with the ASCS Canyon Sprints for the "Doug Fort Memorial" and "War at the Shore."
With a four pill drawn for the main event inversion, Bud Kaeding shared the front row with Bernal. As the eighteen car feature rolled to the starter Tom Peterson's green flag, Ryan took the early command. Sheridan grabbed second, followed by Kaeding, Ronnie Gardner, Matt Mitchell, and Markus Niemela. Choosing to run the outside line of the speedway, Bernal looked to extend his advantage. Running in second, Sheridan tried several lines to close the gap. After a yellow flag bunched the field for a restart, "Showtime" executed a turn one "slide job" on Bernal and claimed the lead. Sheridan set a torrid pace and reached slower traffic within a few laps. Ryan tried to follow Danny past the lapped cars, but soon found himself under attack from Kaeding. The pair swapped positions, but Bernal was able to maintain second.
Action was halted on lap ten for a Kevin Barnes crash on the front straightaway. Barnes walked away uninjured, but damage to the catch fence caused a lengthy delay for repairs. When the race resumed, Sheridan was out front, but a miscue gave Bernal the opening he was looking for. The defending track champion shot to the lead and once out front, Ryan began to power away from field. Having to deal with the lapped traffic, Bernal's lead was shrinking and "Showtime" quickly closed the gap. Danny pressured Ryan in the closing laps, but it was not to be on this night. Bernal took the checkered flags, followed by Sheridan, Mitchell, Kaeding, and "Hollywood" Danny Faria Jr.
Piloting Keith Ford's #73 King Racing Products / A&A Precision Machine Spike, Ryan Bernal is now tied with Peter Murphy for second on the feature win list for the young series. Climbing to third in the point chase, Bernal was third quick on the night and won the DJ Safety Heat Race #3. The leader in the Santa Maria Sprint Car points has five top-5 finishes on the year and sixty-six feature laps led to his credit.
After leading seven laps, "Showtime" Danny Sheridan of Santa Maria finished second in the Stanfield Memorial. Driving the Kittle Motorsports' #18 Pace Lighting / PJ1 Lubricants Sherman, the former Bandit Sprint Car Champion earned his first Sander Engineering / Rod End Supply Fast Time Award of the year. After being collected in a heat race flip by Danny Faria Jr., "Showtime" rebounded to score third in the 10-lap event. Currently seventh in the standings, Sheridan has four top-5 finishes and two heat race wins in 2012.
Yorba Linda's Matt Mitchell scored third at Santa Maria and earned the night's LRB Inc. Race Products Award. Piloting Steve Watt's #18 Christian Stover Foundation / SWE Maxim, Mitchell was tenth quick on the night and won the Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1. The former USAC Western Midget Series Rookie of the Year is second in championship points with five top-5 finishes and one fast time award in the campaign.
Bud Kaeding of Campbell claimed fourth in the Bud Stanfield Memorial. Driving Junior Bowman's #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Bullet, the 3-time USAC Silver Crown Champion was fifth in qualifications and scored third in his heat race with a broken right front shock. Holding a fifty-six point lead over the competition, Kaeding has three feature wins and eight top-5 finishes on the year.
Tipton's "Hollywood" Danny Faria Jr. earned the night's Ringers Gloves / Kaeding Performance "Hard Charger / Best Passing Job" honors with a thirteenth to fifth place run. Piloting his #17V Johnston Calf Pens / Buster & Ziggy Enterprises Bullet, Faria was fourth quick in time trials and scored sixth in his heat after an early flip. The 2008 Stanfield Memorial winner is fourth in the point standings with three heat race wins and three top-5 finishes in 2012.
Chris Gansen of Verdemont Heights earned the program's Weld Racing Award with a tenth place run in the Stanfield Memorial. Driving the family owned #7G Trench Shoring / Dynamic Powder Coating Maxim, Gansen had throttle problems in hot laps and damaged his machine. After his crew made repairs, Chris rebounded to qualify sixteenth and score fourth in his heat race. Now twelfth in points, the Rookie of the Year contender has two top-10 finishes in the campaign.
Rauma, Finland's Markus Niemela won the night's 10-lap Saldana Racing Products / Keizer Wheels Heat Race #2. Piloting Steve Watt's #81 Lost Reality / SWE Maxim, Niemela was second quick in time trials and placed seventh in the 30-lap feature. The VRA feature winner is currently fifth in series points with three top-5 finishes and three heat race wins on the year.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will return to action on Saturday, July 7, at Chris Kearns' Santa Maria Speedway. The $2500-to-win "4th Annual Doug Fort Memorial" / "War At The Shore" is the second round of the "Grudge Series" with the ASCS Canyon Region Sprints. The event is a point race for USAC 360s and will also feature the West Coast Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Mini Dwarfs, and American/Enduro Stocks. For more information, visit www.racesantamariaspeedway.com or call 805.922.2232.
