BRODY FUSON BREAKS THROUGH AT BAKERSFIELD

By Lance Jennings

BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 14, 2022… With a full moon overhead last Saturday night, Brody Fuson (Bakersfield, California) was victorious in front of his hometown fans at Bakersfield Speedway. Starting fifth, the USAC Western States Midget standout took command from Troy Rutherford on lap fourteen and had the race well in hand. Brody shook free from all challengers after a late green-white-checkered restart to capture the first $1,500 USAC West Coast Sprint Car victory of his career. Rutherford, fast qualifier Jake Andreotti, point leader Trent Carter, and Dawson Faria rounded out the top-five drivers. 

Starting on the pole position, Kyle Edwards grabbed the early lead only to see Troy Rutherford slip by for the top spot. Rutherford set a torrid pace on the Bakersfield clay and was steadily making his way through slower traffic. Fuson took advantage of the traffic and took command on lap fourteen. A caution came out two laps later that restacked the field and on the restart, Brody began to run away from the challengers.

Running the top groove, Fuson had extended his advantage to nearly a straightaway after four laps. A fierce battle for position followed the young driver as Carter and Andreotti had shuffled Rutherford back to fourth. The late caution for an Edwards spin bunched the field and allowed for one last shot for position. Once racing resumed, Andreotti dropped Carter to third, but a surging Rutherford powered by both drivers off the last corners to snag the runner-up spot behind Fuson.

Racing Bob and Toni Van Meter’s #51 W.E. / RacePa Motorsports Spike, Brody Fuson became the 60th different winner with the series and sixth driver to claim victory in 2022. After qualifying second overall, placing fourth in his heat race, and earning the BR Motorsports / Rod End Supply Hard Charger Award, Fuson has climbed to thirteenth in the point chase. The young driver tied his grandfather, “The Bakersfield Bullet” Rusty Carlile on the series win list as Carlile topped Hanford’s “Cotton Classic” on October 3, 2009.

After rain hit the speedway and continued to shower the surrounding area, Jake Andreotti (Castro Valley, California) opened the program by earning his first career Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award. Making his first non-winged and USAC West Coast Sprint Car start, the pilot of the family owned #7P Buchanan Auto Electric / Lucas Oil KPC posted a time of 13.806 seconds over the 16-car roster. The USAC Western States Midget regular placed sixth in his heat race, claimed third in the main event, and left Bakersfield ranked twenty-seventh in points.

Troy Rutherford (Ojai, California) raced to victory in the 10-lap Extreme Mufflers First Heat Race. Driving his #11 Westco International Consulting / Shine Supply Spike with Ford power, Rutherford was fifth quick in time trials and finished second in the feature after leading the first thirteenth circuits. The former VRA Sprint Car Champion heads to his home track ranked second in points, just 19 markers behind Trent Carter.

For the second consecutive show, Kyle Edwards (Fountain Valley, California) won the 10-lap Competition Suspension Incorporated / Vahlco Wheels Second Heat Race. Racing the family owned #39 Safehouse Security / Van Dyne Engineering entry, the third generation driver qualified sixth overall and finished eighth in the main event. At press time, Edwards sits third in the point standings as the series returns to Ventura Raceway on September 24th.

By virtue of her thirteenth place finish, Camie Bell (Bakersfield, California) earned her third Wilwood Disc Brakes “Lucky 13 Award” of the season. Racing the family owned #29C American Fabrication / Hydraulic Controls TCR, Bell was fifteenth in qualifying and finished eighth in her heat race. The rookie contender has climbed to ninth in the chase for the championship.

The USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Cars will head to Ventura Raceway (Ventura, California) on September 24th. The seventh point race will also showcase the USAC Western States Midgets and for more information, visit venturaraceway.com. 

The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series thanks AMSOIL, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, FloRacing.com, High Tech Performance, Hoosier Racing Tire, Rod End Supply, ROW Signs and Graphics, Saldana Racing Products, Vahlco Wheels, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Woodland Auto Display for their support.  

For more information on the series, visit usacracing.com and the social media for USAC Racing. You can also find exclusive content on the series Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.

USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES RACE RESULTS: September 10, 2022 – Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, California

WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Jake Andreotti, 7P, Andreotti-13.806; 2. Brody Fuson, 51, Van Meter-13.882; 3. Charlie Butcher, 96, Butcher-14.115; 4. Trent Carter, 13, Carter-14.152; 5. Troy Rutherford, 11, Rutherford-14.384; 6. Kyle Edwards, 39, Edwards-14.491; 7. Ben Worth, 73, Ford-14.549; 8. Tyler Hatzikian, 27, Hatzikian-14.615; 9. Dawson Faria, 12B, Faria-14.803; 10. Tanner Boul, 99T, Boul-14.851; 11. Troy DeGaton, 39T, DeGaton-14.964; 12. Elexa Herrera, 16J, Herrera-15.146; 13. Joey Bishop, 45, Bishop-15.258; 14. James Herrera, 5E, Herrera-15.318; 15. Camie Bell, 29C, Bell-15.590; 16. Brent Yarnal, 29, Yarnal-NT.

EXTREME MUFFLERS FIRST HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Rutherford, 2. DeGaton, 3. Faria, 4. Worth, 5. Butcher, 6. Andreotti, 7. Bishop, 8. Bell. NT.

COMPETITION SUSPENSION INCORPORATED / VAHLCO WHEELS SECOND HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Edwards, 2. Boul, 3. Carter, 4. Fuson, 5. Hatzikian, 6. J.Herrera, 7. E.Herrera. NT.

FEATURE: (30 laps, With Starting Positions) 1. Brody Fuson (5), 2. Troy Rutherford (2), 3. Jake Andreotti (6), 4. Trent Carter (3), 5. Dawson Faria (9), 6. Ben Worth (7), 7. Tanner Boul (10), 8. Kyle Edwards (1), 9. Troy DeGaton (11), 10. Tyler Hatzikian (8), 11. Joey Bishop (13), 12. James Herrera (14), 13. Camie Bell (15), 14. Elexa Herrera (12), 15. Charlie Butcher (4), 16. Brent Yarnal (16). NT.

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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-13 Rutherford, Laps 14-30 Fuson.

BR MOTORSPORTS / ROD END SUPPLY HARD CHARGER: Brody Fuson (5th to 1st)

WILWOOD DISC BRAKES LUCKY 13 AWARD: Camie Bell

NEW USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINTS: 1-Trent Carter-400, 2-Troy Rutherford-381, 3-Kyle Edwards-375, 4-Joey Bishop-295, 5-Ricky Lewis-290, --Tanner Boul-290, 7-Tyler Hatzikian-283, 8-Brent Yarnal-254, 9-Camie Bell-245, 10-Hannah Mayhew-234.

NEW TOP QUALIFIER POINTS: 1-Ricky Lewis-19, --Troy Rutherford-19, 3-Trent Carter-16, 4-Chase Johnson-9, --Kyle Edwards-9, --Brody Fuson-9, 7-Steve Hix-7, 8-Tanner Boul-6, --Jake Andreotti-6, 10-Ryan Timmons-4, --Logan Calderwood-4, --Charlie Butcher-4.

NEW PASSING MASTER POINTS: 1-Joey Bishop-33, 2-Camie Bell-32, 3-Tyler Hatzikian-21, 4-Travis Buckley-18, --Hannah Mayhew-18, 6-Brent Yarnal-14, --Troy Rutherford-14, 8-Brody Fuson-11, 9-Nathan Byrd-10, 10-Kyle Edwards-9.

NEXT USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR RACE: September 24 – Ventura Raceway – Ventura, California