WEST COAST SPRINTS EYE 2-NIGHT TULARE VISIT; CLAUSON SPECTACULAR IN “SIN CITY SHOWDOWN” AT LVMS
USAC’s West Coast Sprint Car Series returns to the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. for races this Friday and Saturday night. Series champion Danny Faria, Jr., who skipped last Friday’s race at Las Vegas, Nev., opens his title defense this weekend at the 1/3-mile, high-banked clay oval.
The series debuted last Friday at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway and the race, which also awarded USAC Southwest Sprint Car points, produced a classic finish involving three drivers.
Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. emerged as Friday’s winner after coming from third place on the final lap to beat Stevie Sussex and Brady Bacon to the checkered flag. Clauson led 21 laps in his Mike Martin-owned Cancer Treatment Centers of America/Jonathan Byrd’s Racing machine. Sussex led four laps, Bacon led two and Brody Roa led three. Roa and Josh Hodges rounded out the “top-five” in the 30-lap race.
Faria was one of five USAC Sprint winners at Tulare last year. Others were Bud Kaeding, Richard Vander Weerd, Matt Mitchell and Ryan Bernal, who scored twice in 2015.
The USAC Southwest Sprint Cars are idle until March 26 when they compete in the “Easter Eggstravaganza” at Canyon Speedway in Peoria, Ariz.
Both Friday and Saturday’s USAC West Coast events at Tulare will be broadcast LIVE on http://dirtvision.com/.
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USAC WEST COAST/SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS: March 4, 2016 – Las Vegas, Nevada – The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – 5th FVP “Sin City Showdown”
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Nick Aiuto (#27 Aiuto), 2. Dennis Gile (#13G Gile), 3. Stevie Sussex (#21AZ Burkhart), 4. Trey Marcham (#81 Watt), 5. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 6. Matt Rossi (#02 Rossi), 7. Josh Grady (#12J Grady), 8. Kenny Perkins (#0K Perkins), 9. Aaron Reutzel (#0 Styres). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Bryan Clauson (#16B Martin), 2. Brody Roa (#91R BR), 3. Casey Shuman (#38 McGerigle), 4. Jason Grady (#45 Grady), 5. Max Adams (#5M Adams), 6. Jeff Sibley (#42N Sibley), 7. Jace Vander Weerd (#88 Vander Weerd), 8. Dustin Cormany (#14AZ Burkhart/White), 9. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Dave Darland (#42 Cheney), 2. Troy Rutherford (#11 Rutherford), 3. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 4. Brady Bacon (#73 Ford), 5. R.J. Johnson (#77M Michael), 6. Richard Vander Weerd (#10 Vander Weerd), 7. Landon Cling (#54 Strait), 8. Tristan Guardino (#15T Guardino), 9. Asa Kesterson (#18 Kesterson). NT
FOURTH HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 2. Josh Hodges (#74X Hodges), 3. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 4. Austin Liggett (#83 Liggett), 5. D.J. Johnson (#33 Johnson), 6. Colton Slack (#3F Finkenbinder), 7. Brian Hosford (#22B Weber), 8. Ryan Timmons (#29T Timmons), 9. Bob Strait (#58 Strait). NT
FIRST SEMI: (10 laps) 1. J.Vander Weerd, 2. Mihocko, 3. D.J. Johnson, 4. Reutzel, 5. Guardino, 6. Josh Grady, 7. Liggett, 8. R.Vander Weerd. NT
SECOND SEMI: (10 laps) 1. Jason Grady, 2. Slack, 3. Rossi, 4. Sibley, 5. Strait, 6. Cling, 7. Hosford, 8. Cormany, 9. Kesterson. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Bryan Clauson, 2. Stevie Sussex, 3. Brady Bacon, 4. Brody Roa, 5. Josh Hodges, 6. Dave Darland, 7. R.J. Johnson, 8. Trey Marcham, 9. D.J. Johnson, 10. Charles Davis Jr., 11. Jace Vander Weerd, 12. Colton Slack, 13. Jason Grady, 14. Nick Aiuto, 15. Troy Rutherford, 16. Casey Shuman, 17. Tye Mihocko, 18. Max Adams, 19. Dennis Gile, 20. Mike Martin, 21. Josh Pelkey, 22. Matt Rossi. NT
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**Deskins flipped during second heat.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-4 Clauson, Laps 5-7 Roa, Laps 8-23 Clauson, Laps 24-27 Sussex, Laps 28-29 Bacon, Lap 30 Clauson.
