Sunday, December 24, 2017

Madera Speedway Releases Schedule For 47th Season Of Racing

Photo Courtesy Jason Wedehase

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (December 24, 2017) – MAVTV-televised Madera Speedway has announced the schedule for its 47th season of competition, as the fastest one-third mile in the west gears up for a busy campaign. The 2017 season saw the RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series average nearly 30 cars per race event while the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series continued to grow in its second season.

The fourth season of MAVTV television coverage at the speedway will expand with the RPM Mortgage Pro Late Models and 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models each getting nine races in 2018. The two divisions headline the season opener for the track on March 10th with the 100 lap RPM race paying $5000 to win while the Jr. Late Models will race for 80 laps. The inaugural round of the Mini Cup vs. Bandolero series will also be on March 10th.

RPM Mortgage Pro Late Models roll back to 80 laps for each of their six $2,000 to win races on April 7th, April 28th, May 26th, June 30th, August 25th, and September 22nd. The shorter races will better fit the TV window while sharing the card with the 80 lap Jr. Late Model races. The July 28th race will be 100 laps and $5000 to win, while the sixth annual Short Track Shootout on October 6th will pay $10,000 to win with a 150 lap feature.

“I feel 2018 will be the strongest year we have ever seen at the Madera Speedway,” Promoter Kenny Shepherd said. “The depth of talent competing in both of our MAVTV series is going to provide fans with some of the best racing in the nation!”

Super Late Models appear at the speedway four times as well with the Pacific Challenge Series presented by PenneyLawyers.com on March 17th and August 11th while the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour visits March 24th and September 29th. The Lucas Oil Modified Series visits Madera twice as well with the Summertime Horsepower Nationals on June 9th paired with North State Modifieds along with racing during the Short Track Shootout October 6th.

The Madera Late Models anchor the local shows with seven points races total. Other points paying divisions at Madera in 2018 will be the Madera Hobby Stocks, Toyota Sedans, and Modified Super Toyotas.

Open wheel traditions continue in 2018 with the Western Winged Super Sprints racing three times, BCRA Midgets four times, and USAC HPD Midgets nearly ten times. Major open wheel races include the Pombo/Sargent Classic in March, Vukovich Classic in May, Gerhardt Classic with three-wide Midgets in July, and the Harvest Classic in September. The popular spec series Legends of the Pacific and the historic Legends of Kearney Bowl will also be staples on the ambitious schedule.

For more information about Madera Racing on MAVTV please visit www.racemadera.com or www.mavtv.com. For more information about RPM Mortgage and to obtain loan information please visit www.rpmwins.com and for more information about 51FIFTY Energy Drink visit www.51fiftyenergydrink.com

Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Thursdays with the 51FIFTY Energy Drink Jr. Late Model Series finale airing December 28th. The show airs at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. PST and is also available on the Lucas Oil Racing TV app.

Madera Speedway 2018 Schedule Celebrating 47 years of Racing!

February 24th - Practice Day and Member sign up, this is open to all cars (set up at 11:00am, track will be hot from 1-5pm)

March 3rd - Practice Day and Member sign up, this is open to all cars (set up at 11:00am, track will be hot from 1-5pm)

March 10th - Madera Speed Fest! Race #1 of the MAVTV televised RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series $5,000 to win 100 Lap main Event (Split 50s), Race #1 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then the final 30 laps), , Toyota Sedans, Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

March 17th - 75 Lap PCS Super Late Model Series , Western Winged Super Sprints, HPD Midgets, MST, 30 Lap Jr Late Model Exhibition race, F4 Beater Cross

March 24th – The Smokey Classic / Spears Southwest Tour, Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks, MST, Toyota Sedans, Legends of the Pacific

March 31st - Pombo/Sargent Classic presented by Allied Storage & Containers, Senior Open Vintage Super Modifieds, BCRA Midgets, USAC Western Midgets, NCMA Sprints, Vintage Super Modifieds, Legends of Kearney Bowl, BCRA Vintage Midgets, the CSS/360 Super Modifieds, and a 30 Lap Jr Late Model Exhibition race

April 7th - The BIG EGG HUNT for the Kids Presented by the Hampton Inn and Suites, Race #2 of the MAVTV televised RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series $2,000 to win 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), Race #2 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then the final 30 laps), MSTs, Toyota Sedans, , Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

April 14th – Closed

April 21st - Closed, NO RACES / The Rusty Wallace Driving Experience

April 28th - $15 Ticket Night! Race #3 of the MAVTV televised $2,000 to win RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series 80 laps ( 50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), Race #3 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), Madera Hobby Stocks, Toyota Sedans, , Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

May 5th - $15 Ticket Night! Vukovich Classic / The BCRA Midgets, NCMA Sprints, CSS/360 Super Modifieds, Legends of Kearney Bowl, Senior Open Vintage Super Modifieds, California Hard Tops, Vintage BCRA, USAC Western Midgets, Legends of the Pacific

May 12th - The Madera Late Model 40 lap race and Jr. Late Model Exhibition 30 Lap Race! Madera Hobby Stocks, plus the Toyota Sedans and Mini Super Toyotas, F4 Beater Cross

May 19th – Closed

May 26th- $15 Ticket Night! Military Tribute Night presented by 51FIFTY ENERGY DRINK (All active and retired military get in the grandstands for FREE!) Race #4 of the MAVTV televised $2,000 to win RPM Mortgage Pro Model Series 80 Laps (50 Laps then a break, then 30 laps), Race #4 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), Toyota Sedans, MST , Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

June 2nd - Closed

June 9th - Lucas Oil Summertime Horsepower Nationals presented by Protect the Harvest & Hoosier Tires! Lucas Oil Modifieds in the Protect the Harvest 75 MAVTV SHOW, North State Modified Tour , USAC HPD Midgets, Legends of Kearney Bowl, CSS 360 Super mods

June 16th – Madera Late Models Series 40 laps, Jr. Late Model Series 30 lap exhibition race, Madera Hobby Stocks, Southwest Truck Series, Toyota Sedans, MSTs, Legends of the Pacific , F4 Beater Cross

June 23rd - Closed

June 30th - Reverend Ron Spencer's Red, White and Blue Classic and BIG FIREWORKS SHOW! !) Race #5 of the MAVTV televised $2,000 to win RPM Mortgage Pro Model Series 80 Laps (50 Laps then a break, then 30 laps), Race #5 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), MST (48 lap main spilt 24’s) , Toyota Sedans (48 lap main, split 24's), Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

July 7th - Gerhardt Classic 100 Lap Three wide start BCRA Midget Race, The Western Winged Super Sprint Series, USAC Western Midgets, NCMA Sprints, CSS/360 Super Modifieds, Vintage BCRA, Legends of Kearney Bowl,

July 14th - Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks, MST, Toyota Sedans, and the Jr, Late Model 30 lap exhibition race

July 21st - Closed

July 28th - Summer Speed Fest $5,000 to win Race #6 of the MAVTV televised RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series 100 laps (split 50’s), Race #6 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), MSTs, Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

August 4th - Children's Hospital Kids Night - Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks, F4 Beater Cross, Toyota Sedans, MST, Jr Late Model 30 lap exhibition race, Southwest Tour Truck Series

August 11th - PCS Super Late Model Series (Pacific Challenge Series), Madera Hobby Stocks, CSS/360 Super Modifieds, USAC HPD Midgets, MST, Legends of the Pacific, F4 Beater Cross

August 18th - Closed

August 25th - Race # 7 of the MAVTV Televised $2,000 to win RPM Mortgage Pro Model Series 80 laps (50 then 30), Race #7 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series , Legends of the Pacific, Toyota Sedans

September 1st - Hampton Inn and Suites Night at the Speedway, Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks, MST's, Toyota Sedans, F4 Beater Cross, and the Jr, Late Model 30 lap exhibition race

September 8th - Closed for the Madera Fair

September 14th - 46th Annual Harvest Classic Night #1 presented by ($5 Ticket Night!) for everyone on night one. Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks, F4 Beater Cross , MST, Toyota Sedans, USAC Western Midgets and Modified Truck Pulls!

September 15th - 46th Annual Harvest Classic presented by Midland Tractor and John Deere! The Western Winged Super Sprint Series, BCRA Midgets, USAC Western Midgets, NCMA Sprints, CSS/360 Super Modifieds, Legends of Kearney Bowl, California Hard Tops, Plus the Blown, Injected multi engine Pulling Tractors!

September 22nd - Race #8 of the MAVTV televised $2,000 to win RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then 30), Race #8 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, the 30 laps), MST, Toyota Sedans, Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

September 29th – Spears SRL Southwest Tour 125, the USAC Western Midgets, CSS/360 Super Modifieds, Legends of the Pacific, Madera Hobby Stocks, and the Legends of Kearney Bowl

October 5th -Practice for the RPM Mortgage Short Track "Best of the West" $10,000.00 to win Shootout Event open to Lucas Oil Modifieds, Late Models, Jr. Late Models, and the Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

October 6th - 150 Lap $10,000.00 to WIN SHORT TRACK SHOOTOUT for the MAVTV televised RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series 150 laps! (race #9 of the televised championship), Lucas Oil Modifieds 75 lap TV race! Race #9 of the 80 lap 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series and the Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

October 13th - Closed, NO RACES

October 20th - 11th Annual Pumpkin Smash Halloween Bash and Blow Up and Monster Trucks!, Madera Hobby Stocks, MST's, Toyota Sedans, $2,000 to Win 200 lap Enduro, the Extreme Barrel Racing Series, a Trick or Treat thru the Pits and on Track PUMPKIN SMASH for the KIDS!

October 27th - Closed

November 10th - 2018 Championship Awards Banquet

Friday, December 22, 2017

Inaugural Bakersfield Indoor Kart Nationals Announced for January



BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA (December 22, 2017) – The inaugural Bakersfield Indoor Kart Nationals has been announced for January 19th-20th with two complete days of Outlaw Kart, Clone kart, and Mini Dwarf racing, culminating in a $1000 to win Open Outlaw feature. All told six different divisions will compete at the Bakersfield Karting Experience 1/10th mile dirt oval with complete features each night. Open Outlaw Karts, Junior and Senior Mini Dwarfs, and Beginner Box Stock make up the Friday card while Open Outlaw Karts, Clones, and Box Stock are scheduled for Saturday night.

The newly opened Bakersfield Karting Experience is a state of the art entertainment venue and the first indoor dirt karting oval with karts rented to the public. The facility also boasts RC car racing, golf simulator, arcade games, and Smokey’s Grill & Pub. BKE is open to the public 7 days a week with karts available for rent for a single race or for group outings.

