Friday, December 30, 2011

Giant Chevrolet Speedway (King's Speedway) Tentative 2012 Schedule

Giant Chevrolet Speedway (King's Speedway) in Hanford, CA released their tentative 2012 schedule.

Open wheel highlights include multiple dates for the Rebel Wing Sprint Cars and USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Cars, plus appearances by the King of the West Sprint Car series, the USAC/CRA 410 Non Wing Sprint Cars and the Lucas Oil ASCS National Sprint Car series. The King of the West Sprint Cars compete in the Everett Memorial on July 14. The ASCS National tour appears on July 28 as part ASCS's California Speedweek. The King of the West Sprint Cars conclude their 2012 season with the 27th Annual Cotton Classic on October 13.

To view the entire schedule, visit http://www.giantchevroletspeedway.com/?page_id=2

Madera Speedway Announces Plans for Makeover & New Lease

Madera Speedway (Madera, CA) recently announced that they have signed another five-year agreement (with a 5-year renewal option) with the Madera Fairgrounds, as well as plans to resurface the 1/3-mile paved oval. 


 "There's nobody that's more passionate about bringing success to the Madera Speedway than Kenny is, he is fully committed and fully invested," stated Madera District Fair CEO Scott Sample in a press release issued by Madera Speedway. 


The Fair has also agreed to resurface the track which they plan to have done prior to the 2012 season. 


"This is a huge investment on part of the Board of Directors" says Sample. He also stated "It's a way of showing the Fairs' commitment and support to auto racing in the central valley".

"In 2006, it appeared as the Madera Speedway was closed forever, now we fast forward to 2011 and the entire pit area has been rebuilt, including new access roads, new paved pit parking and the new restroom/storage shop for the track. We've been working hard on an improvement plan that includes repaving the track and that has now become a reality. I'm very proud to be a part of this rehabilitation of the Madera Speedway, and to do this in such difficult economic times is something really special. It speaks volumes of the strong partnership we have with our Fair Board and their commitment to this race track and what it does for the community" states Madera Speedway (Short Track Management) promoter Kenny Shepherd.

The 2012 Madera Speedway season kicks off in March with Open Wheel highlights being the Vukovich, Gerhardt, and Pombo Classics featuring USAC Midgets and Super Modifieds. The USAC Midgets are slated to compete five times at Madera in 2012.

For more information on the 1/3-mile Madera Speedway, visit www.racemadera.com.

Tulare Thunderbowl 2012 Schedule

Groppetti Automotive Tulare Thunderbowl Speedway's schedule has been released.

Highlights of the 1/3-mile track's schedule include a two-night World of Outlaws swing March 16-17, three King of the West race dates: the Chris & Brian Faria Memorial on April 14,  Pombo/Sargent Memorial on May 12 and the John Anthony Sharp Memorial on June 22 plus the 19th Annual Trophy Cup on October 18-20, one of the West Coast's biggest Winged 360 Sprint Car races that began at the defunct San Jose Speedway and raises thousands of dollars each year benefiting the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation, having raised over $500,000 over the years for the wonderful charity. The USAC NOn-Wing 360 Sprint Cars join King of the West for the April, May and June races.

2010 Trophy Cup highlight video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjt0Icr2g08

Visit http://www.tularethunderbowl.com/schedule.html to view the entire schedule.

West Coast Results from the Tulsa Shootout


27th Annual Tulsa Shootout West Coast – First Night Results

Many West Coast racers are among the record 788 entries competing in the 27th Annual Tulsa Shootout at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway. Here are the West Coast results, for the opening night of the Shootout on Thursday, December 29:

Bellingham, Washington’s Brock Lemley leads the Non-Wing Outlaw passing points, with California’s Koen Shawn also near the top in points.
In “A” Class action, Hanford, California’s Mitchell Faccinto rallied from the tail of the field to win his heat race and land a spot atop the passing point charts with other top earners including British Columbia’s Liam Ryan.
600cc Non-Wing Outlaws (142 entries):
Heat 1: 3. 53-Tye Milhocko (Peoria, AZ)
Heat 2: 8. 25-Kenny Taylor (Tracy, CA).
Heat 9: 4. 41k-Cole Ketcham (Muncie, CA)
Heat 11: 1. 29-Austin Stone (Visalia, CA)
Heat 12: 4. 74-Andy Farley (Denver, CO)
Heat 13: 1. 17h-Derek Holmwood (Bellingham, WA), 7. 41-Dominic Scelzi (Fresno, CA).
Heat 14: 1. 10L-Brock Lemley (Bellingham, WA), 3. 10b-Jason Bloodgood (Bellingham, WA)
Heat 15: 1. 88-Koen Shaw (Fresno, CA), 6. 87-Liam Ryan (Langley, BC)
Heat 16: 3. 15T-Tristan Guardino
Heat 18: 2. 17w-Harli White (Lindsay, OK)  White is also entered in the Chili Bowl, driving for Bakersfield, CA's McQueen Racing. 
“A” Class (153 entries):
Heat 3: 1. 15T-Tristan Guardino (Fremont, CA)
Heat 5: 2. 87-Liam Ryan (Langley, BC)
Heat 6: 1. 88-Koen Shaw (Fresno, CA)
Heat 8: 5. 11e-Cory Elliott (Bakersfield, CA)
Heat 10: 1. 29-Austin Stone (Visalia, CA)
Heat 11: 3. 27a-Alex Coronado (Modesto, CA), 4. 151-Seth Hancock (Springville, CA)
Heat 12: 1. 11F-Mitchell Faccinto (Hanford, CA)
Heat 14: 7. 98-Sean Watts (Atwater, CA).
Heat 16: 7. 5d-Annie DeRemer (Happy Valley, OR).
For more information on the Tulsa Shootout, visit http://www.tulsashootout.com/ 

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Firestone Indy Lights Visit the West Coast Two Times in 2012

The Firestone Indy Lights recently released their 2012 racing schedule.