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NEXT USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR EVENTS:
DATE: Friday, March 11 & Saturday March 12, 2016
SERIES: USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
TRACK: Thunderbowl Raceway (Tulare, California) – 1/3-Mile, High-Banked Clay Oval
EVENT: (FRIDAY): USAC West Coast Sprint Cars and World of Outlaws/King of the West Sprint Cars. (SATURDAY): USAC West Coast Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws/King of the West Sprint Cars and Western RaceSaver Sprint Cars
STARTING TIMES: Ticket booth opens at 12:30pm, Front gate opens at 4:00pm, Hot Laps begin at 5:00pm., Qualifying starts at 6:00pm, Racing begins at 7:00pm
TICKETS: Bleachers: $40.00, Grandstands: $45.00, (ALL SEATS RESERVED)
TRACK ADDRESS: 215 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Tulare, CA 93274
TRACK PHONE: (559) 688-0909
TRACK WEBSITE: http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com/
MEDIA COVERAGE: Live on http://www.dirtvision.com
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2016 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10)
1. (79) Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, IN)
2. (78) Stevie Sussex (Phoenix, AZ)
3. (72) Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA)
4. (69) Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK)
5. (68) Josh Hodges (Socorro, NM)
6. (63) Dave Darland (Lincoln, IN)
7. (57) Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ)
8. (56) R.J. Johnson (Tempe, AZ)
9. (54) Trey Marcham (Oklahoma City, OK)
10. (48) D.J. Johnson (Stockton, CA)
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2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10)
1. (79) Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, IN)
2. (78) Stevie Sussex (Phoenix, AZ)
3. (72) Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA)
4. (69) Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK)
5. (68) Josh Hodges (Socorro, NM)
6. (63) Dave Darland (Lincoln, IN)
7. (57) Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ)
8. (56) R.J. Johnson (Tempe, AZ)
9. (54) Trey Marcham (Oklahoma City, OK)
10. (48) D.J. Johnson (Stockton, CA)
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PAST FVP "SIN CITY SHOWDOWN" WINNERS
2012: Bud Kaeding
2013: Bryan Clauson
2014: Austin Liggett
2015: Stevie Sussex
2016: Bryan Clauson
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2016 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & RESULTS
Jan. 22: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway
WINNER: Bryan Clauson
Jan. 23: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway
WINNER: Bryan Clauson
Jan. 24: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway
WINNER: Josh Hodges
Jan. 29: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway
WINNER: Bryan Clauson
Jan. 30: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway
WINNER: Josh Hodges
Mar. 4: Las Vegas, NV - *** The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
WINNER: Bryan Clauson
Mar. 11: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway
Mar. 12: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway
Mar. 19: Bakersfield, CA - Bakersfield Speedway
Apr. 2: Hanford, CA - Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds
Apr. 9: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway
Apr. 23: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway
May 14: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway
Jun. 18: Santa Maria, CA - Santa Maria Raceway
Jun. 25: Hanford, CA - Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds
Jul. 22: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway
Jul. 23: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway
Aug. 6: Santa Maria, CA - Santa Maria Raceway
Aug. 12: Watsonville, CA - Ocean Speedway
Aug. 13: Hanford, CA - Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds
Nov. 24: Ventura, CA - (SE) Ventura Raceway
**Races noted with (SE) represent a non-points "special event."
**Races noted with *** represent a race with the USAC Southwest Sprints.
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2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & RESULTS
Jan. 22: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway
WINNER: Bryan Clauson
Jan. 23: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway
WINNER: Bryan Clauson
Jan. 24: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway
WINNER: Josh Hodges
Jan. 29: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway
WINNER: Bryan Clauson
Jan. 30: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway
WINNER: Josh Hodges
Mar 4: Las Vegas, NV - *** The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
WINNER: Bryan Clauson
Mar 26: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway
Apr 9: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway
Apr 23: Yuma, AZ - Cocopah Speedway
Apr 30: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway
May 7: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway
May 28: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway
May 29: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway
Jun 11: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway
Jul 2: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway
Jul 30: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway
Aug 17: Lawton, OK - (SE) Lawton Speedway
Aug 18: Sapulpa, OK - (SE) Creek County Speedway
Aug 19: Wichita, KS - (SE) 81 Speedway
Aug 20: Dodge City, KS - (SE) Dodge City Raceway Park
Sep 2: El Paso, TX - ### El Paso Speedway Park
Sep 3: Las Cruces, NM - ### Southern New Mexico Speedway
Sep 17: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway
**Oct 15: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway
Oct 22: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway
Oct 29: Casa Grande, AZ - Central Arizona Speedway
Nov 4: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway
Nov 5: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway
**Races noted with (SE) represent a non-points "special event."
**Races noted with *** represent a race with the USAC West Coast Sprints.
**Races noted with ### represent a "Border Tour" event co-sanctioned with the New Mexico Motor Racing Association Sprints.
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2016 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR STATISTICS
FEATURE WINS:
1. (1) Bryan Clauson (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 4)
SPECIAL EVENT FEATURE WINS:
1. (3) Bryan Clauson (Canyon Speedway (SE) on Jan. 22, Canyon Speedway (SE) on Jan. 23 & Canyon Speedway (SE) on Jan. 29)
2. (2) Josh Hodges (Canyon Speedway (SE) on Jan. 24 & Canyon Speedway (SE) on Jan. 30)
FEATURE LAPS LED:
1. (21) Bryan Clauson
2. (4) Stevie Sussex
3. (3) Brody Roa
4. (2) Brady Bacon
TOP-FIVE FEATURE FINISHES:
1. (1) Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Josh Hodges, Brody Roa and Stevie Sussex
TOP-TEN FEATURE FINISHES:
1. (1) Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Dave Darland, Charles Davis, Jr., Josh Hodges, D.J. Johnson, R.J. Johnson, Trey Marcham, Brody Roa and Stevie Sussex
HEAT RACE WINS:
1. (1) Nick Aiuto, Bryan Clauson, Dave Darland and Charles Davis, Jr.