Racing action began at BKE in the fall with each of the indoor nationals divisions getting their taste of the facility. Additional Open Outlaw Kart races are also scheduled on December 29th, February 16th, and March 2nd as part of a five event series.

Open Outlaw Karts have been a staple of dirt racing and driver development in California for nearly three decades with many top drivers getting their start in the division. The winged machines now have a home facility in the racing-centric community of Bakersfield.

$6000 in posted awards should draw a large contingent of racers from across California. Pit passes will be priced at $20 each night with reserved pit spaces available inside the building while the remaining teams will pit outside. A pre-entry form with more competitor information is available by visiting the Bakersfield Karting Experience Facebook page or at http://www.norcalmedia.com/assets/BKE2018Nationalsentryform.pdf

General admission tickets will be $10 for Friday night and $15 on Saturday night.

For more information, you can visit Bakersfield Karting Experience online at www.BakersfieldKE.com

Sponsorship and media inquiries can be directed to Jeff Thielscher at (661) 428-0911

2018 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Schedule Update



Via SRL Media

Bakersfield, CA – The 2018 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series was announced last week, which included the $10,000 to win May 5th race at The Bullring at LVMS, thanks to longtime series sponsor Retro Custom Metals.

Today, the series is proud to announce that David “Homie” Mulcahy, owner of Retro Custom Metals, has stepped up even more for 2018, by paying $10,000 to win the 2018 Season Finale on November 17th at the Bullring, as well.

“We are thrilled to have series sponsors wanting to do more and more each year for our race teams,” stated the SRL’s Brian Olsen. “After releasing the 2018 schedule last week, “Homie” called and said that he wanted to make the season finale special and offered to make the winner’s purse for the race $10,000. That gives us two $10,000 win races on our schedule for ‘18, which is the first time in series history that we’ve been able to have that.”

Retro Custom Metals is a leader in the architectural sheet metal industry, specializing in custom copper, zinc, and steel roofing and interior & exterior accents for residents or business.

Another update to the 2018 schedule is the potential July 14th race date. Currently there are three tentative race dates, in which one or two will be filled to solidify the 2018 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series schedule.

The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series opens its season on March 24th at the Madera Speedway.

For more information, go to www.SRLSouthwestTour.com.

About SPEARS MANUFACTURING: Spears Manufacturing is a world leader in plastic piping products. SPEARS’ maintains over one million square feet of manufacturing facilities in four states and nine distribution centers across the USA for worldwide distribution. For more information go to http://www.spearsmfg.com. 



About the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series:
Celebrating its eighteenth season in 2018, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. http://www.srlsouthwesttour.com. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.

2018 Schedule of Events

February 3rd – WINTER SHOWDOWN Kern County Raceway - Bakersfield, CA
March 24th - Madera Speedway
April 14th – Kern County Raceway
May 5th - The Bullring at LVMS
June 9th - Tentative
July 14th or 21st - Tentative
August 18th - Stockton Speedway
September 29th - Madera Speedway
October 27th – Kern County Raceway
November 17th- The Bullring at Las Vegas

Friday, December 15, 2017

2018 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Schedule Announced


Via SRL PR

Bakersfield, CA –The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is proud to announce its schedule of events for 2018. The schedule will kick off in a big way, with the $30,000 to win Winter Showdown at Kern County Raceway on February 2nd and 3rd. The Winter Showdown will be a non-points event and will feature Late Models and Super Stocks on opening night. The 2018 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series point’s championship will begin on March 24th at Madera Speedway and end at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on November 17th.

“The trend in the 2018 schedule is to try to limit the travel for the teams, after a pretty extensive travel schedule the last few seasons,” stated the SRL’s Brian Olsen. “We have two dates left as ‘Tentative’ at this point, but we will fill one, if not both dates very soon.”

A couple of high lights at this point include a big payout at the Bullring, and a throw back for the second Kern date.

“With the support of our contingency sponsors, we’re able to continue the “Winner’s Bonus” for 2018, which pays a minimum of $5,000 to the winner of each race,” continued Olsen. “Retro Custom Metals has stepped up once again for the series, and will pay $10,000 to win at the spring event at the Bullring on May 5th.”

“Finally, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series will be part of the return of the “October Classic” at Kern County Raceway the weekend of October 27th. The event will feature a full weekend of competition, including the K&N Pro Series.” Olsen concluded.

The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series will make its two annual stops at Kern County Raceway (April 14th and October 27th) and The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (May 5th and November 17th). The series will also visit Madera Speedway twice in 2018 (March 24th and September 29th) and will return to the series’ roots by competing at Stockton Speedway in 2018 (August 18th).

For the seventh consecutive year, Spears Manufacturing, the world leader in plastic piping products, will support the “SPEARS Frequent Flyer Program” which awards teams a minimum of $1,000 for starting a SPEARS Southwest Tour Series main event after they have competed in three consecutive series races.

Celebrating its eighteenth championship season, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series will begin the 2018 season with the Winter Showdown on February 2nd and 3rd, and will close out its championship at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on November 17th.

For more information, go to www.srlsouthwesttour.com.

About SPEARS MANUFACTURING: Spears Manufacturing is a world leader in plastic piping products. SPEARS’ maintains over one million square feet of manufacturing facilities in four states and nine distribution centers across the USA for worldwide distribution. For more information go to http://www.spearsmfg.com. 



About the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series:
Celebrating its eighteenth season in 2018, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. http://www.srlsouthwesttour.com. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.

2018 Schedule of Events

February 2nd & 3rd – WINTER SHOWDOWN
March 24th - Madera Speedway
April 14th – Kern County Raceway
May 5th - The Bullring at LVMS
June 9th – To Be Announced
July 21st – To Be Announced
August 18th - Stockton Speedway
September 29th - Madera Speedway
October 27th – Kern County Raceway
November 17th- The Bullring at Las Vegas

Monday, December 11, 2017

2018 Schedule Announced For NASCAR K&N Pro Series West



DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR K&N Pro Series schedule annually features a wide mix of venues – from historic bullrings and half-mile short tracks to fast speedways and technical road-courses – designed to provide a platform for the sport’s top rising young talent to make their impact.

With the announcement of the 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West schedule, add one more variable: Dirt.

Next year’s 15-race schedule will include a stop on Thursday, Sept 13 to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. The race will be part of the weekend that kicks off the 2018 playoffs for NASCAR’s three national series at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and the half-mile clay oval promises to further test the series’ stars.

It will be the series’ first race on dirt since 1979 at Ascot Park in Gardena, Calif.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West opens the season and crown the champion at Kern County Raceway Park, the state-of-the-art, high speed half-mile that has been a staple of the series since it opened in 2013. The green flag on 2018 will be Thursday, March 15 and will be a prelude to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series / NASCAR XFINITY Series weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. The champion will be crowned on Saturday, Oct. 27.

NASCAR Next driver Todd Gilliland celebrated his second straight K&N Pro Series West title this past fall at Kern.

“The NASCAR K&N Pro Series features a strong roster of race tracks designed to bring out the best in the drivers and teams,” said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “Many of the tracks have historic ties to the West Series, and we’re excited about the new venues that have been added to the schedule. The fans are going to get a fantastic opportunity to watch these drivers battle it out over the season.”

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series will have two combination events that feature the East and West together. The first will be at the traditional crossover event at Iowa Speedway on Friday, July 27, as part of the NASCAR XFINITY Series weekend. The second will be a brand-new event at Illinois’ Gateway Motorsports Park on Friday, Aug. 24. Last year, NASCAR announced changes to the scoring format for the two combination races, allowing drivers to compete for both series’ championships, and Gilliland came within eight points of accomplishing that historic feat.

Other highlights of the 2018 schedule include:

• The K&N Pro Series West will run twin 100-lap championship events at Tucson Speedway. The .375-mile track will host the series on Saturday, May 5.

• Success on short tracks will again go a long way toward deciding the tile. In addition to Tucson, the series will run at the quarter-mile Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, California, on Saturday, May 19; Colorado National Speedway (.375-mile) in Erie, Colorado, on Saturday, June 9; Douglas County Speedway (.375-mile) in Roseburg, Oregon on Saturday, June 30; Idaho’s Meridian Speedway (quarter-mile) on Saturday, Sept. 29; and All American Speedway (third-mile) in Roseville, California, on Saturday, Oct. 13.

• Evergreen Speedway, which has hosted 54 West races since 1967, will anchor the summer swing between Iowa and Gateway. The series visits the .625-mile track on Saturday, Aug. 11. The series will make its first trip of the season to Washington state on Sunday, July 15 at the half-mile Spokane County Raceway.

• The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will again an integral part of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series road-course weekend at California’s Sonoma Raceway with its race on Saturday, June 23.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series broadcast schedule on NBCSN will be announced at a later date.

2018 NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES WEST SCHEDULE
Date Track Location
15-Mar Kern County Raceway Park Bakersfield, Calif.
5-May Tucson Speedway* Tucson, Ariz.
19-May Orange Show Speedway San Bernardino, Calif.
9-Jun Colorado National Speedway Dacona, Colo.
23-Jun Sonoma Raceway Sonoma, Calif.
30-Jun Douglas County Speedway Roseburg, Ore.
15-Jul Spokane County Raceway Airway Heights, Wash.
27-Jul Iowa Speedway** Newtown, Iowa
11-Aug Evergreen Speedway Monroe, Wash.
24-Aug Gateway Motorsports Park** Madison, Ill.
13-Sep Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track Las Vegas, Nev.
29-Sep Meridian Speedway Meridian, Idaho
13-Oct All American Speedway Roseville, Calif.
27-Oct Kern County Raceway Park Bakersfield, Calif.
*100-lap twin features
**Combination event with NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Friday, December 8, 2017

Dreams Realized For Champions From Across The Globe



CHARLOTTE, N.C. – For a 17-year-old, Todd Gilliland was in a familiar situation when he took the stage at the Charlotte Convention Center at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Friday night.

He had, after all, done this all before. Just one year ago.

"Ever since I was little, all I wanted to do was drive a race car," said Gilliland. "When I got that chance to do that for Bill McAnally Racing, I really wanted to win him a championship. And now I'm here giving my speech for my second year in a row; 2017 has been a dream season."

Gilliland wasn’t the only familiar face honored at the NASCAR Home Tracks Awards, officially receiving their NASCAR championship rings and trophies. Doug Coby received the hardware for his fifth NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship, Lee Pulliam picked up his fourth NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship trophy, and Mexico’s Abraham Calderón took home his second NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series title trophy.

They were joined by first-time champions Harrison Burton (NASCAR K&N Pro Series East), Alon Day (NASCAR Whelen Euro Series) and Alex Labbe (NASCAR Pinty’s Series).

