Starting Wednesday, November 21st, the USAC West Coast and VRA Sprint Cars will battle at Ventura Raceway for two nights of action. Promoted by Jim Naylor, the prestigious “78th Running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix” will begin with a special Wednesday non-point program for the 360 sprint cars and practice for the USAC National and Western States Midgets. On Thursday, the sprint cars will return for their non-point “Battle of the Beach” finale along with the complete midget show. The Pit Gates at the “The Best Little Dirt Track in America” will open at 11:45am, the Driver’s Meeting will be held at 2:45pm, the Spectator Gates open at 3:00pm, and practice starts at 3:30pm.
NOTICE TO RACERS: FRONT AXLE TETHERS ARE MANDATORY. A $100 Entry fee covers both nights. The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is the ONLY legal right rear tire and all four corners must be Hoosier. Cockpit adjustable shocks are NOT allowed and engine restrictor rules are 1-7/8” with open heads and 2-3/16” with ASCS cylinder heads. The weight rule is 1,475 lbs. with driver and the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Rule Book can be found online at www.westcoastsprintcars.com and www.usacracing.com. USAC MEMBERSHIPS can be purchased at the track or online at https://usacracing.redpodium.com/2018-usac-sprint-midget-sc.
2018 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.
ARP BONUS: Automotive Racing Products is offering a special $50,000 bonus to the driver that wins both the Thursday night sprint car and midget main events. A talented roster of drivers from across the country are expected at this prestigious event.
GRAND MARSHALLS: Cory Kruseman, Jay Drake, and Tommy Hunt.
PAY PER VIEW: The event is available on pay-per-view and will be live streamed at www.speedshifttv.com.
Since April 4, 2009, the Ventura County Fairgrounds has held eleven West Coast Sprint Car races and eight different drivers have claimed victory. This season, Austin Liggett, Ryan Bernal and Tristan Guardino celebrated “Battle of the Beach” wins and Liggett set a new track record (11.983) on August 25th. A complete series win list at Ventura is at the bottom of this release.
When the checkered flags flew on October 6th at Santa Maria, Austin Liggett (Tracy, CA) clinched his first USAC West Coast Sprint Car Championship. Piloting the family owned #83 Excel Environmental Services / Lucas Oil Maxim, Liggett won by a slim 17-point margin and became the first driver to earn rookie of the year honors (2012) and the championship. In all, Austin posted two feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, five heat race victories, one Saldana Racing Products / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, eleven top-10 finishes, and 91 feature laps led on the year. With seven career wins, Liggett ranks third in the “Battle of the Beach” mini-series and will be looking to add the Turkey Night Grand Prix to his resume.
Tristan Guardino (Fremont, CA) finished second in the USAC West Coast point standings. Racing the family owned #15T Dorso’s Automotive / Allied Auto Stores Maxim, Guardino had two feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, seven heat race victories, one Saldana Racing Products / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, eleven top-10 finishes, and 49 feature laps led to his credit. Tristan has five career wins and have his sights on adding another winning trophy to his collection.
Ryan Timmons (Pleasant Hill, CA) placed third in the chase for the championship. Driving the family owned #29T Timmons Auto & Truck Repair / Evergood Fine Foods Maxim, Timmons had two feature wins, three heat race victories, ten top-10 finishes, and 57 feature laps led on the season. The 2016 Rookie of the Year will be looking for his first victory at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
Shannon McQueen (Bakersfield, CA) ranked fourth in the championship point standings. Piloting Bob and Toni Van Meter’s #7 Simpson Race Products / Lucas Oil Maxim, McQueen posted twelve top-10 finishes and 4 feature laps led in the campaign. The 2012 USAC Western States Midget Champion will have her sights on her first sprint car win at Ventura Raceway.
Steve Hix (Ventura, CA) placed fifth in the USAC West Coast Sprint Car point chase. Racing his #57 No Limit Powder Coating / Delano Roofing Triple X, Hix recorded two heat race victories, nine top-10 finishes, and three feature laps led on the year. Hix will field a two-car effort with Tyler Edwards and will be looking to earn his first series feature win at the “Turkey Night Grand Prix.”
Britton Bock (Calistoga, CA) earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2018. Driving Mike Bock’s #67 West Evans Motorsports / Abreu Vineyards Eagle, Bock posted one Saldana Racing Products / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award and seven top-10 finishes on the season. Britton will be looking for his first series win and Austin Liggett will pilot his midget at the “Turkey Night Grand Prix.”
Over 40 drivers are expected to be in action at Ventura Raceway. Among them are Max Adams, Shawn Arriaga, Tyler Courtney, Kyle Edwards, Slater Helt, Rick Hendrix, Chase Johnson, Colby Johnson, Austin Kuehl, C.J. Leary, Rob Lindsey, Cody Majors, Hannah Mayhew, Kaleb Montgomery, Brent Owens, Michael Pickens, Brody Roa, Troy Rutherford, Koen Shaw, Matt Stewart, Ryan Stolz, Stevie Sussex, Jake Swanson, Tanner Thorson, Shawn Torbert, Chris Tramel, and more.
Kyle Smith (Moorpark, CA) earned his fourth VRA Sprint Car Championship over “The Bear” Jeremy Ellertson, Rick Hendrix, Joey Bishop, Charlie Butcher, Kyle Edwards, Tyler Hatzikian, Guy Woodward, Chris Tramel, and Chris Meredith.
Ventura Raceway is located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 West Harbor Blvd. in Ventura, California. Advance tickets are on sale and for more event information, visit the track’s website at www.venturaraceway.com or call 805.648.RACE.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series thanks AMSOIL, Hoosier Tire, BR Motorsports, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Chris Kearns Presents, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Five Star Grafix, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Ultra Shield Race Products, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, email PR Director Lance Jennings at lwjennings@earthlink.net.
For more information, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, and www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC West Coast Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
Loudpedal Productions has USAC West Coast Sprint Car DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
- Jennifer Therring on Nov 22, 2018
- Article Date: 11/22/2018 by Lance Jennings