SEMI WINS:
1. (1) Jason Grady and Jace Vander Weerd
FEATURE STARTS:
1. (1) Max Adams, Nick Aiuto, Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Dave Darland, Charles Davis, Jr., Dennis Gile, Jason Grady, Josh Hodges, D.J. Johnson, R.J. Johnson, Trey Marcham, Mike Martin, Tye Mihocko, Josh Pelkey, Brody Roa, Matt Rossi, Troy Rutherford, Casey Shuman, Colton Slack, Stevie Sussex, Jace Vander Weerd
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2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR STATISTICS
FEATURE WINS:
1. (1) Bryan Clauson (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 4)
SPECIAL EVENT FEATURE WINS:
1. (3) Bryan Clauson (Canyon Speedway (SE) on Jan. 22, Canyon Speedway (SE) on Jan. 23 & Canyon Speedway (SE) on Jan. 29)
2. (2) Josh Hodges (Canyon Speedway (SE) on Jan. 24 & Canyon Speedway (SE) on Jan. 30)
FEATURE LAPS LED:
1. (21) Bryan Clauson
2. (4) Stevie Sussex
3. (3) Brody Roa
4. (2) Brady Bacon
TOP-FIVE FEATURE FINISHES:
1. (1) Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Josh Hodges, Brody Roa and Stevie Sussex
TOP-TEN FEATURE FINISHES:
1. (1) Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Dave Darland, Charles Davis, Jr., Josh Hodges, D.J. Johnson, R.J. Johnson, Trey Marcham, Brody Roa and Stevie Sussex
HEAT RACE WINS:
1. (1) Nick Aiuto, Bryan Clauson, Dave Darland and Charles Davis, Jr.
SEMI WINS:
1. (1) Jason Grady and Jace Vander Weerd
FEATURE STARTS:
1. (1) Max Adams, Nick Aiuto, Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Dave Darland, Charles Davis, Jr., Dennis Gile, Jason Grady, Josh Hodges, D.J. Johnson, R.J. Johnson, Trey Marcham, Mike Martin, Tye Mihocko, Josh Pelkey, Brody Roa, Matt Rossi, Troy Rutherford, Casey Shuman, Colton Slack, Stevie Sussex, Jace Vander Weerd
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ALL-TIME USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR DRIVER FEATURE VICTORIES
1. [23 wins] Ryan Bernal
2. [11 wins] Richard Vander Weerd
3. [10 wins] Bud Kaeding
4. [8 wins] Danny Faria, Jr.
5. [5 wins] Jace Vander Weerd
6. [4 wins] T.J. Smith & Craig Stidham
8. [2 wins] Wes Gutierrez, Cory Kruseman, Kyle Larson, Matt Mitchell, Davey Pombo, Troy Rutherford & Danny Sheridan
15. [1 win] Dean Alexander, Bryan Clauson, Nic Faas, Justin Grant, Tristan Guardino, Justyne Hamblin, Josh Hodges, Dennis Howell, Ricky Kirkbride, C.J. Leary, Austin Liggett, Peter Murphy, Brody Roa, Stevie Sussex & Jake Swanson
SPECIAL EVENT FEATURE WINS
1. [9 Special Event Wins] Bryan Clauson
2. [5 Special Event Wins] Ryan Bernal
3. [2 Special Event Wins] Brady Bacon, Dave Darland, Josh Hodges, R.J. Johnson, Mike Spencer & Richard Vander Weerd
9. [1 Special Event Win] Colby Copeland, Charles Davis, Jr., Bud Kaeding, Mike Martin, Peter Murphy, Matt Rossi & Terry Schank, Jr.
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ALL-TIME USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR DRIVER FEATURE VICTORIES
1. [29 wins] R.J. Johnson
2. [12 wins] Charles Davis, Jr.
3. [7 wins] Bryan Clauson
4. [5 wins] Josh Pelkey
5. [4 wins] Stevie Sussex
6. [3 wins] Mike Martin, Matt Rossi & Rick Ziehl
9. [2 wins] Ryan Bernal & Mike Spencer
11. [1 win] Shon Deskins, Justin Grant, Josh Hodges, Brody Roa & Danny Smith
SPECIAL EVENT WINS
1. [3 Special Event Wins] Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Dave Darland & R.J. Johnson
5. [2 Special Event Wins] Ryan Bernal, Josh Hodges & Mike Martin
8. [1 Special Event Win] Mike Bonneau, Colby Copeland, Charles Davis, Jr., Blake Hahn, C.J. Leary, Austin Liggett, Richard Vander Weerd
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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS
2010: Craig Stidham
2011: Richard Vander Weerd
2012: Bud Kaeding
2013: Danny Faria, Jr.
2014: Matt Mitchell
2015: Danny Faria, Jr.
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USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS
2013: R.J. Johnson
2014: R.J. Johnson
2015: R.J. Johnson