Whether they came from Israel and Quebec or North Carolina and Virginia, there was a common theme that was echoed throughout the night of celebration.

Dreams realized. And the support behind chasing the drivers chasing them.

“This season has created so many memories that will stay with me my whole life,” said Burton. “So much has gone into winning this championship, and it’s awesome to just slow down and celebrate it with my team, friends and family.”

"What a journey," said Day. "To end up here tonight as a NASCAR champion. Who would have thought an unknown driver from a small country in the Middle East would one day wind up being a NASCAR champion. That achievement never would have been reached without the help of so many people."

It was a night that celebrated the future of NASCAR and toasted the historic achievements of NASCAR veterans.

A year after becoming the youngest champion in NASCAR touring or national series history, Gilliland became the first driver to win back-to-back NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championships since Mike Duncan in 2004-05. He nearly became the first driver to sweep the K&N Pro Series East and West titles, but Burton overcame an eight-point gap by winning the East season finale. In the process, he broke Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano’s record as the youngest champion in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East history.

Both Gilliland and Burton also ran several NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races in 2017 as they look to move up the racing ladder.

Canadian Labbe is also eying a move up, but first he had unfinished business in Canada. After a disappointing end to 2016, the 24-year-old bounced back with a decisive 2017 campaign that saw him finish sixth or better in all but the finale en route to the Pinty’s Series title – the national stock car racing championship in Canada.

"It means a lot -- I've been working on it for a long, long time," said Labbe. "To finally get that championship, to get the trophy at the end of the year: It's a dream. It's something that I'm going to have with me all my life."

Likewise, Calderón took home his country’s stock car national championship. While he won his first title in 2014 without winning a race, he had a series-high five victories this year, including four in a six-race summer stretch to take command of the series lead.

"For me and my team, it's something huge -- it means a lot -- to be here celebrating our second NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series championship. It's something we'll never forget," said Calderón. "I remember the last race in Mexico City, it was a stunning event. I'd like to explain with words what it felt like crossing the finish line but I cannot. It's something that just flows through your body and makes you feel alive. It was just really, really amazing."

Day finished second in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in 2015 and third in 2016 before a magical run in 2017. He made his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup debut at Sonoma, and then won three of the final four races of the Whelen Euro season to edge two-time champion Anthony Kumpen.

For Coby, though, the year started like a nightmare. He was involved in wrecks in his first two races, and four races into the season he was still 51 points out of the championship lead. The Milford, Connecticut, driver didn’t mind that everybody was looking to knock him off the perch.

“I’d rather be the guy with the bull’s eye on his back than the one swinging at it,” said Coby, who scored top fives in 10 of the last 12 races to earn his fourth straight title and fifth in the last six years.

Coby joined NASCAR Hall of Famers Jerry Cook and Richie Evans, NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Mike Stefanik along with Tony Hirschman Jr., as the only drivers in NASCAR Modified history with five or more titles.

"I'm just racing against who I'm racing against and doing thing best I can do in this era,” Coby said.

"It's a testament to what you’ve done in the sport,” Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer, told Coby. “When you look back at the series and who can represent the sport the best, (the Modifieds are) where legends are made. You’ve heard Doug talk about just concentrating on the present. But it’s fitting we're here in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. With five championships, you're well on your way to an historic career."

Likewise, Pulliam moved closer to one of short track’s indelible records.

Piling up 155 Late Model wins in 290 starts since 2011, the North Carolina native tied Philip Morris for second most national titles. He’s one behind NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee, the late Larry Phillips. Phillips won five titles between 1989-96.

"Before you become legendary, you've got to be successful," Helton told Pulliam. "I think you've laid the foundation on becoming one of the legends in NASCAR."

Pulliam won 14 times at Myrtle Beach Speedway on his way to the track and South Carolina titles. He finished with 19 wins, 36 top fives and 43 top 10s in 45 starts at eight different tracks across the southeast.

"You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but it gets me every time," said Pulliam. "I told my wife in 2017, I was going as hard as I can to win national championship number four. As Michelangelo once said, the greatest danger for most of us is not from setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low and hitting our mark.

"Chasing a national championship requires help and sacrifice from so many people. Many nights we saw the sun come up, with no sleep. My guys never gave up. We fought, clawed and battled as a team to accomplish this. This championship was won by people banding together and not stopping until the goal was accomplished."

Pulliam noted that at 29 years old, he feels he has plenty of racing left.

"And I think I've got more titles in me," said Pulliam.

The championship car owners and crew chiefs were also recognized Friday night.

There were plenty of other trophies handed out, too.

Missouri’s Cody Jolly (Division II), Ontario's Eric Yorke (Division III), Michigan's Cole Roelofs (Division IV) and Iowa's Dustin Thompson (Division V) joined Pulliam in receiving their NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national titles. The night got underway with the awarding of 34 U.S. state and Canadian province championships, along with 59 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division I track champion trophies.

In addition to the championship awards, each series rookie of the year was honored. Calvin Carroll (NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), Derek Kraus (NASCAR K&N Pro Series West) and Chase Purdy (NASCAR K&N Pro Series East) were the Sunoco Rookies of the Year in their respective series; Adam Martin (NASCAR Pinty's Series) and Mitch Keeter (NASCAR Whelen All-American Series) received their Josten’s Rookie of the Year for their series; and Stienes Longin was awarded the Junior "Jerome Sarran" Trophy by the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series as the series' top young driver. Enrique Baca was the top rookie in the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series.

Ryan Vargas, another rising star who is moving from Late Models in California to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East next year as part of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity and Rev Racing, won the Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award for the second straight year. The award is given to the top performing minority or female driver in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.

Contact:
Jason Christley
NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications
(386) 310-6094
jchristley@nascar.com

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Balanced Pavement/Dirt Mix The Ingredient For 2018 USAC Silver Crown Schedule


By: Richie Murray - USAC Media

Indianapolis, Indiana.........A helping of six pavement and five dirt races make up a balanced USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series schedule for the 2018 season, which marks the series' return to the state of Wisconsin for the first time since 2011.

The Silver Crown cars will make their debut appearance on the half-mile, paved Madison International Speedway on June 29 for the "Cheesemakers 100." While it's the big cars' first go at the Oregon, Wisconsin joint, USAC's National Sprint and Midget series did make a visit to the track in 1997 when Dave Steele (Sprint) and Jimmy McCune (Midget) captured their respective ends of the doubleheader. Bobby East won Silver Crown's last race in the Badger State at the Milwaukee Mile six years ago.

Madison is the lone addition to a schedule that features the most pavement races on the series' card since 2007. Of those six paved races, the largest in terms of size on the schedule is the season-opening "Phoenix Copper Cup" April 7 on Arizona's one-mile ISM Raceway (formerly known as Phoenix International Raceway). May brings two more to the hardtop on the 4th at Ohio's Toledo Speedway for the "Rollie Beale Classic" and to Brownsburg, Indiana and Lucas Oil Raceway for the "Carb Night Classic" on the 25th. The prestigious "Joe James-Pat O'Connor Memorial," a race with origins that date to 1953, is back on the high banks of Salem (Ind.) Speedway on August 11. Lucas Oil Raceway's "Rich Vogler Classic" closes out the pavement set of the season on September 8.

The dirt schedule is solidified with a lineup of some of the most legendary and historic racetracks in the sport. The "Sumar Classic" comes to the half-mile Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track on April 29. The 63rd running of the "Hoosier Hundred" on May 24 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds precedes the following night's pavement stop at Lucas Oil Raceway, marking just the fifth occurrence of dirt and pavement Silver Crown races taking place within a 24-hour span.

Deep fried corn dogs and elephant ears signal the State Fair season to some, but to race fans, it means Silver Crown racing on two of the most-storied one-mile dirt ovals in the history of auto racing. First up is the "Bettenhausen 100" at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield where racing's daredevils have competed for over a century. Two weeks later, on Labor Day weekend September 2, the call of the "Magic Mile" beckons for the "Ted Horn 100" on the scenic Du Quoin State Fairgrounds mile.

On 14 occasions, Ohio's Eldora Speedway has served in its role as the Silver Crown season-ender. The 2018 season will carry on that tradition with the 37th running of the "4-Crown Nationals" on September 22, which provides the only opportunity for fans to witness all three of USAC's national divisions, plus the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions, at one event.

2018 USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMP CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
Apr 7: **(P) ISM Raceway (Phoenix, AZ)
Apr 29: (D) Terre Haute Action Track (Terre Haute, IN)
May 4: (P) Toledo Speedway (Toledo, OH)
May 24: (D) Indiana State Fairgrounds (Indianapolis, IN)
May 25: (P) Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis (Brownsburg, IN)
Jun 29: (P) Madison International Speedway (Oregon, WI)
Aug 11: (P) Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery (Salem, IN)
Aug 18: **(D) Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield, IL)
Sep 2: (D) Du Quoin State Fairgrounds (Du Quoin, IL)
Sep 8: (P) Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis (Brownsburg, IN)
Sep 22: (D) Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH)
------------------------------
** represents a daytime event.
(D) represents an event at a dirt track.
(P) represents an event at a pavement track.

New Title Sponsor, New Venues Ring In Recharges USAC National Midget Series In 2018


By: Richie Murray - USAC Media

Indianapolis, Indiana.........A brand new title sponsor and a pair of new venues amongst a slate of popular series mainstays bring an invigorated USAC National Midget scene in 2018 with 23 events, 21 venues and nine states occupying the USAC P1 Insurance Midget National Championship schedule.

The series has partnered with an innovative technology launching in January 2018 that rewards good drivers with great rates for car insurance, which will go hand-in-hand with benefits to the series and racers as a whole.

"P1 is the first insurance company to rate your driving skills on how you drive using smart phone technology," USAC CEO Kevin Miller explained. "P1 rewards great drivers and also rewards our great drivers at USAC with incentives that will enhance purses and point funds in addition to contributing to individual driver sponsorships based on activations within their app. USAC will be promoting P1 throughout the year to a vast fan and competitor base to increase activation. This program has the ability to dramatically impact the direction of USAC circle track dirt racing."

After a memorable 2017 season in which the deepest field of full-time competitors in years took part in countless memorable moments from the east to the west, race-after-race, the stage is set for another year of constant thrills. Those points include two venues serving as the host of USAC Midget racing for the first time.

Meeker, Oklahoma's Red Dirt Raceway begins a five-race, four-state central states invasion in mid-July at "Tuesday Night Thunder" on the 10th. The race will be the first USAC National Midget event held in the state of Oklahoma since an Oklahoma City Sports Arena doubleheader in February of 1975 won by John Batts and Sleepy Tripp.

