USAC WESTERN RACERS CELEBRATED AT LAS VEGAS AWARDS BANQUET

By Lance Jennings

JANUARY 28, 2018... The United States Auto Club’s western racers, champions, and special award winners were honored last Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hosted by Chris Kearns at the Orleans Hotel and Casino, the 2017 Western Awards Banquet celebrated the accomplishments from thirteen divisions.

The event was headlined by returning champions. “The Demon” Damion Gardner of Concord, California scored his fifth consecutive AMSOIL CRA Sprint Car crown for Mark Alexander. Laveen, Arizona’s R.J. Johnson claimed his fifth straight Sands Chevrolet Southwest Sprint Car title and Ronnie Gardner of Riverside, California earned his fifth consecutive Light Up The World Beverages Western States Midget crown for Six8 Motorsports. Anaheim, California’s Jake Swanson claimed his first West Coast Sprint Car championship.

Jesse Love IV of Menlo Park, California swept top honors in the three Speed 2 Western Midget divisions by winning the Overall, Dirt, and Pavement championships.

After another successful season, the USAC National Micro Sprint champions were Jimmy Leal (Coastal Clash), Dex Morris (Coastal Clash Restricted), Josh Ames (Non Wing 600), Trevor Years (Wing 600), Daison Pursley (Restricted 600), and Jade Avedisian (Junior Sprint).

The champions were also honored at the USAC “Night of Champions” in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 8th.

Drivers that earned Rookie of the Year honors were Matt McCarthy (AMSOIL CRA Sprint Car), Brandon Wiley (West Coast Sprint Car), Matt Lundy (Sands Chevrolet SouthWest Sprint Car), Mason Daniel (Light Up The World Beverages Western States Midget), and Blake Brannon (Speed 2 Western Midget).

Western USAC special awards were presented to Steve Alexander (Bruce Bromme Jr. Mechanic of the Year), Brett Roa (Billy Wilkerson Memorial Award), and Steve Lafond (Evelyn Pratt Award). 

Dick Woodland honored Damion Gardner (AMSOIL CRA Sprint Car), Jake Swanson (West Coast Sprint Car), and Ronnie Gardner (Light Up The World Beverages Western States Midget), for earning the most Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards in their division. It was announced that the Woodland program and series sponsorship will return in 2018.

Darren Hagen of Light Up The World Beverages presented Randi Pankratz with a sportsmanship award. In addition, Hagen announced increased sponsorship for the Western States Midgets in the upcoming season.

The USAC Western staff thanks Mike and Tim Truex of Loudpedal Productions for supplying their great videos and Mike Grosswendt for photographing the event. Special thanks also goes to Woodland Auto Display, Light Up The World Beverages, All Coast Construction, surfnsprint.com, and ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems for their support.

The Western campaign opens on February 3rd at Canyon Speedway Park (Peoria, Arizona) with the “2nd Annual Steve Stroud Memorial” for the Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars.

The USAC West Coast and SouthWest Sprint Cars will clash at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Las Vegas, Nevada) on February 28th and March 1st. The non-point “Outlaw Showdown” will pay $3,000-to-win each night.

The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will battle at Perris Auto Speedway (Perris, California) on March 3rd at the annual “So Cal Showdown.”

On March 17th, Bakersfield Speedway (Bakersfield, California) will host the season opener for the Light Up The World Beverages USAC Western States Midgets. The race will be the first of two co-sanctioned events with the Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA).

For more information on any of the USAC racing divisions, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content for several of the groups on their respective Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. 

USAC WESTERN RACERS TO BE HONORED AT JANUARY 27TH LAS VEGAS AWARDS BANQUET 

By Lance Jennings

DECEMBER 27, 2017... On Saturday, January 27th, the United States Auto Club’s Western Racing Divisions will celebrate their 2017 season at the annual Awards Banquet and Roast. Hosted by the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, racers with the CRA Sprint Car, West Coast Sprint Car, SouthWest Sprint Car, Western States Midget, Speed 2 Western Midget, and National Micro Sprint Series will be honored. 

The festivities will begin the previous night at 8:00pm with the USAC Western Bowling Tournament. Voted “Best of Las Vegas Bowling Alley” by the Las Vegas Review Journal, the Bowling Center in the Orleans Hotel features 70 lanes, a full service pro shop, and more. Tickets are $25 per person and includes 3 games with shoe rental. Teams can be made in advance and should have six bowlers. 

Starting at 12:00pm on Saturday, the Awards Banquet will honor the top-10 and Rookie of the Year drivers with the CRA Sprint Car, West Coast Sprint Car, SouthWest Sprint Car, and Western States Midget series. The top-5 drivers in the three Speed 2 Western Midget divisions and top-3 in the six National Micro Sprint groups will also be recognized. In addition, several honorees will be given special awards for their contribution and dedication to racing. Tickets are $75 per person.

Both events are open to all drivers, crews, family, and friends. The ticket order form for both the Awards Banquet and Bowling Tournament can be downloaded at www.westcoastsprintcars.com/2017/banquet2017.docx and must be received by January 20th.

Champion drivers being honored include “The Demon” Damion Gardner (CRA Sprint Car), Jake Swanson (West Coast Sprint Car), R.J. Johnson (SouthWest Sprint Car), Ronnie Gardner (Western States Midget), and Jesse Love IV (Western Overall Speed 2 Midget, Western Dirt Speed 2 Midget, and Western Pavement Speed 2 Midget).

After another successful season, champions in the National Micro Sprint divisions are Jimmy Leal (Coastal Clash), Dex Morris (Coastal Clash Restricted), Josh Ames (Non Wing 600), Trevor Years (Wing 600), Daison Pursley (Restricted 600), and Jade Avedisian (Junior Sprint),

These drivers were also honored at the USAC “Night of Champions” in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 8th.

Drivers that earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2017 are Matt McCarthy (CRA Sprint Car), Brandon Wiley (West Coast Sprint Car), Matt Lundy (SouthWest Sprint Car), and Mason Daniel (Western States Midget).

The Orleans Hotel and Casino is located at 4500 West Tropicana Avenue in Las Vegas Nevada and for more hotel information, visit www.orleanscasino.com or call 800.675.3267.