The USAC West Coast 360 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).
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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT RACE RESULTS:
June 23, 2012 - Santa Maria, California - Santa Maria Speedway - "Bud Stanfield Memorial"
SANDER ENGINEERING / ROD END SUPPLY TIME TRIALS:
1. Danny Sheridan, 18K, Kittle-14.374; 2. Markus Niemela, 81, Watt-14.595; 3. Ryan Bernal, 73, Ford-14.626; 4. Danny Faria Jr., 17V, Faria-14.665; 5. Bud Kaeding, 29, Bowman-14.722; 6. Rusty Carlile, 51, Carlile-14.777; 7. Kevin Barnes, 36B, Barnes-14.837; 8. Ronnie Gardner, 73X, Ford-14.872; 9. Ricky Kirkbride, 87, Van Meter-14.955; 10. Matt Mitchell, 18, Watt-14.979; 11. Austin Liggett, 83, Liggett-15.058; 12. Tyler Dolacki, 18X, Dolacki-15.587; 13. Bruce Douglass, 31, Douglass-15.616; 14. Bob Alderman, 21X, Alderman-15.696; 15. Andrew Murray, 21, Murray-15.767; 16. Chris Gansen, 4G, Gansen-16.213; 17. Bill Jones, 16, Jones-16.261; 18. Ray Knight, 6K, Knight-16.364.
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE 1: (10 laps)
1. Matt Mitchell, 2. Bruce Douglass, 3. Danny Sheridan, 4. Chris Gansen, 5. Kevin Barnes, 6. Danny Faria Jr. NT
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS / KEIZER WHEELS HEAT RACE 2: (10 laps)
1. Markus Niemela, 2. Austin Liggett, 3. Bud Kaeding, 4. Ronnie Gardner, 5. Bob Alderman, 6. Bill Jones. NT
DJ SAFETY HEAT RACE 3: (10 laps)
1. Ryan Bernal, 2. Ricky Kirkbride, 3. Rusty Carlile, 4. Tyler Dolacki, 5. Andrew Murray, 6. Ray Knight. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps - With Starting Positions)
1. Ryan Bernal (2nd), 2. Danny Sheridan (4th), 3. Matt Mitchell (8th), 4. Bud Kaeding (1st), 5. Danny Faria Jr. (13th), 6. Ronnie Gardner (6th), 7. Markus Niemela (3rd), 8. Rusty Carlile (5th), 9. Ricky Kirkbride (7th), 10. Chris Gansen (12th), 11. Bruce Douglass (11th), 12. Bob Alderman (15th), 13. Ray Knight (16th), 14. Austin Liggett (9th), 15. Kevin Barnes (14th), 16. Bill Jones (17th), 17. Tyler Dolacki (10th). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-3 Ryan Bernal, Laps 4-10 Danny Sheridan, Laps 11-30 Ryan Bernal.
KAEDING PERFORMANCE / RINGERS GLOVES HARD CHARGER: Danny Faria Jr. (13th to 5th)
LRB INC. RACE PRODUCTS AWARD: Matt Mitchell
WELD RACING AWARD: Chris Gansen
NEW USAC WEST COAST SPRINT STANDINGS:
1. Bud Kaeding 447; 2. Matt Mitchell 391; 3. Ryan Bernal 359; 4. Danny Faria Jr. 346; 5. Markus Niemela 344; 6. Richard Vander Weerd 294; 7. Danny Sheridan 274; 8. Ricky Kirkbride 254; 9. Rusty Carlile 227; 10. Kevin Barnes 213; 11. Justyne Hamblin 199; 12. Chris Gansen 196; 13. Steve Conrad 181; 14. Austin Liggett 179; 15. Chris Ennis 150; 16. Kyle Larson 135; 17. Jace Vander Weerd 130; 18. Marty Hawkins 130; 19. Jonathon Logan 112; 20. Don Gansen 101.