Red Dirt is followed up by the annual "Chad McDaniel Memorial" at Solomon Valley Raceway in Beloit, Kansas on July 11. After a night off, the Midgets double-hit Jefferson County Speedway in Fairbury, Nebraska for two consecutive nights at the 1/5-mile oval. Missouri's Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex rounds out the busy week with its initial appearance on the schedule and the first race for the series in the "Show Me State" since 2006.

The remainder of the schedule holds steady with familiar and popular stops along the tour. The season opens indoors under the roof of the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin for the "Shamrock Classic" on March 10. April's docket brings on the "Kokomo Grand Prix" at Indiana's Kokomo Speedway on April 13 and 14.

The 14th edition of the six-race "Indiana Midget Week" series starts off at Montpelier Motor Speedway on May 29, followed by five successive events at Gas City I-69 Speedway (May 30), Lincoln Park Speedway (May 31), Bloomington Speedway (June 1), Lawrenceburg Speedway (June 2) and Kokomo Speedway (June 3).

Concurrent with the turning of the calendar to August is the start of Pennsylvania Midget Week which begins August 1 at Path Valley Speedway Park with subsequent stops at Linda's Speedway (August 2), Lanco's Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway (August 3) and BAPS Motor Speedway - formerly known as Susquehanna - on August 4.

The USAC Midgets' 37th annual run at the "4-Crown Nationals" at Rossburg, Ohio's Eldora Speedway finishes out the Midwest part of the schedule on September 22.

"Go west," USAC Midget teams say in the month of November when the travel guide shows the next stop as the "November Classic" on the 17th at California's Bakersfield Speedway for the penultimate round of points-paying races. The conclusion of the 2018 points season takes place at Ventura (Calif.) Raceway on Thanksgiving night, November 22, for one of the most legendary races in dirt track racing, the 78th running of the "Turkey Night Grand Prix."

The now traditional late-season 55-lap romp at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, named in honor of the late USAC car owner Junior Knepper, is slated for December 14. Meanwhile, the date and venue for the "Jason Leffler Memorial" is still to be determined.

2018 USAC P1 INSURANCE MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Mar 10: Southern Illinois Center (Du Quoin, IL)
Apr 13: Kokomo Speedway (Kokomo, IN)
Apr 14: Kokomo Speedway (Kokomo, IN)
May 29: (i) Montpelier Motor Speedway (Montpelier, IN)
May 30: (i) Gas City I-69 Speedway (Gas City, IN)
May 31: (i) Lincoln Park Speedway (Putnamville, IN)
Jun 1: (i) Bloomington Speedway (Bloomington, IN)
Jun 2: (i) Lawrenceburg Speedway (Lawrenceburg, IN)
Jun 3: (i) Kokomo Speedway (Kokomo, IN)
Jul 10: Red Dirt Raceway (Meeker, OK)
Jul 11: Solomon Valley Raceway (Beloit, KS)
Jul 13: Jefferson County Speedway (Fairbury, NE)
Jul 14: Jefferson County Speedway (Fairbury, NE)
Jul 15: Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex (Sweet Springs, MO)
Aug 1: (P) Path Valley Speedway Park (Spring Run, PA)
Aug 2: (P) Linda's Speedway (Jonestown, PA)
Aug 3: (P) Lanco's Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway (Newmanstown, PA)
Aug 4: (P) BAPS Motor Speedway (York Haven, PA)
Sep 22: Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH)
Nov 17: (W) Bakersfield Speedway (Bakersfield, CA)
Nov 22: (W) Ventura Raceway (Ventura, CA)
Dec 14: (SE) Southern Illinois Center (Du Quoin, IL)
TBA: "Jason Leffler Memorial"
-------------------------------------
(i) represents an Indiana Midget Week event.
(P) represents a Pennsylvania Midget Week event.
(W) represents an event with the USAC Light Up the World Beverages Western States Midgets.
(SE) represents a non-points special event.

USAC Sprints Slated For 45 Events From Coast-To-Coast In 2018



By: Richie Murray - USAC Media

Indianapolis, Indiana.........Following a year of renaissance with a new breed of drivers ascending to the top of the standings, the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship reloads for a 2018 schedule that includes 45 events between the months of February and November.

Leading off the schedule once again for the ninth-straight season is "Winter Dirt Games" at Ocala, Florida's Bubba Raceway Park on February 15-16-17. The wintertime defroster begins a season that carries with it a number of tried and true tour staples including Eastern Storm and Indiana Sprint Week.

Eastern Storm expands to six races for the first time with annual Pennsylvania dates at Grandview (June 14), Williams Grove (June 15), Port Royal (June 16) and BAPS Motor Speedway (June 17). Furthermore, for the initial time, three different states will be represented in Eastern Storm with the 12th edition entering first-time USAC venues in New Jersey's Bridgeport Speedway on June 18 and New York's Weedsport Speedway on June 19.

The 31st running of Indiana Sprint Week begins July 20 at a yet-to-be-announced venue, followed by six more events throughout the Hoosier state as the trail hits midsummer: Kokomo (July 21), Lawrenceburg (July 22), Terre Haute (July 25), Lincoln Park (July 26), Bloomington (July 27) and Tri-State (July 28).

A slew of benchmark Indiana tracks dot the landscape throughout the season in addition to its July "Indiana Sprint Week" slots. Kokomo Speedway's non-points, special event #GYATK Night on August 22 leads into three nights of "Sprint Car Smackdown" on August 23-24-25. The famed Terre Haute Action Track welcomes the series to the fast and racy Wabash Valley Fairgrounds dirt oval for the 48th running of the "Tony Hulman Classic" on May 23, the "Jim Hurtubise Classic" on September 14 and the newly-christened "Wabash Clash" on October 12.

Lawrenceburg opens the Midwest portion of the season with its traditional Springtime welcome on March 31 and closes out the month of September with the "Fall Nationals" on September 29. Bloomington's April 27 race begins the first doubleheader USAC Sprint weekend of the season, followed by Tri-State Speedway's "Spring Showdown" on April 28 in Haubstadt, Indiana and co-sanctioned by the Midwest Sprint Car Series. USAC and MSCS collaborate once again at Tri-State on September 15th's "Haubstadt Hustler." Just prior to "Indiana Sprint Week," competitors tackle their last tune-up before the commencing of "Indiana Sprint Week" in the Bill Gardner Sprintacular on July 6.

Two additions to the schedule over the past couple seasons, Montpelier Motor Speedway and Plymouth Speedway, serve up an enticing dose of USAC Sprint Car action on April 21 and May 5, respectively.

The famed half-mile Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio will host three USAC Sprint Car appearances in 2018 with two consecutive nights at #LetsRaceTwo with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Cars on May 11-12 and the 37th "4-Crown Nationals" on September 22.

Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Illinois returns to the USAC Sprint Car fold for the first time since 2006 on May 18. Just across the Mississippi River one night later on May 19, Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Missouri is back as a first-time USAC venue after last year's wash out.

The series ventures to the Cornhusker state on June 8 for its second stop in as many years at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska on June 8 before heading to the legendary Knoxville Raceway in Iowa on June 9. Making its return for the first time in 12 years is Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Missouri on October 5, which kicks off a double-header weekend in the Heartland that concludes with a trip to the half-mile Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas on October 6.

As the frigid temps converge on much of the country in the month of November, the series migrates west for warmer climes as well as two of the most-renowned races in the country: the 51st "Western World Championships" at Arizona Speedway on November 2-3 and the 23rd annual "Oval Nationals" on November 8-9-10 at Perris Auto Speedway in southern California.

2018 USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Feb 15: Bubba Raceway Park (Ocala, FL)
Feb 16: Bubba Raceway Park (Ocala, FL)
Feb 17: Bubba Raceway Park (Ocala, FL)
Mar 31: Lawrenceburg Speedway (Lawrenceburg, IN)
Apr 21: Montpelier Motor Speedway (Montpelier, IN)
Apr 27: Bloomington Speedway (Bloomington, IN)
Apr 28: (M) Tri-State Speedway (Haubstadt, IN)
May 5: Plymouth Speedway (Plymouth, IN)
May 11: Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH)
May 12: Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH)
May 18: Tri-City Speedway (Granite City, IL)
May 19: Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (Pevely, MO)
May 23: Terre Haute Action Track (Terre Haute, IN)
Jun 8: I-80 Speedway (Greenwood, NE)
Jun 9: Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA)
Jun 14: (E) Grandview Speedway (Bechtelsville, PA)
Jun 15: (E) Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, PA)
Jun 16: (E) Port Royal Speedway (Port Royal, PA)
Jun 17: (E) BAPS Motor Speedway (York Haven, PA)
Jun 18: (E) Bridgeport Speedway (Swedesboro, NJ)
Jun 19: (E) Weedsport Speedway (Weedsport, NY)
Jul 6: Lincoln Park Speedway (Putnamville, IN)
Jul 20: (i) 31st Indiana Sprint Week Opener
Jul 21: (i) Kokomo Speedway (Kokomo, IN)
Jul 22: (i) Lawrenceburg Speedway (Lawrenceburg, IN)
Jul 25: (i) Terre Haute Action Track (Terre Haute, IN)
Jul 26: (i) Lincoln Park Speedway (Putnamville, IN)
Jul 27: (i) Bloomington Speedway (Bloomington, IN)
Jul 28: (i) Tri-State Speedway (Haubstadt, IN)
Aug 22: (SE) Kokomo Speedway (Kokomo, IN)
Aug 23: Kokomo Speedway (Kokomo, IN)
Aug 24: Kokomo Speedway (Kokomo, IN)
Aug 25: Kokomo Speedway (Kokomo, IN)
Sep 14: Terre Haute Action Track (Terre Haute, IN)
Sep 15: (M) Tri-State Speedway (Haubstadt, IN)
Sep 22: Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH)
Sep 29: Lawrenceburg Speedway (Lawrenceburg, IN)
Oct 5: Lake Ozark Speedway (Eldon, MO)
Oct 6: Lakeside Speedway (Kansas City, KS)
Oct 12: Terre Haute Action Track (Terre Haute, IN)
Nov 2: (C) Arizona Speedway (San Tan Valley, AZ)
Nov 3: (C) Arizona Speedway (San Tan Valley, AZ)
Nov 8: (C) Perris Auto Speedway (Perris, CA)
Nov 9: (C) Perris Auto Speedway (Perris, CA)
Nov 10: (C) Perris Auto Speedway (Perris, CA)
----------------------------------
(M) represents an event co-sanctioned by the Midwest Sprint Car Series.
(E) represents an Eastern Storm event.
(i) represents an Indiana Sprint Week event.
(SE) represents a non-points special event.
(C) represents an event with the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Cars.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Business as Usual at Kern County Raceway



Everything at Kern County Raceway is business as usual even though it has been listed for sale.

