USAC AMSOIL NATIONAL AND CRA SPRINTS MAKE QUEEN CREEK DEBUT AT 49TH “WESTERN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS”
Story By: LANCE JENNINGS / USAC SERIES MEDIA
Photos By: DICK AYERS / RACERSGUIDE.COM
Queen Creek Az.- November4, 2016- This Friday, November 4th, the USAC/CRA AMSOIL Sprint Cars are set for two nights of action in Queen Creek, Arizona for the “49th Annual Western World Championships.”
The co-sanctioned event with the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars at Arizona Speedway will also feature the USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars. On both days, the Pit gates will open at 3:00pm, spectator gates will open at 4:30pm, and racing is scheduled to start at 7:00pm. In addition, the track will host an open practice on Thursday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
Boasting a $5,000-to-win purse on Friday and $6,000-to-win on Saturday, the “Western World Championships” will mark the first appearance of the USAC/CRA and USAC National Sprints at Arizona Speedway. Noted as an Arizona tradition since 1968 when Bob Cleberg took the checkered flags at the Manzanita Speedway, the “Western World” has been a premier event for race fans to enjoy. While the headlining divisions and host tracks may have changed over the years, some of the most notable names in the sport have claimed victory at the Western World.
Hall of Fame racers like Jan Opperman, Rick Ferkel, Ron Shuman, Bubby Jones, Lealand McSpadden, Sammy Swindell, and Steve Kinser have stood atop the podium. Last year, Indiana’s Bryan Clauson joined the winner’s list and celebrated his victory at USA Raceway in Tucson. A winner’s list is posted at the end of this release.
Entering the twentieth point race, “The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, California) has a 117-point advantage over the competition. Racing Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / Weld Racing Spike, Gardner won his fourth main event of the season at Perris on October 15th. To date, the four-time champion has three Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, eleven heat race victories, one Brown & Miller Racing Solutions Semi-Main win, one BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Award, sixteen top-10 finishes, and 100 feature laps led to his credit. “The Demon” leads all drivers with 69 USAC/CRA victories and will be looking to add the “Western World Championships” to his resume.
Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, California) is second in the chase for the championship. Piloting the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Richard scored third at Perris on October 15th. At press time, the 2011 USAC West Coast Champion has one feature win, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 61 feature laps led on the year. Vander Weerd is tied with Robert Ballou, Levi Jones, Bud Kaeding, and Blake Miller for fifteenth on the USAC/CRA win list and will have his sights on his seventh victory.
Jake Swanson (Anaheim, California) ranks third in the USAC/CRA point standings. Driving Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Clackamas Rigging and Transfer XXX, Swanson charged from twenty-first to claim seventh in the October 15th feature. To date, the 2012 Rookie of the Year has one feature win, three Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, two heat race victories, two Brown & Miller Racing Solutions Semi-Main wins, one BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Award, fourteen top-10 finishes, and 7 feature laps led on the season. Jake will be looking to move up the standings with a victory at the “Western World Championships.”
Brody Roa (Garden Grove, California) sits fourth in the USAC/CRA point chase. Racing the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Lee & Norma Leonard Maxim, Roa led the first sixteen laps at Perris before taking second at the checkered flags. At press time, the 2016 USAC West Coast Champion has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, six heat race victories, twelve top-10 finishes, and 52 feature laps led in the campaign. Last season’s 360 Western World Champion has one career USAC/CRA victory and will have his sights on adding Arizona Speedway to his win list.
“The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, California) ranks fifth in the championship chase. Driving Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams finished fifth at Perris Auto Speedway. To date, the 2009 Rookie of the Year has posted two feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, one Brown & Miller Racing Solutions Semi-Main win, two BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Awards, twelve top-10 finishes, and 55 feature laps led in the campaign. Austin is tied with Garrett Hansen for twentieth on the USAC/CRA win list and will be looking to score his sixth victory at the “Western World Championships.”
Currently ranked seventh in points, Max Adams (Loomis, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Andrew Sweeney (Lomita, California), Trent Williams (Victorville, California), and Mikey Lovas (Wildomar, California) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Mike Spencer, Logan Williams, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Jace Vander Weerd, Chris Gansen, “The Bear” Jeremy Ellertson, “Thunder” Tommy Malcolm, Stevie Sussex, Ronnie Gardner, Verne Sweeney, A.J. Bender, and more.
