BAKERSFIELD HOSTS USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR CLASH
By Lance Jennings
MARCH 7, 2022... The USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will take center stage this Saturday, March 12th, at Bakersfield Speedway. Promoted by Scott Schweitzer, the second point race will also feature Stock Cars, Mod Lites, and Mini Stocks at "The West's Fastest 1/3-Mile High Banked Clay Oval." The Pit Gates will open at 2:00pm, Spectator Gates will open at 4:00pm, and Racing is scheduled for 6:00pm. Located at 5001 North Chester Extension in Bakersfield, California, more event information can be found at bakersfieldspeedway.com or by calling 661.393.3373.
For those that cannot travel to the races, floracing.com will broadcast a live stream of the night’s action over the internet.
NOTICE TO RACERS:
- MEMBERSHIPS / TEMPORARY PERMITS: All racers MUST PURCHASE their USAC license / membership or temporary permit online PRIOR TO THE EVENT at usaclicense.com or usacracing.com. TPs are $25 and Memberships are $150. Season memberships come with extra insurance.
- ENTRY FEE: There is an entry fee due at registration / pill pick.
- TRANSPONDERS: Transponders ARE MANDATORY and will be available to rent.
- APPROVED/LEGAL TIRES: Due to the current tire shortages, ANY Hoosier Right Rear Tire is legal for competition until further notice. All four corners must be Hoosier.
- APPROVED/LEGAL MUFFLERS: EXTREME: 6014-3535, 3615-3535, SCHOENFELD: 14272535, 14272735-78, FLOWMASTER: 53545-10, 13516100, 13516101, COAST FABRICATION: 350x625x17-2S, B&B: FRAC-0375S, SPINTECH: 1545P SUPER STOCK. *Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
- ONE WAY RADIOS / RACECEIVERS: One way radios ARE MANDATORY.
- FRONT AXLE TETHER SYSTEMS: Front axle tether systems (2-Chassis, 1-King Pin to King Pin) ARE MANDATORY.
- FULL CONTAINMENT SEATS: Full containment seats ARE MANDATORY.
- COCKPIT ADJUSTABLE SHOCKS: Cockpit adjustable shocks ARE ALLOWED.
- RULE BOOK: The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series Rule Book can be found online at usacracing.com.
- California state protocol calls for competitors, crews, officials, and anyone on the grounds to practice safe social distancing, proper sanitizing, and follow local regulations regarding the COVID-19 Coronavirus.
Since April 25, 2009, Bakersfield Speedway has hosted sixteen West Coast Sprint Car events. Eleven different drivers have claimed victory, led by Davey Pombo with three wins. Chase Johnson won the last Bakersfield show on September 18th and Brody Fuson broke Jace Vander Weerd’s seven year old 1-lap track record with a time of 12.354. A complete Bakersfield series win list is at the bottom of this release.
After winning the February 26th season opener at Kern County, Chase Johnson (Penngrove, CA) sits atop the point standings. Racing the May Motorsports’ #8M Fastenal / Coopers Propane entry, Johnson had broken his track record before settling for second quick in time trials. The versatile driver ran second in his heat race to Ricky Lewis before earning the sixth win of this career. This Saturday, Chase is scheduled to race with the World of Outlaws.
Trent Carter (Terra Bella, CA) ranks second in the chase for the championship. Piloting the family owned #13 Porterville Lock & Safe / Porterville Collision Center Maxim, Carter qualified fourth overall, placed fourth in his heat race, and finished second in the main event. The three-time Santa Maria Sprint Car Champion will be looking for his first USAC victory this Saturday night.
Kyle Edwards (Fountain Valley, CA) sits third in the West Coast point chase. Driving the family owned #39 Safehouse Security / Van Dyne Engineering Triple X, Edwards set the new track record at Kern County and earned the first Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award of his career. The veteran driver ran second to Cody Majors in his heat race and scored fourth in the main event. Kyle will have his sights on his first USAC triumph at Bakersfield Speedway.
Ricky Lewis (Oxnard, CA) is tied for third in the championship point standings. Racing his #41 Physical Medical Consultant / Stensland Racing DRC, Lewis qualified fifth overall, won his heat race, and scored third in a photo finish at Kern County. Ricky will be looking for his first USAC West Coast win before returning to the Midwest.
Brody Fuson (Bakersfield, CA) ranks fifth in the USAC West Coast point chase. Driving Bob and Toni Van Meter’s #51 W.E. / Taylor Backhoe Spike, Fuson was sixth fast in time trials, won his heat race, and scored fifth in the main event. Brody holds the Bakersfield track record and will be looking for his first win in front of his hometown fans.
Currently sitting twelfth in points, Brent Yarnal (Phoenix, AZ) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Tyler Hatzikian (El Segundo, CA), Joey Bishop (Camarillo, CA), and Camie Bell (Bakersfield, CA) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Ryan Timmons, Tanner Boul, Travis Buckley, Hannah Mayhew, Steve Hix, Jarrett Soares, James Herrera, Cody Majors, Jacob Tuttle, Matt Day, and more.
Bakersfield Speedway is located at 5001 North Chester Extension in Bakersfield, California. Adult General Admission Tickets are $20, Senior (65 plus) and Military Tickets are $18, Kids Tickets (6 to 12) are $10, and Children Tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more Bakersfield event information, visit the track’s website at bakersfieldspeedway.com or call 661.393.3373.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series thanks AMSOIL, BR Motorsports, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, FloRacing, Hoosier Racing Tire, Rod End Supply, Wilwood Disc Brakes, 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 on the series, visit usacracing.com and the social media for USAC Racing. You can also find exclusive content at the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
FloRacing.com has live, flag-to-flag coverage of the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series. You can catch the action by subscribing to FloRacing on a monthly or yearly basis to view their huge catalog of live and on-demand auto racing and sporting events.
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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-Jake Swanson, 2018-Austin Liggett, 2019-Tristan Guardino, 2020-NO AWARD, 2021-D.J. Johnson.
BAKERSFIELD USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR TRACK RECORD: Brody Fuson – 12.354 (09/18/21)
BAKERSFIELD USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS: 3-Davey Pombo, 2-Ryan Bernal, 2-Chase Johnson, 2-Troy Rutherford, 1-Danny Faria Jr., 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Ricky Kirkbride, 1-Peter Murphy, 1-Craig Stidham, 1-Ryan Timmons, 1-Richard Vander Weerd.
2022 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS: 1-Chase Johnson.
2022 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Chase Johnson-82, 2. Trent Carter-75, 3. Kyle Edwards-74, --. Ricky Lewis-74, 5. Brody Fuson-67, 6. Ryan Timmons-64, 7. Tanner Boul-58, 8. Travis Buckley-56, 9. Hannah Mayhew-50, 10. Steve Hix-49, 11. Jarrett Soares-46, 12. Brent Yarnal ®-42, 13. James Herrera-40, 14. Joey Bishop ®-38, 15. Tyler Hatzikian ®-37, 16. Cody Majors-33, ---. Jacob Tuttle-33, ---. Matt Day-33, ---. Camie Bell ®-33.
2022 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
February 26: The Dirt Track at KCRP – Bakersfield, CA (Winner: Chase Johnson)
March 12: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA
April 9: TBA
May 21: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
June 4: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
August 13: TBA
August 27: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
September 10: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA
September 24: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
October 15: The Dirt Track at KCRP – Bakersfield, CA (Championship Night)
November 25: Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix / SE)
November 26: TBA (SE)
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TBA = To Be Announced.
SE = Special Event / Non-Points.
This schedule is subject to change.