"The track is available for sale, if the right situation presents itself. But that doesn't mean the days are numbered at KCRP, it simply means it's available for sale while we continue to operate as we always have." stated GM, Larry Collins.

Track owners Virgie Beard and Rusty Risi will sell if the right group or individual makes a proper offer, and agrees to continue to operate the raceway.

"In business, everything is for sale if the right offer presents itself“, stated Risi.

Virgie Beard added, “We can't be more pleased with the successes of the track in 2017 and our staff is hard at work building an even better 2018."

The Kern County Raceway management and staff will continue as usual with the operation of the three racing venues that are part of KCRP, the paved half mile, the 1/3 mile dirt track and its motocross track.

Highlights of the upcoming 2018 season already include the "Winter Showdown" which has drawn Kyle Busch back for the February 3rd event. Kevin Harvick will compete at KCRP for the first time on March 15th and the NARC King of the West Sprint Car Series will return to the KCRP Dirt Track for two dates in 2018.

A complete schedule of events for 2018 will be released soon.

For more information regarding the 2018 race season at Kern County Raceway, go to www.kernraceway.com

Steve Hughes
Media & Marketing Director
Kern County Raceway
661-889-4950 Cell
661-835-1264 Office
shughes@kernraceway.com

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

The 4th Annual Winter Showdown - News And Notes

2018 winter logo

Via SRL PR

NEWS AND NOTES:

WINTER SHOWDOWN SCHEDULE – The 2018 Winter Showdown detailed schedule of events has been released.
Link - http://www.srlsouthwesttour.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2018-WS-Schedule-11.29.17.pdf

WINTER SHOWDOWN ENTRY – Order in which entries are received will determine the order teams will enter tech inspection on Thursday at the Showdown.

Entry Link - http://www.srlsouthwesttour.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Entry-2018-Winter-Showdown-legal-11.28.17-1.pdf

TIRES – For the 2018 Winter Showdown, teams will be allowed to scuff both sets of tires they will have in their pit for the 300 lap event. Teams will start Saturday’s Winter Showdown 300 on their qualifying tires. Maximum three set for the 300 laps. The Hoosier 3035 lefts and 3045 rights will be used in 2018.

CONTROLLED PIT STOPS – Once again, ‘Controlled Pit Stops’ will be utilized for the Winter Showdown.

WINTER SHOWDOWN TESTING POLICY – Teams will only be allowed two test days from December 1st, 2017 to January 31st, 2018 at Kern County Raceway. To schedule testing, contact Kern County Raceway at 661-835-1264.

LATE MODELS and SUPER STOCKS – Kern County Raceway Late Models and Super Stocks have been added to the 2018 Winter Showdown schedule of events, with both divisions competing Friday night, February 2nd after Winter Showdown pole qualifying.

WINTER SHOWDOWN TICKETS ON SALE – Tickets for the “Fourth Annual Winter Showdown” will go on sale this Friday, December 1st at 10am, at www.KernRaceway.com.

WINTER SHOWDOWN HOST HOTELS – Here is the list of Host Hotels for the 2018 Winter Showdown - http://www.srlsouthwesttour.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2018-Winter-Showdown-Host-Hotels.pdf

OTHER NOTES:

2017 CHAMPIONSHIP BANQUET – On Saturday afternoon, January 20th, the Top Ten drivers in the 2017 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Championship will be honored at Buck Owens Crystal Palace. For the first time ever, the top drivers from Kern County Raceway’s 2017 season will also be honored.

OPEN TEST DAY – On Sunday, January 21st, an open test day for the Winter Showdown will take place at Kern County Raceway.

For additional information go to www.srlsouthwesttour.com, contact the SRL office at 661-679-4681, lcollins@mesamarin.com or rickybrooks5@aol.com.

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

NWSLMS Announces 2018 Schedule



Wenatchee, WA (November 27, 2017)–The Northwest Super Late Model Series has entered into agreements with facilities across the Northwest in preparation for an exciting season of racing stretching from April to September of 2018. The series kicks off its fifth season of competition on April 28 with the annual Leonard Evans 150 held at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval.

The North Central Washington quarter-mile hosts two NWSLMS events during the 2018 season and continues as the series anchor track on its schedule. For the second consecutive season WVSO will host the series championship night with the running of the Neal Newberry 125 on September 22.

South Sound Speedway returns to the series schedule with two events in the upcoming season, June 2 and August 18 respectively. In 2017 Mitch Kleyn picked up the victory in the series inaugural visit to the three-eighth mile speed plant.

Officials with the series and Evergreen Speedway management have come to agreement on two events for 2018 (July 28 and Sept. 8). The races mark a return of the series to the famed track for the first time since 2016.

“Our schedule for 2018 provides super late model teams with great venues, outstanding competition from a local and touring level and the challenges of running at three unique facilities. We’re excited to get this schedule out now so that our teams and prospective new drivers can plan for 2018,” said NWSLMS Series Director Jarrod Goodwin. “We still have some open weekends that our series is in discussions to fill with additional dates and venues and we’re hopeful to have further announcements on that in the coming weeks.”

When the series takes the green flag for 2018 it will be Brittney Zamora leading the charge as its reigning champion. Zamora made history in 2017 as the first female race winner on the series which propelled her to the first championship for a female driver in Northwest history.

“Zamora certainly had a breakout year on the series in 2017, she had plenty of challengers along the way to that championship including the hard-charging Jefferson Pitts Racing Rookie of the Year Jan Evans, our South Sound winner Mitch Kleyn, the series second female driver to win a main event in Brooke Schimmel and so many more. We believe 2018 will continue to see a balance of young talent and outstanding veterans battling it out for the championship,” Goodwin said.

The Northwest Super Late Model Series Inc. is the premier regional touring Super Late Model series in the Pacific Northwest. The series has many valued corporate partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, McGunegill Engine Performance, AR Bodies, Accelerated Graphics, Five Star Bodies, Longacre Racing Products, Wheel Chill, KRC Power Steering, Atomic Screenprinting and Embroidery, Franks Racing Radio, BLP, Jefferson Pitts Racing, The Ti Company, Pacific Steel Structures, and Racing Dynamics. For more information on the series visit www.nwslmseries.com or on Facebook or Twitter. To contact the series please email northwestsuperlatemodels@gmail.com

2018 NWSLMS Schedule of Events (Subject to Change)
April 28- Leonard Evans 150, Wenatchee Valley Super Oval, East Wenatchee, WA
May 12- Open date looking to possibly schedule
June 2- South Sound 125, South Sound Speedway, Tenino, WA
July 28- Central Welding 125, Evergreen Speedway, Monroe, WA
Aug. 18- South Sound 125, South Sound Speedway, Tenino, WA
Sept. 8- Les Schwab Championship Night 100, Evergreen Speedway, Monroe, WA
Sept. 23- Neal Newberry 125, Wenatchee Valley Super Oval, East Wenatchee, WA

Contact: Jarrod Goodwin (509) 879-5082
northwestsuperlatemodels@gmail.com

Friday, November 24, 2017

Bell Outduels Larson In "Turkey Night" Thriller At Ventura

Christopher Bell celebrates his victory in Thursday night's 77th "Turkey Night
Grand Prix" at Ventura (Calif.) Raceway (Photo Courtesy Rich Forman)

By: Richie Murray - USAC Media

Ventura, California.........Thanksgiving is the day each year when we take a little extra time to realize how fortunate we are.

For those in attendance at Thursday's "Turkey Night Grand Prix," the realization quickly came to how thankful we are to have witnessed Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson duking it out against each other for 98 laps in USAC Midgets at Ventura Raceway.

The three official lead changes listed in the box score aren't indicative of the back-and-forth battle these two titans waged with sliders being exchanged like currency on both ends of the racetrack.

On the 54th lap, Bell ultimately made the winning pass on Larson with a daring outside move on the front straightaway, but would have to endure the relentless persistence of Larson all the way down to turn one of the final lap when he stifled Larson's slider before it even had time to develop.

Bell, of Norman, Oklahoma, joined the ranks of two-time "Turkey Night" winners just six days after wrapping up his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title at Homestead (Fla.) Speedway. Though he and Larson have reached success in the NASCAR ranks in recent years, their home lies in the dirt tracks, just like old times when they were regulars on the USAC trail.

"Oh my god, it's so much fun," Bell exclaimed. "I just told Kyle that if he would've beat me, I would've been, maybe not just as happy, but still happy because it was just that much fun. That race was one of the most fun races I've run in a long time."

Straight from the outset, polesitter Larson had the upper hand as inside second row starter Bell followed in his wake on the bottom.

As Larson ringed around the berm lining the bottom of the racing surface, Bell became the first in line to venture to the top on the 12thlap, using a big bite off turn four to pull to a dead-heat at the line alongside Larson before nudging into the lead by a sliver into the first turn.

Bell never wavered in his decision to go top-shelf and it would pay off one lap later when he slipped by Larson off turn four to secure the lead.

"I could tell that the top was going to be good," Bell theorized. "Watching the sprint car feature, we saw that it got pretty good. They tilled the bottom and I could tell it was going to be really good at the beginning. Once it started going away, I tried the top and it was right there."

On lap 40, Brayton Lynch got sideways in a shuffle for position at the exit of turn four. Facing oncoming traffic, Chad Boat met front-bumper to front-bumper with Lynch, melding the noses of each car together as Boat attempted to peel away to no avail. Courtney Crone and newly-crowned five-time USAC Light Up the World Beverages Western States Midget champ Ronnie Gardner were also involved, but would restart.

When racing resumed on lap 52, Larson went to the bottom and slid his teammate Bell to snare the lead. One lap later, Bell returned the favor and slithered by Larson with just inches to spare as he tunneled between Larson's right-side wheels and the front straightaway wall. Larson attacked again into turn one with a slider, but the motion was denied, and Bell cleared away the Tryptophan after the wake-up call and sprinted back into the lead.

Following a lap 57 tangle between the two most recent USAC National Midget feature winners - Brady Bacon and series champion Spencer Bayston - Larson harassed Bell, putting it all on the line in the prestigious race in an attempt to become just the third driver to win the event three times. On lap 66, Larson got on the bike, lifting the left side wheels as he ripped the edge of the turn three cushion in his tireless pursuit.

With three-quarters of the race in the rearview mirror, it was time to turn up the wick. The bottom became just a distant memory as the two were now inside the barrel, riding the wave in turns three and four above the cushion. On lap 80, Larson slid Bell into turn one momentarily. Bell retaliated by crossing underneath Larson off the second turn to recapture the point. In turn three, the second verse played out the same as the first as Larson slid to the lead and Bell, so Allen Iverson-esque, used a killer crossover to bolt back to the front.