2012 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event With ASCS Canyon Region Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
SANTA MARIA, CA - JUNE 24, 2012... Retaking the lead from "Showtime" Danny Sheridan on lap eleven, Ryan Bernal of Hollister led the rest of the way to claim the "Bud Stanfield Memorial" at Santa Maria Speedway. The $1,500 triumph was Bernal's third USAC West Coast Sprint Car win of the year as the series returns to Santa Maria on July 7th with the ASCS Canyon Sprints for the "Doug Fort Memorial" and "War at the Shore."
With a four pill drawn for the main event inversion, Bud Kaeding shared the front row with Bernal. As the eighteen car feature rolled to the starter Tom Peterson's green flag, Ryan took the early command. Sheridan grabbed second, followed by Kaeding, Ronnie Gardner, Matt Mitchell, and Markus Niemela. Choosing to run the outside line of the speedway, Bernal looked to extend his advantage. Running in second, Sheridan tried several lines to close the gap. After a yellow flag bunched the field for a restart, "Showtime" executed a turn one "slide job" on Bernal and claimed the lead. Sheridan set a torrid pace and reached slower traffic within a few laps. Ryan tried to follow Danny past the lapped cars, but soon found himself under attack from Kaeding. The pair swapped positions, but Bernal was able to maintain second.
Action was halted on lap ten for a Kevin Barnes crash on the front straightaway. Barnes walked away uninjured, but damage to the catch fence caused a lengthy delay for repairs. When the race resumed, Sheridan was out front, but a miscue gave Bernal the opening he was looking for. The defending track champion shot to the lead and once out front, Ryan began to power away from field. Having to deal with the lapped traffic, Bernal's lead was shrinking and "Showtime" quickly closed the gap. Danny pressured Ryan in the closing laps, but it was not to be on this night. Bernal took the checkered flags, followed by Sheridan, Mitchell, Kaeding, and "Hollywood" Danny Faria Jr.
Piloting Keith Ford's #73 King Racing Products / A&A Precision Machine Spike, Ryan Bernal is now tied with Peter Murphy for second on the feature win list for the young series. Climbing to third in the point chase, Bernal was third quick on the night and won the DJ Safety Heat Race #3. The leader in the Santa Maria Sprint Car points has five top-5 finishes on the year and sixty-six feature laps led to his credit.
After leading seven laps, "Showtime" Danny Sheridan of Santa Maria finished second in the Stanfield Memorial. Driving the Kittle Motorsports' #18 Pace Lighting / PJ1 Lubricants Sherman, the former Bandit Sprint Car Champion earned his first Sander Engineering / Rod End Supply Fast Time Award of the year. After being collected in a heat race flip by Danny Faria Jr., "Showtime" rebounded to score third in the 10-lap event. Currently seventh in the standings, Sheridan has four top-5 finishes and two heat race wins in 2012.
Yorba Linda's Matt Mitchell scored third at Santa Maria and earned the night's LRB Inc. Race Products Award. Piloting Steve Watt's #18 Christian Stover Foundation / SWE Maxim, Mitchell was tenth quick on the night and won the Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1. The former USAC Western Midget Series Rookie of the Year is second in championship points with five top-5 finishes and one fast time award in the campaign.
Bud Kaeding of Campbell claimed fourth in the Bud Stanfield Memorial. Driving Junior Bowman's #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Bullet, the 3-time USAC Silver Crown Champion was fifth in qualifications and scored third in his heat race with a broken right front shock. Holding a fifty-six point lead over the competition, Kaeding has three feature wins and eight top-5 finishes on the year.
Tipton's "Hollywood" Danny Faria Jr. earned the night's Ringers Gloves / Kaeding Performance "Hard Charger / Best Passing Job" honors with a thirteenth to fifth place run. Piloting his #17V Johnston Calf Pens / Buster & Ziggy Enterprises Bullet, Faria was fourth quick in time trials and scored sixth in his heat after an early flip. The 2008 Stanfield Memorial winner is fourth in the point standings with three heat race wins and three top-5 finishes in 2012.
Chris Gansen of Verdemont Heights earned the program's Weld Racing Award with a tenth place run in the Stanfield Memorial. Driving the family owned #7G Trench Shoring / Dynamic Powder Coating Maxim, Gansen had throttle problems in hot laps and damaged his machine. After his crew made repairs, Chris rebounded to qualify sixteenth and score fourth in his heat race. Now twelfth in points, the Rookie of the Year contender has two top-10 finishes in the campaign.