“The Macho Man” Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma) sits atop the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car point standings. Chase Stockon, “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland, “T-Mez” Thomas Meseraull, “The Madman” Robert Ballou, “The Hanford Hornet” Chad Boespflug, C.J. Leary, Aaron Farney, and Max McGhee round out the top-10 drivers.
Arizona Speedway is located at 47800 N. Ironwood Road in Queen Creek, just five miles south of Mesa. To get to the track, exit Ironwood Drive on US 60, then head four miles south. On Friday, General Admission tickets are $10 Kids, $20 Adults, $35 All Access with pit pass, Kids (6 and under) are FREE. Premium Seating (top 8 rows) are $5 Kids (6 and under), $15 Kids (7-12), $25 Adults, $40 All Access with pit pass. On Saturday, General Admission tickets are $10 Kids, $25 Adults, $35 All Access with pit pass, Kids (6 and under) are FREE. Premium Seating (top 8 rows) are $5 (kids 6 and under), $15 Kids (7-12), $30 Adults, $40 All Access with pit pass. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, All Coast Construction, BR Motorsports, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Incorporated, DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Stand 21 Racer Goes Safer Foundation, surfnsprint.com, 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 lwjennings@earthlink.net.
For more information on USAC/CRA, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC/CRA Facebook and Twitter pages.
Loudpedal Productions has USAC/CRA DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS:
2004-Rip Williams, 2005-Damion Gardner, 2006-Cory Kruseman, 2007-Tony Jones, 2008-Mike Spencer, 2009-Mike Spencer, 2010-Mike Spencer, 2011-Mike Spencer, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Damion Gardner, 2014-Damion Gardner, 2015-Damion Gardner.
WESTERN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SPRINT CAR WINNERS:
1968-Bob Cleberg; 1969-Bob Huebner; 1970-Jerry McClung; 1971-Jan Opperman; 1972-Jan Opperman; 1973-Earl Wagner; 1974-Rick Ferkel; 1975-Ron Shuman; 1976-Bubby Jones; 1977-Ron Shuman; 1978-Lealand McSpadden; 1979-Tim Green; 1980-Jeff Swindell; 1981-Ron Shuman; 1982-Steve Kinser; 1983-Steve Kinser; 1984-Ron Shuman; 1985-Steve Kinser; 1986-Bobby Davis Jr.; 1987-Steve Kinser; 1988-Mark Kinser; 1989-Sammy Swindell; 1990-Steve Kinser; 1991-Danny Lasoski; 1992-Steve Kinser; 1993-Lealand McSpadden; 1994-Ron Shuman; 1995-Lealand McSpadden; 1996-Steve Kinser; 1997-Mark Kinser; 1998-Tyler Walker; 1999-Donny Schatz; 2000-Jay Drake; 2001-Jeremy Sherman; 2002- Bud Kaeding; 2003-Tony Elliott; 2004-Bud Kaeding; 2005-Dave Darland; 2006-Josh Wise; 2007-Jerry Coons Jr.; 2008-Kevin Swindell; 2009-Sammy Swindell; 2010-Donny Schatz; 2011-Donny Schatz; 2012-Wayne Johnson; 2013-Bryan Clauson; 2014-Matt Rossi, 2015-Bryan Clauson.
2016 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS:
4-Damion Gardner, 2-Ryan Bernal, 2-Thomas Meseraull, 2-Austin Williams, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Bryan Clauson, 1-Josh Hodges, 1-R.J. Johnson, 1-Matt Mitchell, 1-Troy Rutherford, 1-Danny Sheridan, 1-Jake Swanson, 1-Richard Vander Weerd.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Damion Gardner-1293, 2. Richard Vander Weerd-1176, 3. Jake Swanson-1148, 4. Brody Roa-1080, 5. Austin Williams-1064, 6. Mike Spencer-935, 7. Max Adams-815, 8. Logan Williams-724, 9. Cody Williams-676, 10. Chris Gansen-632, 11. Jace Vander Weerd-602, 12. Jeremy Ellertson-596, 13. Tommy Malcolm-477, 14. Stevie Sussex-461, 15. Ronnie Gardner-397, 16. Thomas Meseraull-383, 17. Verne Sweeney-381, 18. R.J. Johnson-378, 19. Danny Faria, Jr.-371, 20. A.J. Bender-355.
2016 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
November 4: *Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships / $5,000-to-win)
November 5: *Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships / $6,000-to-win)
November 10: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction / $5,000-to-win)
November 11: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction / $5,000-to-win)
November 12: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction / $25,000-to-win)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with AMSOIL USAC National Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