"The majority of drivers understand you have to be good at the end of the race to win the race," Bell said. "At the beginning, you're just cruising and making sure you make It to the end of the race. That's the biggest thing. Kyle and I were both rolling around there about quarter-throttle at the beginning, trying to save our tires and kill some laps. It worked out and we were racing our butts off at the end."

Larson, the five-time NASCAR Monster Energy Cup winner, set up another Hail Mary that was denied as Bell wheelied away off the top of turn two to remain in front. Tyler Courtney, the USAC West Coast/VRA Sprint Car feature winner earlier in the night, slowed to a stop in turn one to bring out the yellow and provide a breather for both the drivers and fans alike.

On the ensuing restart, Bell jetted away from Larson and, with ten to go, held a lead of over one second with a full nest of lappers resting in the distance. Just prior to lapped traffic possibly becoming a factor with a mere four laps to go, Holly Shelton and Bacon performed a synchronized spin between turns one and two that brought out the final yellow and one more stanza that Bell had to deal with Larson.

"The track was so technical," Bell explained. "It was all about hitting your marks and minimizing mistakes because you weren't going to make a mistake-free lap tonight. You just had to make sure when you made a mistake that you could recover from it. Once I got going on those green flag runs, I could get my momentum built up and make good, competitive laps. But after the yellow flags, it was tough to pick your rhythm back up. I knew I was a sitting duck their leading on the restarts. On the final one, Kyle got one last bomb on me and I was able to get him back."

Larson's first lob of a bomb was a success in turn one on the lap 95 restart as he scraped across the surface to snag the race lead from Bell. Bell counter-punched and ripped away the lead back away from Larson with a slider into turn three. Entering turn one with two laps remaining, wheels banged and nerf bars clanged as Larson shot to the lead past Bell once again.

As a uncertain as a game of tug-of-war teetering on a see-saw, Bell launched like a missile on a hellbound train to slide across the nose of Larson and into the lead between turns three and four to capture the lead for good. Larson threw a haymaker entering turn three coming to the white flag, pulling side-by-side with Bell at the exit of four where it momentarily became three-wide with Shane Golobic arriving seemingly out of the clear blue sky to mount a challenge for the lead.

Larson tried once more on the final lap, but Bell savagely, and wisely, took a lower entrance into turn one, thus preventing a final pull of the pin from Larson. Bell carried on with a 0.193 second lead across the finish line as Larson blasted off the top of the final corner to nip Golobic by a wheel at the line for the runner-up spot. Past "Turkey Night" winner Tanner Thorson was fourth and Don Basile "Rookie of the Race" Zeb Wise was fifth in his second-career USAC National Midget start.

Bell was 4 for 7 in USAC National Midget feature appearances in 2017 for a .571 batting average. His 21st career series victory tied him with Steve Cannon, Jimmy Caruthers, Rex Easton and Ken Schrader for 27th all-time.

The fourth-straight "Turkey Night" win for the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports team began with Bell's victory in 2014. Firsts are always special in any circumstance, but this one has even more meaning for the 22-year-old, 2013 USAC National Midget titlist.

"I definitely had to work harder for this one. This one was even more fun and more special."

Contingency award winners Thursday night at Ventura Raceway were Kyle Larson (ProSource/Woodland Auto Display Fast Qualifier), Kevin Thomas, Jr. (Simpson Race Products/Extreme Mufflers 1st Qualifier Winner & Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher), Chad Boat (Competition Suspension, Inc./Brown & Miller Racing Solutions 2nd Qualifier Winner), Zeb Wise (Chalk Stix/Keizer Aluminum Wheels/Saldana Racing Products/Indy Race Parts Last Chance Winner) and Ryan Robinson (KSE Racing Products/Esslinger Engineering Hard Charger).

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USAC NATIONAL & LIGHT UP THE WORLD BEVERAGES WESTERN STATES MIDGET RACE RESULTS: November 23, 2017 - Ventura Raceway - Ventura, California - 77th "Turkey Night Grand Prix"

PROSOURCE/WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY QUALIFYING: (Top-12 locked into the Feature) 1. Kyle Larson, 1, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-11.888; 2. Jake Swanson, 73, Ford-11.909; 3. Christopher Bell, 21, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-11.933; 4. Shane Golobic, 17w, Clauson-Marshall/Wood-12.060; 5. Justin Grant, 39BC, Clauson/Marshall-12.081; 6. Brayton Lynch, 1K, RKR-12.119; 7. Logan Seavey, 4A, RAMS-12.200; 8. Spencer Bayston, 97, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.210; 9. Tanner Thorson, 67, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.238; 10. Michael Faccinto, 9D, Dodenhoff-12.249; 11. Brady Bacon, 76m, FMR-12.266; 12. Tucker Klaasmeyer, 27, Klaasmeyer-12.269; 13. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 25, Petry/Goff-12.274; 14. Chad Boat, 84, Tucker/Boat-12.276; 15. Brad Sweet, 63x, Dooling/Hayward-12.282; 16. Michael Pickens, 25x, Rodela-12.290; 17. Holly Shelton, 67K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.326; 18. Courtney Crone, 25, Rodela-12.342; 19. Zeb Wise, 39, Clauson/Marshall-12.391; 20. Chase Briscoe, 5, Briscoe-12.393; 21. Carson Macedo, 73x, Ford-12.460; 22. Ronnie Gardner, 68, Six8-12.471; 23. Frankie Guerrini, 63, Guerrini-12.490; 24. Cory Elliott, 11E, Elliott-12.505; 25. Clayton Ruston, 7R, CR-12.512; 26. Maria Cofer, 57, Cofer-12.520; 27. Tyler Nelson, 47, Mason-12.535; 28. Dustin Golobic, 17G, Wood-12.593; 29. Danny Stratton, 98, Blondel-12.605; 30. David Prickett, 22Q, Neverlift-12.608; 31. Cody Swanson, 17, Swanson-12.680; 32. Ryan Robinson, 71, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.696; 33. Robert Dalby, 4D, Dalby-12.702; 34. Dave Darland, 73T, Ford-12.729; 35. Tanner Carrick, 71K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.745; 36. Colton Heath, 99, Heath-12.802; 37. Tyler Courtney, 7BC, Clauson/Marshall-12.820; 38. Randi Pankratz, 8, Pankratz-12.847; 39. Daniel Robinson, 56, Fifty6x-12.872; 40. Terry Nichols, 1p, Nichols-12.878; 41. Carson Garrett, 15G, Garrett-12.882; 42. Tyler Edwards, 2JD, Shenanigans/Neverlift-12.894; 43. Mack DeMan, 9E, Dodenhoff-12.924; 44. Jake Vermeer, 87JR, Vermeer-12.938; 45. Ron Hazelton, 15, Hazelton-12.972; 46. Kyle Beilman, 31, Beilman-13.020; 47. Kyle Smith, 55, Smith-13.113; 48. Bryan Drollinger, 71x, Drollinger-13.385; 49. Matt Mitchell, 75, Miller-15.658; 50. Robby Josett, 2, Josett-NT.

SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS/EXTREME MUFFLERS FIRST QUALIFIER: (12 laps, top-4 transfer to the Feature, 5-12 transfer to Last Chance Race) 1. Thomas, 2. Wise, 3. Macedo, 4. Sweet, 5. Shelton, 6. C. Swanson, 7. Stratton, 8. Courtney, 9. Ruston, 10. Dalby, 11. Carrick, 12. Nelson, 13. D. Robinson, 14. Smith, 15. DeMan, 16. Garrett, 17. Hazelton, 18. Guerrini. NT

COMPETITION SUSPENSION, INC. (CSI)/BROWN & MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS SECOND QUALIFIER: (12 laps, top-4 transfer to the Feature, 5-12 transfer to Last Chance) 1. Boat, 2. Pickens, 3. Crone, 4. Elliott, 5. Gardner, 6. Briscoe, 7. Cofer, 8. D. Golobic, 9. R. Robinson, 10. Edwards, 11. Pankratz, 12. Heath, 13. Nichols, 14. Prickett, 15. Darland, 16. Beilman, 17. Vermeer, 18. Drollinger. NT

CHALK STIX/KEIZER ALUMINUM WHEELS/SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS/INDY RACE PARTS LAST CHANCE RACE: (12 laps, top-6 transfer) 1. Shelton, 2. Gardner, 3. Courtney, 4. Briscoe, 5. R. Robinson, 6. Edwards, 7. Heath, 8. Ruston, 9. Dalby, 10. Carrick, 11. Cofer, 12. Pankratz, 13. Stratton, 14. Nelson, 15. D. Golobic, 16. C. Swanson. NT

FEATURE: (98 laps, starting position in parentheses) 1. Christopher Bell (3), 2. Kyle Larson (1), 3. Shane Golobic (4), 4. Tanner Thorson (9), 5. Zeb Wise (15), 6. Carson Macedo (17), 7. Justin Grant (5), 8. Ryan Robinson (25), 9. Brad Sweet (19), 10. Michael Faccinto (10), 11. Tanner Carrick (27), 12. Brady Bacon (11), 13. Kevin Thomas, Jr. (13), 14. Holly Shelton (21), 15. Logan Seavey (7), 16. Spencer Bayston (8), 17. David Prickett (29), 18. Ronnie Gardner (22), 19. Jake Swanson (2), 20. Courtney Crone (18), 21. Chase Briscoe (24), 22. Tyler Courtney (23), 23. Chad Boat (14), 24. Brayton Lynch (6), 25. Tucker Klaasmeyer (12), 26. Tyler Edwards (26), 27. Cory Elliott (20), 28. Frankie Guerrini (28), 29. Michael Pickens (16). NT
----------------------------
**C. Swanson flipped during the Last Chance Race.

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-12 Larson, Laps 13-52 Bell, Lap 53 Larson, Lap 54-98 Bell.

DON BASILE ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Zeb Wise

KSE RACING PRODUCTS/ESSLINGER ENGINEERING HARD CHARGER: Ryan Robinson (25th to 8th)

WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Kevin Thomas, Jr.

FINAL USAC MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Bayston-1472, 2-S. Golobic-1416, 3-Bacon-1413, 4-Thorson-1392, 5-Grant-1316, 6-Courtney-1290, 7-Boat-1154, 8-Shelton-1055, 9-Carrick-995, 10-Jerry Coons, Jr.-849.

FINAL USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET POINTS: 1-Gardner-810, 2-Guerrini-693, 3-Prickett-665, 4-Elliott-632, 5-Dalby-580, 6-Crone-562, 7-Faccinto-547. 8-Pankratz-427, 9-Shannon McQueen-424, 10-S. Golobic-416.