Rauma, Finland's Markus Niemela won the night's 10-lap Saldana Racing Products / Keizer Wheels Heat Race #2. Piloting Steve Watt's #81 Lost Reality / SWE Maxim, Niemela was second quick in time trials and placed seventh in the 30-lap feature. The VRA feature winner is currently fifth in series points with three top-5 finishes and three heat race wins on the year.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will return to action on Saturday, July 7, at Chris Kearns' Santa Maria Speedway. The $2500-to-win "4th Annual Doug Fort Memorial" / "War At The Shore" is the second round of the "Grudge Series" with the ASCS Canyon Region Sprints. The event is a point race for USAC 360s and will also feature the West Coast Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Mini Dwarfs, and American/Enduro Stocks. For more information, visit www.racesantamariaspeedway.com or call 805.922.2232.
The USAC West Coast 360 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).
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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT RACE RESULTS:
June 23, 2012 - Santa Maria, California - Santa Maria Speedway - "Bud Stanfield Memorial"
SANDER ENGINEERING / ROD END SUPPLY TIME TRIALS:
1. Danny Sheridan, 18K, Kittle-14.374; 2. Markus Niemela, 81, Watt-14.595; 3. Ryan Bernal, 73, Ford-14.626; 4. Danny Faria Jr., 17V, Faria-14.665; 5. Bud Kaeding, 29, Bowman-14.722; 6. Rusty Carlile, 51, Carlile-14.777; 7. Kevin Barnes, 36B, Barnes-14.837; 8. Ronnie Gardner, 73X, Ford-14.872; 9. Ricky Kirkbride, 87, Van Meter-14.955; 10. Matt Mitchell, 18, Watt-14.979; 11. Austin Liggett, 83, Liggett-15.058; 12. Tyler Dolacki, 18X, Dolacki-15.587; 13. Bruce Douglass, 31, Douglass-15.616; 14. Bob Alderman, 21X, Alderman-15.696; 15. Andrew Murray, 21, Murray-15.767; 16. Chris Gansen, 4G, Gansen-16.213; 17. Bill Jones, 16, Jones-16.261; 18. Ray Knight, 6K, Knight-16.364.
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE 1: (10 laps)
1. Matt Mitchell, 2. Bruce Douglass, 3. Danny Sheridan, 4. Chris Gansen, 5. Kevin Barnes, 6. Danny Faria Jr. NT
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS / KEIZER WHEELS HEAT RACE 2: (10 laps)
1. Markus Niemela, 2. Austin Liggett, 3. Bud Kaeding, 4. Ronnie Gardner, 5. Bob Alderman, 6. Bill Jones. NT
DJ SAFETY HEAT RACE 3: (10 laps)
1. Ryan Bernal, 2. Ricky Kirkbride, 3. Rusty Carlile, 4. Tyler Dolacki, 5. Andrew Murray, 6. Ray Knight. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps - With Starting Positions)
1. Ryan Bernal (2nd), 2. Danny Sheridan (4th), 3. Matt Mitchell (8th), 4. Bud Kaeding (1st), 5. Danny Faria Jr. (13th), 6. Ronnie Gardner (6th), 7. Markus Niemela (3rd), 8. Rusty Carlile (5th), 9. Ricky Kirkbride (7th), 10. Chris Gansen (12th), 11. Bruce Douglass (11th), 12. Bob Alderman (15th), 13. Ray Knight (16th), 14. Austin Liggett (9th), 15. Kevin Barnes (14th), 16. Bill Jones (17th), 17. Tyler Dolacki (10th). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-3 Ryan Bernal, Laps 4-10 Danny Sheridan, Laps 11-30 Ryan Bernal.
KAEDING PERFORMANCE / RINGERS GLOVES HARD CHARGER: Danny Faria Jr. (13th to 5th)
LRB INC. RACE PRODUCTS AWARD: Matt Mitchell
WELD RACING AWARD: Chris Gansen
NEW USAC WEST COAST SPRINT STANDINGS:
1. Bud Kaeding 447; 2. Matt Mitchell 391; 3. Ryan Bernal 359; 4. Danny Faria Jr. 346; 5. Markus Niemela 344; 6. Richard Vander Weerd 294; 7. Danny Sheridan 274; 8. Ricky Kirkbride 254; 9. Rusty Carlile 227; 10. Kevin Barnes 213; 11. Justyne Hamblin 199; 12. Chris Gansen 196; 13. Steve Conrad 181; 14. Austin Liggett 179; 15. Chris Ennis 150; 16. Kyle Larson 135; 17. Jace Vander Weerd 130; 18. Marty Hawkins 130; 19. Jonathon Logan 112; 20. Don Gansen 101.
2012 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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.
