West Coast
Friday, 7 July 2017

USAC VS. VRA “BATTLE OF THE BEACH” THIS SATURDAY AT VENTURA

#58 Steven Garris – 14th in USAC West Coast point #58 Steven Garris – 14th in USAC West Coast point Photo by Steve Lafond / Tear-Off Heaven Fotos.

USAC VS. VRA “BATTLE OF THE BEACH” THIS SATURDAY AT VENTURA

By Lance Jennings

JULY 6, 2017... This Saturday, July 8th, the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars are back at the Ventura County Fairgrounds for their second of four events at Ventura Raceway. Promoted by Jim Naylor, the “ARP Battle of the Beach Race #2” is co-sanctioned with the VRA Sprint Cars and will also feature Dwarf Cars, California Lightning Sprints, and USAC NOW 600 Micro Sprints. The Pit Gates will open at Noon, the Front Gates will open at 3:00pm, with Racing scheduled for 5:30pm at “The Best Little Dirt Track in America.”

NOTICE TO RACERS: The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is the ONLY legal right rear tire and all four corners must be Hoosier. Cockpit adjustable shocks are NOT allowed and engine restrictor rules are 1-7/8” with open heads and 2-3/16” with ASCS cylinder heads. The weight rule is 1,475 lbs. with driver and the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Rule Book can be found online at www.westcoastsprintcars.com and www.usacracing.com. USAC MEMBERSHIPS ARE MANDATORY AT THE FIRST RACE and can be purchased at the track or online at https://usacracing.redpodium.com/2017-usac-sprint-midget-sc. VRA MEMBERSHIPS WILL BE RECOGNIZED at this event.

Ventura Raceway has a strict mandated sound rule and the track legal mufflers are Extreme (Part #6014-3535 180 Degree, Part #3615-3535), Coast Fabrication (350x625x17-2sVRA), Spintech (180 Degree, 1545P Super Stock Series), B&B Performance (FRAC-0375-S, 180 Degree, with side outlet), Flowmaster (Hushpower, Suitcase- Part 53545-USAC.), and Schoenfeld (14272535). The Flowmaster “Suitcase” is also the legal muffler for Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway, Petaluma Speedway, and Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway. Failure to comply with the Ventura muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.

Since April 4, 2009, the Ventura County Fairgrounds has held five West Coast Sprint Car races and five different drivers have claimed victory. On June 3rd, Ryan Bernal claimed the “Battle of the Beach Race #1” and Kenny Perkins set a new track record (12.085). A complete series win list at Ventura is at the bottom of this release.

Entering the twelfth point race, Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, California) has a slim seven point lead over the competition. Racing the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Richard scored fifth at Hanford’s Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds on June 17th. To date, the 2011 Champion has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, and eight top-10 finishes on the year. Vander Weerd has nineteen career USAC West Coast victories and might skip Saturday’s action. 

Jake Swanson (Anaheim, California) ranks second in the USAC West Coast point standings. Driving Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Clackamas Rigging and Transfer Triple X, Swanson scored third in the Hanford main event. At press time, the 2012 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has one feature win, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, two heat race victories, one BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Award, eight top-10 finishes, and 46 feature laps led. Jake has two career series wins and will be looking to add the “Battle of the Beach” to his resume.

After missing the Hanford “Fair Race,” Ryan Bernal (Hollister, California) has slipped to third in the championship points. To date, the pilot of Keith Ford’s #73 Edgewater Construction / Sun Valley Ag Transport Triple X has posted six feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, four heat race victories, two BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Awards, eight top-10 finishes, and 69 feature laps led to his credit. Ryan leads all drivers with 33 West Coast wins and will skip Ventura to race in USAC’s “Indiana Sprint Week.”

Jace Vander Weerd (Visalia, California) is fourth in the chase for the championship. Racing the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Jace scored ninth at the Kings County Fairgrounds. As this writing goes to press, the 2010 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has three heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and 2 feature laps led on the season. Vander Weerd is tied with Peter Murphy for sixth on the series win list and might miss the “Battle at the Beach.”

Austin Liggett (Tracy, California) sits fifth in the USAC West Coast point chase. Driving the family owned #83 Excel Environmental / Lucas Oil ART, Liggett claimed his second win of the year at Hanford. To date, the 2012 Rookie of the Year has two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, one BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Award, eight top-10 finishes, and 34 feature laps led on the season. Austin is tied for ninth on the series win list and will be looking for Ventura’s $1,500 payday.

Currently tenth in points, Brandon Wiley (Santa Maria, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Steven Garris (Escalon, California) and Steve Hix (Ventura, California) are also in contention. 

Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Cody Majors, Tristan Guardino, “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr., Ryan Timmons, Max Adams, Ryan Stolz, Kyle Smith, “The G-Man” Geoffrey Strole, and more.

Kyle Smith (Moorpark, California) leads the VRA point standings. Kenny Perkins, Kyle Edwards, Rick Hendrix, Brent Owens, Charlie Butcher, “The Bear” Jeremy Ellertson, Trenton Sparks, Ed Schwarz, and Troy Rutherford round out the top-10 in points.

Ventura Raceway is located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 West Harbor Blvd. in Ventura, California. Adult tickets are $15, Senior tickets (60 and older) are $11, Active Military tickets (ID Required) are $11, Student tickets (with ID) are $11, and Children’s tickets (6 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.venturaraceway.com or call 805.648.RACE. 

The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series thanks AMSOIL, Hoosier Tire, BR Motorsports, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Chris Kearns Presents, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Ultra Shield Race Products, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, email PR Director Lance Jennings at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For more information, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com and www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC West Coast Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. 

Loudpedal Productions has USAC West Coast Sprint Car DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.

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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS: 2009-Justyne Hamblin, 2010-Craig Stidham, 2011-Richard Vander Weerd, 2012-Bud Kaeding, 2013-Danny Faria Jr., 2014-Matt Mitchell, 2015-Danny Faria Jr., 2016- Brody Roa.

2017 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS: 6-Ryan Bernal, 2-Austin Liggett, 1-Danny Faria Jr., 1-Kyle Hirst, 1-Jake Swanson

VENTURA USAC WEST COAST SPRINT WINS: 1-Ryan Bernal, 1-Geoff Ensign, 1-Tristan Guardino, 1-Johnathon Henry, 1-Jake Swanson.

USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Richard Vander Weerd-648, 2. Jake Swanson-641, 3. Ryan Bernal-628, 4. Jace Vander Weerd-618, 5. Austin Liggett-579, 6. Cody Majors-517, 7. Tristan Guardino-500, 8. Danny Faria Jr.-499, 9. Ryan Timmons-441, 10. Brandon Wiley-394, 11. Steve Hix-360, 12. Max Adams-356, 13. Shannon McQueen-302, 14. Steven Garris-295, 15. Jeff Sibley-270, 16. Joe Stornetta Jr.-260, 17. Geoff Ensign-244, 18. Ryan Stolz-235, 19. Kyle Smith-226, 20. Tye Mihocko-158.

2017 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE

DATE - TRACK - LOCATION

July 8: Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA (Battle of the Beach Race #2)

July 28: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA

July 29: Petaluma Speedway - Petaluma, CA

August 12: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (Bud Stanfield Memorial)

October 7: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (Championship Night)

November 22: Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix / Non-Points)

November 23: Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix / Battle of the Beach Race #4 / Non-Points)

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This schedule is subject to change.