Sunshine Fries Bacon In Ventura USAC West Coast Sprint Car Showdown

"Sunshine" Tyler Courtney captured the victory in Thursday's "Turkey Night Grand Prix"
USAC West Coast/ VRA Sprint Car feature at Ventura (Calif.) Raceway (Photo Courtesy Rich Forman)

Ventura, California.........Tyler Courtney worked his way around previous night's winner Brady Bacon with 11 laps remaining to score Thursday's 77th "Turkey Night Grand Prix" USAC West Coast Sprint Car "Special Event" victory at Ventura Raceway co-sanctioned by VRA.

Courtney has now notched wins in five different USAC divisions in 2017 with triumphs in the Silver Crown, AMSOIL National Sprint, National Midget, CRA Sprint and West Coast Sprint divisions.

Behind Courtney at the checkered of the 30-lap feature were Bacon, who led 16 laps before Courtney got by. Chase Briscoe was third ahead of early leader Klint Simpson with Brody Roa rounding out the top-five.

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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SPECIAL EVENT RESULTS: November 23, 2017 - Ventura, California - Ventura Raceway - "77th Turkey Night Grand Prix" / "Battle of the Beach Race #4" - co-sanctioned with VRA

EXTREME MUFFLERS FIRST SEMI: (12 laps) 1. Carson Macedo (#73 Ford), 2. Jake Swanson (#92 Sertich), 3. Shawn Arriaga (#56J Arriaga), 4. Matt Mitchell (#12 Dale), 5. Brandon Wiley (#33B Team 33), 6. Dave Darland #21K Kruseman), 7. Koen Shaw (#88K Shaw), 8. Albert Pombo (#35 Pombo), 9. Guy Woodward (#24 Woodward) 10. Tyler Wiliams (#5K Kruseman), 11. Austin Ervine (#51 AJ), 12. Dalton Hill (#81D Double D). NT

BROWN & MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS SECOND SEMI: (12 laps) 1. Chase Johnson (#24X Johnson) , 2. Michael Pickens (#81 Watt), 3. Justyn Cox (#31X Cox), 4. Slater Helt (#14 Watt), 5. Kaleb Montgomery (#3K Montgomery), 6. Jeremy Ellertson (#98 Ellertson), 7. Stewart Friesen (#81X Watt), 8. Brent Owens (#71 Martin), 9. Tom Hendricks (#14X Hendricks), 10. Reed Broschart (#93 B&B), 11. Ryan Timmons (#29T Timmons), 12. Sterling Cling (#2K Kruseman), 13. Charlie Butcher (#96 B&B). NT

PYROTECT RACING CELLS THIRD SEMI: (12 laps) 1. Brody Roa (#91BR), 2. Max Adams (#5M Adams), 3. Cory Elliott (#11E Elliott), 4. Tanner Carrick (#83T Carrick), 5. Rick Hendrix (#15 Hendrix), 6. Bruce Douglass (#13 Davis), 7. Steve Hix (#57 Hix), 8. Damian Lopez (#4K Kruseman), 9. Cody Majors (#29 Steele), 10. Geoffrey Strole (#09S Strole), 11. Geoff Ensign (#3F), 12. Kyle Smith (#55 Smith), 13. Matt Rossi (#02 Rossi). NT

FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Tyler Courtney (#81m Watt), 2. Brady Bacon (#63 Dooling/Hayward), 3. Chase Briscoe (#5 Briscoe), 4. Klint Simpson (#101 Edison), 5. Brody Roa, 6. Carson Macedo, 7. Colby Copeland (#24c Copeland), 8. Jake Swanson, 9. Michael Pickens, 10. Stevie Sussex (#34 Grau), 11. Tristan Guardino (#15T Guardino), 12. Max Adams, 13. Shawn Arriaga, 14. Cory Elliott, 15. Matt Mitchell, 16. Chase Johnson, 17. Tanner Carrick, 18. Slater Helt, 19. Troy Rutherford (#11 Rutherford), 20. Justyn Cox. NT
-----------------------
**Rutherford flipped on lap 23 of the feature.

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-3 Simpson, Laps 4-19 Bacon, Laps 20-30 Courtney.

SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Brody Roa (11th to 5th)

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Bacon Feasts At Ventura For USAC West Coast Sprint Win

Brady Bacon was the victor at Ventura (Calif.) Raceway in Wednesday's "Turkey
Night Grand Prix" USAC West Coast/VRA Sprint Car feature (Photo Courtesy Rich Forman)

Ventura, California.........Brady Bacon captured Wednesday's USAC West Coast/VRA Sprint Car feature on night one of the 77th "Turkey Night Grand Prix" at Ventura Raceway.

The two-time USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car champ from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma zipped around Troy Rutherford on the fifth lap of the 20-lap points-free "Special Event" feature and cruised to a commanding two-and-a-half second victory ahead of Rutherford, Carson Macedo, Tyler Courtney and Max Adams.

Also timing in second during midget practice Wednesday night, Bacon appears to be the frontrunner to capture Automotive Racing Products' $50,000 bonus that will go to a driver who can win both the midget and sprint car feature on Thanksgiving night. Four other drivers possessing rides in both races for Thursday night finished in the top-ten Wednesday: Tyler Courtney (4th), Chase Briscoe (7th), Jake Swanson (9th) and Michael Pickens (10th).

On Thursday, Nov. 23, the event card includes a full program for the midgets, concluding with a 98-lap feature, plus USAC West Coast/VRA Sprint Car semi-features and A-Main. Pits open at 11am with the drivers meeting taking place at 2:45pm. Cars hit the track at 3:30pm.

"Turkey Night" is LIVE on http://www.SpeedShiftTV.com/ on Thursday. As always, you can watch every USAC race on demand, a day following the event, at http://www.Loudpedal.TV/.

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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SPECIAL EVENT RESULTS: November 22, 2017 - Ventura, California - Ventura Raceway "77th Turkey Night Grand Prix" - co-sanctioned with VRA

WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Tyler Courtney, 81M, Watt-12.289; 2. Kaleb Montgomery, 3K, Montgomery-12.307; 3. Brady Bacon, 63, Dooling/Hayward-12.388; 4. Colby Copeland, 24C, Copeland-12.444; 5. Matt Mitchell, 12, Dale-12.523; 6. Stevie Sussex, 34 Grau-12.567; 7. Brody Roa, 91R, BR-12.12.570; 8. Troy Rutherford, 11, Rutherford-12.588; 9. Max Adams, 5M, Adams-12.635; 10. Geoff Ensign, 3F, Finkenbinder-12.652; 11. Tristan Guardino, 15T, Guardino-12.656; 12. Klint Simpson, 101, Edison-12.672; 13. Jeremy Ellertson, 98, Ellertson-12.680; 14. Chase Briscoe, 5, Briscoe-12.724; 15. Dalton Hill, 81D, Double D-12.785; 16. Jake Swanson, 92, Sertich-12.786; 17. Matt Rossi, 02, Rossi-12.796; 18. Brandon Wiley, 33B, Team 33-12.806; 19. Shon Deskins, 20, Deskins-12.832; 20. Michael Pickens, 81, Watt-12.871; 21. Rick Hendrix, 15, Hendrix-12.872; 22. Chase Johnson, 24X, Johnson-12.878; 23. Slater Helt, 14, Watt-12.905; 24. Tanner Carrick, 83T, Carrick-12.914; 25. Shawn Arriaga, 56J, Arriaga-12.917; 26. Justyn Cox, 31C, Cox-12.963; 27. Guy Woodward, 24, Woodward-12.988; 28. Carson Macedo, 73, Ford-13.028; 29. Charlie Butcher, 96, B&B-13.062; 30. Kyle Smith, 55, Smith-13.108; 31. Dave Darland, 21K, Kruseman-13.115; 32. Cory Elliott, 11E, Elliott-13.169; 33. Sterling Cling, 2K, Kruseman-13.186; 34. Tyler Williams, 5K, Kruseman-13.261; 35. Tom Hendricks, 14X, Hendricks-13.261; 36. Bruce Douglass, 13, Davis-13.345; 37. Ryan Timmons, 29T, Timmons-13.357; 38. Koen Shaw, 88K, Shaw-13.406; 39. Bruce St. James, 7K, St. James-13.471; 40. Steve Hix, 57, Hix-13.481; 41. Geoffrey Strole, 09S, Strole-13.512; 42. Brent Owens, 71, Martin-13.525; 43. Damian Lopez, 5X, Perkins-13.962; 44. Albert Pombo, 35, Pombo-13.996; 45. Reed Broschart, 93, B&B-14.219; 46. Austin Ervine, 51, AJ-14.527; 47. Cody Majors, 29, Steele-14.765; 48. Stewart Friesen, 81X, Watt-NT; 49. Kyle Edwards, 39E, Edwards-NT.

EXTREME MUFFLERS FIRST HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Simpson, 2. Courtney, 3. Arriaga, 4. Hix, 5. Elliott, 6. Ervine, 7. Hendrix, 8. Mitchell. NT

BROWN & MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS SECOND HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Briscoe, 2. Rutherford, 3. Helt, 4. Butcher, 5. Owens, 6. Hendricks, 7. Majors, 8. Montgomery. NT

KEIZER ALUMINUM WHEELS THIRD HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Guardino, 2. Carrick, 3. Bacon, 4. Darland, 5. Friesen, 6. Shaw, 7. Deskins, 8. Lopez. NT

SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS FOURTH HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Adams, 2. Copeland, 3. Wiley, 4. Smith, 5. Cox, 6. Douglass, 7. Hill, 8. Strole. NT

PYROTECT RACING CELLS FIFTH HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Pickens, 2. Swanson, 3. Sussex, 4. Woodward, 5. Timmons, 6. Ensign, 7. Pombo, 8. Cling. NT

COMPETITION SUSPENSION INCORPORATED SIXTH HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Macedo, 2. Roa, 3. Johnson, 4. Williams, 5. Broschart, 6. Ellertson, 7. Rossi, 8. St. James. NT

FEATURE: (20 laps) 1. Brady Bacon, 2. Troy Rutherford, 3. Klint Simpson, 4. Tyler Courtney, 5. Colby Copeland, 6. Stevie Sussex, 7. Chase Briscoe, 8. Tristan Guardino, 9. Jake Swanson, 10. Michael Pickens, 11. Max Adams, 12. Carson Macedo, 13. Chase Johnson, 14. Geoff Ensign, 15. Brandon Wiley, 16. Kaleb Montgomery, 17. Tanner Carrick, 18. Shawn Arriaga, 19. Slater Helt, 20. Brody Roa, NT
-----------------------
**Friesen flipped during qualifications. Deskins flipped during third heat.

