BAKERSFIELD SPEEDWAY WELCOMES WEST COAST SPRINTS SATURDAY; JOHNSON RECORDS WIN #1, RAIN ALSO PREVAILS AT TULARE
USAC’s West Coast Sprint Cars invade Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway Saturday night and Brody Roa of Garden Grove, Calif. sits atop the most recent series point standings after his second-place finish in last Saturday night’s race at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif.
Roa was the fastest qualifier at Tulare and chased D.J. Johnson to the checkered flag in the 30-lap race. That left him with a 14-point lead over Bryan Clauson in the series standings entering this Saturday’s race. Johnson climbed to third as a result of his victory.
Saturday’s win at the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway was Johnson’s first in series competition as he wheeled his Brian Johnson Proplant Farm Services/J. Milano Company Eagle/Shaver to a wire-to-wire win. Richard Vander Weerd, Austin Liggett and Landon Hurst rounded out the “top-five” in the feature.
Friday’s scheduled race at Tulare fell to the elements as rain forced cancellation.
Last year’s Bakersfield West Coast winner Ryan Bernal, who also won at the 1/3-mile clay oval in 2013, skipped the Tulare race due to his pursuit of a firefighting career. Other previous Bakersfield West Coast Sprint winners have been Troy Rutherford, Richard Vander Weerd, Bud Kaeding, Ricky Kirkbride, Craig Stidham, Davey Pombo and defending series champion Danny Faria Jr.
Saturday night at Bakersfield, the pits open at 2:00pm while spectator gates open at 4:00pm. Hot laps get underway at 5:00pm with racing action set for 6:00pm.
Adult general admission tickets are available for $16.00. Seniors (65 and older) can get in for $14.00. Members of the military are $14.00 at the gate, though you are required to show a military ID. Children (age 6-12) can enter the track for only $6.00 while children 5 and under are FREE! Bakersfield Speedway members can purchase a pit pass for $35.00 and non-members $45.00.
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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS: March 12, 2016 – Tulare, California – Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway
QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Brody Roa, 91R, BR-15.308; 2. Danny Faria Jr., 17V, Faria-15.309; 3. D.J. Johnson, 33, Johnson-15.324; 4. Troy Rutherford, 11, Rutherford-15.353; 5. Brady Bacon, 73, Ford-15.377; 6. Bryan Clauson, 16B, Martin-15.388; 7. Jace Vander Weerd, 88, Vander Weerd-15.410; 8. Austin Liggett, 83, Liggett-15.445; 9. Richard Vander Weerd, 10, Vander Weerd-15.491; 10. Geoff Ensign, 44, Ensign-15.565; 11. Max Adams, 5M, Adams-15.625; 12. Trey Marcham, 81, Watt-15.700; 13. Landon Hurst, 81H, Watt-15.864; 14. Jeff Sibley, 42N, Sibley-15.908; 15. Kevin Barnes, 36B, Barnes-16.010; 16. Mike Martin, 16, Martin-16.027; 17. Tristan Guardino, 81T, Watt-16.109; 18. Shannon McQueen, 7, Van Meter-16.110; 19. Johnathon Henry, 17, Henry-16.246; 20. Ryan Timmons, 29T, Timmons-16.320; 21. Ricky Kirkbride, 87, Van Meter-16.383; 22. Geoffrey Strole, 09S, Strole-16.441; 23. Kyle Smith, 55, Smith-16.546; 24. Jim Richardson, 8, Richardson-16.651.
FIRST HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Ensign, 2. J.Vander Weerd, 3. Roa, 4. Rutherford, 5. Hurst, 6. Martin, 7. Henry, 8. Strole. NT
SECOND HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Adams, 2. Liggett, 3. Faria, 4. Bacon, 5. Guardino, 6. Smith, 7. Sibley, 8. Timmons. NT
THIRD HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Clauson, 2. Johnson, 3. R.Vander Weerd, 4. Barnes, 5. McQueen, 6. Kirkbride, 7. Marcham, 8. Richardson. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. D.J. Johnson, 2. Brody Roa, 3. Richard Vander Weerd, 4. Austin Liggett, 5. Landon Hurst, 6. Jace Vander Weerd, 7. Troy Rutherford, 8. Bryan Clauson, 9. Geoff Ensign, 10. Brady Bacon, 11. Tristan Guardino, 12. Kevin Barnes, 13. Trey Marcham, 14. Jeff Sibley, 15. Geoffrey Strole, 16. Shannon McQueen, 17. Kyle Smith, 18. Max Adams, 19. Jim Richardson, 20. Mike Martin, 21. Ryan Timmons, 22. Ricky Kirkbride, 23. Johnathon Henry, 24. Danny Faria Jr. NT
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**Richardson flipped during the third heat. Faria flipped on lap 1 of the feature. Henry flipped on lap 1 of the feature restart.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-30 D.J. Johnson.