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1-4 Rutherford, Laps 5-30 Bacon.

BR MOTORSPORTS / KING RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Klint Simpson (9th to 3rd)

NEXT USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SPECIAL EVENT: November 23 - Ventura (CA) Raceway - "77th Turkey Night Grand Prix" - co-sanctioned with VRA

Golobic Fastest In Turkey Night Practice

Shane Golobic recorded the fastest lap during Wednesday's practice session at
Ventura (Calif.) Raceway in preperation for Thursday's "Turkey Night Grand Prix"
(Photo Courtesy Rich Forman)

By: Richie Murray - USAC Media

Ventura, California.........Shane Golobic led a field of 52 drivers by recording the fastest lap in Wednesday's open practice for the 77th running of the "Turkey Night Grand Prix" at Ventura Raceway.

Four different teams represented the top-four in practice, which all came in the second of the four sessions held with Fremont, California's Golobic taking the top time for Clauson-Marshall/Wood Racing. The second through fourth positions were held by Brady Bacon (FMR Racing), Spencer Bayston (Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports) and Brad Sweet (Dooling/Hayward Motorsports).

The fastest past winner of the "Turkey Night Grand Prix" was 2015 winner Tanner Thorson (5th). Christopher Bell, the 2014 winner, was 10th. Kyle Larson, 2012 and 2016 winner, was 13th. Dave Darland, 2007 and 2013 winner, was 33rd.

The fastest Don Basile "Rookie of the Race" contender was Zeb Wise, who timed in sixth quickest for Clauson/Marshall Racing.

Only one incident with contact took place during practice when Kyle Beilman spun sideways in turn two. Tucker Klaasmeyer clipped Beilman's car with his right rear tire, sending him flipping over. He was uninjured and returned to practice where he timed in 18th fastest.

On Thursday, Nov. 23, the event card includes a full program for the midgets, concluding with a 98-lap feature, plus USAC West Coast/VRA Sprint Car semi-features and A-Main. Pits open at 11am with the drivers meeting taking place at 2:45pm. Cars hit the track at 3:30pm.

"Turkey Night" is LIVE on http://www.SpeedShiftTV.com/ on Thursday. As always, you can watch every USAC race on demand, a day following the event, at http://www.Loudpedal.TV/.

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USAC NATIONAL & LIGHT UP THE WORLD BEVERAGES WESTERN STATES MIDGET PRACTICE RESULTS: November 22, 2017 - Ventura Raceway - Ventura, California - 77th "Turkey Night Grand Prix"

1. Shane Golobic, 17w, Clauson-Marshall/Wood-12.038; 2. Brady Bacon, 76m, FMR-12.059; 3. Spencer Bayston, 97, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.088; 4. Brad Sweet, 63, Dooling/Hayward-12.095; 5. Tanner Thorson, 67, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.103; 6. Zeb Wise, 39, Clauson/Marshall-12.120; 7. Michael Pickens, 25x, Rodela-12.121; 8. Justin Grant, 39BC, Clauson/Marshall-12.157; 9. Chad Boat, 84, Tucker/Boat-12.167; 10. Christopher Bell, 21, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.169; 11. Logan Seavey, 4A, RAMS-12.189; 12. Tyler Courtney, 7BC, Clauson/Marshall-12.205; 13. Kyle Larson, 1, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.225; 14. Cory Elliott, 11E, Elliott-12.260; 15. Ryan Robinson, 71, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.406; 16. Matt Mitchell, 75, Miller-12.411; 17. Holly Shelton, 67K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.425; 18. Tucker Klaasmeyer, 27, Klaasmeyer-12.445; 19. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 25, Petry/Goff-12.446; 20. Chase Briscoe, 5, Briscoe-12.449; 21. Dustin Golobic, 17G, Wood-12.452; 22. Michael Faccinto, 9D, Dodenhoff-12.462; 23. Maria Cofer, 57, Cofer-12.484; 24. Carson Macedo, 73x, Ford-12.529; 25. Danny Stratton, 98, Blondel-12.536; 26. Frankie Guerrini, 63, Guerrini-12.543; 27. Courtney Crone, 25, Rodela-12.613; 28. Tanner Carrick, 71K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.629; 29. Terry Nichols, 1p, Nichols-12.641; 30. Robby Josett, 2, Josett-12.702; 31. Daniel Robinson, 56, Fifty6x-12.740; 32. Tyler Nelson, 47, Mason-12.743; 33. Dave Darland, 73T, Ford-12.745; 34. Cody Swanson, 17, Swanson-12.768; 35. Clayton Ruston, 7R, CR-12.780; 36. Tyler Edwards, 2JD, Shenanigans/Neverlift-12.813; 37. Brayton Lynch, 1K, RKR-12.814; 38. Ronnie Gardner, 68, Six8-12.877; 39. Robert Dalby, 4D, Dalby-12.882; 40. Colton Heath, 99, Heath-12.916; 41. Carson Garrett, 15G, Garrett-12.932; 42. Jake Swanson, 73, Ford-12.941; 43. Kyle Beilman, 31, Beilman- 13.039; 44. Kyle Smith, 55, Smith-13.052; 45. Bryan Drollinger, 71x, Drollinger-13.072; 46. Geoff Ensign, 3F, Finkenbinder-13.117; 47. Randi Pankratz, 8, Pankratz-13.129; 48. Mark Chisholm, 56x, Fifty6x-13.181; 49. Max Adams, 68, Six8-13.209; 50. Mack DeMan, 9E, Dodenhoff-13.228; 51. Ron Hazelton, 15, Hazelton-13.466; 52. Jake Vermeer, 87JR, Vermeer-13.512; 53. David Prickett, 22Q, Neverlift-NT; 54. Mason Daniel, 33m, Daniel-NT.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Larson, Bell, Sweet And Briscoe Return To Their Roots For Turkey Night

2016 "Turkey Night Grand Prix" winner Kyle Larson (Photo Courtesy Rich Forman)

By: Richie Murray - USAC Media

Ventura, California.........Have you heard the one about when Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Brad Sweet and Chase Briscoe walk into a racetrack? Well, when that happens, it's definitely no joke.

These four may not be series regulars, but when they strap into a USAC Midget this Thursday night, Nov. 23 at Ventura Raceway for the 77th running of the "Turkey Night Grand Prix," this "vacation" away from their regular duties becomes strictly business.

All have earned a reputation for success in a diverse set of disciplines outside wingless sprint car and midget racing, yet still dabble when their schedules allow. But, "dabble" is most certainly an understatement.

Elk Grove, California's Larson has five career wins on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series circuit and was a championship contender for much of his 2017 campaign. In his two USAC Midget appearances this season, he was fast qualifier in both and comes in as a two-time "Turkey Night" winner (2012 & 2016).

Less than a week ago, Christopher Bell was celebrating a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title. This week, the Norman, Oklahoma native's focus is set on becoming a two-time "Turkey Night" winner, duplicating his 2014 triumph.

Brad Sweet of Grass Valley, California was the runner-up behind Donny Schatz in the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car standings this season with five victories. However, he's no outsider when it comes to midget racing as evidenced by his 11 career USAC National wins between 2008 and 2010.

Chase Briscoe was a regular on Indiana's tough local sprint car scene in recent years, but over the past two years has made a spectacular rise through the stock car/NASCAR ranks with a 2016 ARCA title and a 2017 NASCAR Truck Series Rookie of the Year award to his name.

For some of these guys who've seemingly been out of the loop in midget racing, it may seem like a tall order to jump right in and be a contender, but, think again. Over the past three decades, drivers who have achieved success in a wide array of series have consistently risen to the occasion on Thanksgiving night.

Sure, Leffler was one of the most accomplished USAC Midget drivers ever with three consecutive titles between 1997 and 1999. However, by 2005, he was firmly entrenched as a regular in NASCAR's Cup and Busch series. Yet, the Long Beach, California driver's only USAC Midget feature start of 2005 resulted in a "Turkey Night" victory.

Same thing with Tony Stewart in 2000, who had already conquered USAC as a four-time National champ, but came back to collect one of the most-prized victories of his career at Irwindale Speedway after already establishing himself as an IndyCar champ and a NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year.

Billy Boat was a dominant force on the midget racing scene in the mid-1990s where he scored "Turkey Night" victories in 1995 and 1996. By the time of his third-straight "Turkey Night" crown in 1997, the Phoenix, Arizona driver was a veteran of the Indianapolis 500 and had a full-time ride with A.J. Foyt Enterprises in the Indy Racing League where he quickly became a pole winner and a regular front runner.

Speaking of dominance, no one has been more dominant at "Turkey Night" than Tempe, Arizona's Ron Shuman. With eight victories in a 15-year span between 1979 and 1993, Shuman may have seemed like a "regular." Yet, Shuman was a true outlaw and was able to adapt to any racecar he set foot into whether it was a Silver Crown car, midget, sprint car, wing or non-wing. Shuman was simply magical on Thanksgiving and his success in the race stands head and shoulders above all others.

Like Shuman, Chuck Gurney could drive the wheels off anything. But, by the late 1980s, he only made sporadic appearances in the midget, but each time, you could count on him to rise to the occasion. On the half-mile and the mile tracks, the Livermore, California driver was an untouchable force. It was the Ascot Park half where Gurney reached the pinnacle of the sport with back-to-back wins in 1988-89.

The first images of Brent Kaeding that come to mind are in a wing spring car. As the owner of 13 driving championships in both the King of the West and Northern Auto Racing Club Series, it's easy to see why. The Campbell, California driver possesses a lengthy resume that also includes Silver Crown racing and even a brief foray into NASCAR Winston Cup. But, Kaeding will forever be known as a "Turkey Night" winner as well with his lone USAC National Midget victory coming at Ascot in 1985.

Like an all-star race or sorts, "Turkey Night" brings out the best of the best: the regulars vs. the one-offs - the guys who have no worries about points or championship races. "Turkey Night" stands as a chance for these daredevils to buckle into their seats and simply go racing, back to their roots with just a steering wheel, a gas and brake pedal and 98 laps separating them from one of racing's greatest prizes.

"Turkey Night" begins Wednesday, Nov. 22 with a full program featuring the USAC West Coast and VRA Sprint Cars, plus an open practice for midgets. The following night, Thanksgiving Thursday, Nov. 23, will once again include the sprint cars as well as the prestigious, 98-lap midget race.

Cars are set to hit the track at 3:30pm Pacific at Ventura Raceway both nights. "Turkey Night" is LIVE on http://www.SpeedShiftTV.com/ on both Wednesday and Thursday. As always, you can watch every USAC race, including "Turkey Night," on demand, a day following the event, at http://www.Loudpedal.TV/.