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NEXT USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR EVENTS:
DATE: Saturday March 19, 2016
SERIES: USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
TRACK: Bakersfield Speedway (Bakersfield, California) – 1/3-Mile, High-Banked Clay Oval
EVENT: USAC West Coast Sprint Cars, Sportmods, American Stocks and CLS
STARTING TIMES: Pits: 2:00pm, Spectator Gates: 4:00pm, Hot Laps: 5:00pm, Racing: 6:00pm
TICKETS: Adults: $16.00, Seniors (65 and Older): $14.00, Military (Military ID Required): $14.00, Children (Age 6-12): $6.00, Pits: Bakersfield Speedway Members-$35.00, Non-Members-$45.00
TRACK ADDRESS: 5001 N Chester Ave Ext, Bakersfield, CA 93308
TRACK PHONE: (661) 393-3373
TRACK WEBSITE: http://www.bakersfieldspeedway.com/
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PAST USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINNERS AT BAKERSFIELD SPEEDWAY
3/27/2010: Davey Pombo
5/29/2010: Craig Stidham
6/19/2010: Ricky Kirkbride
3/24/2012: Bud Kaeding
3/23/2013: Richard Vander Weerd
4/27/2013: Ryan Bernal
9/7/2013: Danny Faria, Jr.
3/22/2014: Troy Rutherford
4/4/2015: Ryan Bernal
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2016 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10)
1. (151) Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA)
2. (137) Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, IN)
3. (129) D.J. Johnson (Stockton, CA)
4. (119) Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK)
5. (107) Jace Vander Weerd (Visalia, CA)
6. (100) Troy Rutherford (Ojai, CA)
7. (93) Trey Marcham (Oklahoma City, OK)
8. (83) Austin Liggett (Tracy, CA)
9. (80) Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, CA)
10. (78) Stevie Sussex (Phoenix, AZ)
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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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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
WINNER: Rained Out
Mar. 12: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway
WINNER: D.J. Johnson
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)
(1) D.J. Johnson (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 12)
NON-POINTS 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. (30) D.J. Johnson
2. (21) Bryan Clauson
3. (4) Stevie Sussex
4. (3) Brody Roa
5. (2) Brady Bacon
TOP-FIVE FEATURE FINISHES:
1. (2) Brody Roa
2. (1) Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Josh Hodges, Landon Hurst, D.J. Johnson, Austin Liggett, Stevie Sussex and Richard Vander Weerd
TOP-TEN FEATURE FINISHES:
1. (2) Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, D.J. Johnson and Brody Roa
5. (1) Dave Darland, Charles Davis, Jr., Geoff Ensign, Josh Hodges, Landon Hurst, R.J. Johnson, Austin Liggett, Trey Marcham, Troy Rutherford, Stevie Sussex, Jace Vander Weerd and Richard Vander Weerd
HEAT RACE WINS:
1. (2) Bryan Clauson
2. (1) Max Adams, Nick Aiuto, Dave Darland, Charles Davis, Jr. and Geoff Ensign
SEMI WINS:
1. (1) Jason Grady and Jace Vander Weerd
FEATURE STARTS:
1. (2) Max Adams, Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, D.J. Johnson, Trey Marcham, Mike Martin, Brody Roa, Troy Rutherford and Jace Vander Weerd
10. (1) Nick Aiuto, Kevin Barnes, Dave Darland, Charles Davis, Jr., Geoff Ensign, Danny Faria, Jr., Dennis Gile, Jason Grady, Tristan Guardino, Johnathon Henry, Josh Hodges, Landon Hurst, R.J. Johnson, Ricky Kirkbride, Austin Liggett, Shannon McQueen, Tye Mihocko, Josh Pelkey, Jim Richardson, Matt Rossi, Casey Shuman, Jeff Sibley, Colton Slack, Kyle Smith, Geoffrey Strole, Stevie Sussex, Ryan Timmons, and Richard 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)
NON-POINTS 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 WINS
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, D.J. Johnson, Ricky Kirkbride, C.J. Leary, Austin Liggett, Peter Murphy, Brody Roa, Stevie Sussex & Jake Swanson
ALL-TIME USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR 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 WINS
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
ALL-TIME USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SPECIAL EVENT FEATURE 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