Among their 12-race slate are two West Coast stops: a stop at the "Streets of Long Beach" Long Beach, CA for the Long Beach Grand Prix (the same weekend as the IZOD IndyCars) April 14-15 for the fourth consecutive year, plus a return to the two-mile Auto Club Speedway oval in Fontana, CA on September 15, their first race at Auto Club Speedway since 2005 (IndyCar weekend).

The CART-sanctioned Indy Lights are designed at being a stepping-stone platform to the IZOD IndyCar series. For more information on the Firestone Indy Lights, visit http://indycar.com/roadtoindy/

The IZOD IndyCar series makes three West Coast appearances in 2012 - at the above-mentioned Long Beach Grand Prix April 15, plus Infineon Raceway at Sears Point in Sonoma, CA on August 26 and Auto Club Speedway on September 15.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

McQueen Racing Geared Up for 2012 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals


McQueen Racing Geared Up for 2012 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals


By Robert Haugh

Competing against the World’s best racers over five days January 10 through 14, with approximately 250 racers competing, including reigning and three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and two-time Chili Bowl winner Tony Stewart, reigning NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Sprint Car icon and five-time Chili Bowl winner Sammy Swindell, reigning two-time champion Kevin Swindell and a plethora of the most talented racers from an array of racing backgrounds and disciplines, McQueen Racing is gearing up to make a run for the biggest trophy in Midget racing - the coveted Golden Driller. 

Having completed a stellar 2011 racing season, McQueen Racing is hoping at carrying their success to the biggest Midget race of the year, getting prepared for the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway, January 10-14.

McQueen Racing’s 2012 Chili Bowl team will be an all-female roster, consisting of Bakersfield, California’s Shannon McQueen, Guthrie, Oklahoma’s Michelle Decker and Lindsay, Oklahoma’s Harli White, a 16-year-old Chili Bowl rookie.

McQueen competed in 21 races in 2011, claiming one feature victory, six seconds, 12 Top 5s and 19 Top 10s en route to clinching the Bay Cities Racing Association Dirt championship prior to the final BCRA Dirt race, becoming the first female to win a major Midget championship. McQueen also claimed seven Heat race wins, two Dash wins and two fast time awards, including a track record at Silver Dollar Speedway. McQueen also holds track records at Calistoga Speedway, Petaluma Speedway and Orange Show Speedway.

M&M Racing Photo - www.mmracingphotos.com

McQueen will be vying for victory in the Shannon McQueen #7 Murf Dogg Racing, R.C. 4 Less, American Waste Control, Simpson Race Products, K&N Filters Spike/Esslinger.

Decker, who scored a fifth-place run at Silver Dollar Speedway in her lone 2011 Midget appearance, will be piloting the Shannon McQueen #7d Waurika Truck & Tire, Carter Custom Finishes, Starrship Trucking, Simpson Race Products, Quantum Consulting Spike/Esslinger.

Decker was third in the ASCS Sooner Region points in 2011 and was the 2008 Sprint Car champion at Oklahoma’s State Fair Speedway. Decker was also the 2005 Super Sprint Winter Nationals champion at State Fair Speedway.

Though a Chili Bowl rookie, White is familiar with the bullring Dirt oval, having made the A-Main in two different classes at the Tulsa Shootout. Harli scored eight feature wins in Micro competition in 2011, plus dozens of Top 5 and Top 10 finishes. White, who made her inaugural Midget start a great one, claiming a fourth-place run and dominating a Heat race at Chowchilla Speedway, will be driving the McQueen Racing #7w American Waste Control, Waurika Truck & Tire, Quantum Consulting, K&N Filters, Eibach Springs Spike/Esslinger.

White will compete on Wednesday, Decker on Thursday and McQueen on Friday, with all three competing in Saturday’s finale, where all racers from four qualifying nights are placed into feature races based on their points from qualifying night races.

McQueen Racing sponsors include K&N Filters, Lucas Oil Products, Simpson Race Products, Eibach Springs, American Fabrication of Bakersfield, Advanced Racing Suspensions, Ruth Engineering, West Evans Motorsports, Esslinger Racing Engines by Duane McQueen and JE Piston Company.

Additional 2012 Chili Bowl Sponsors include:  American Waste Control, MurfDogg Racing/Motorworks, R/C 4 Less, Carter Custom Finishes, Quantum Consulting, Waurika Truck and Tires, Starrship Trucking, Dale’s Electric and Mud-X.

 Visit www.shannonmcqueen.com for more information on McQueen Racing.







Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Compiled (Expected) BCRA Midget & Midget Lite Schedules

Though there are no official schedules released, we have compiled partial schedules for the BCRA Midgets and Midget Lites. For the Midgets, this is pretty close to the full schedule, barring any major developments. The "Open Wheel Madness" race at Petaluma has become a favorite of many Midget owners and drivers, and we expect the August 11 Petaluma race to be one of BCRA's strongest races of the season.

 If anyone has any dates to add to the schedule, or the complete schedules, please let us know. Many owners are planning out their 2012 racing schedules, and need to confirm dates. 

Regarding the Lites, the Lites have a steady home base with six dates in Placerville, but beyond that, it looks like a soft schedule for the Lites in 2012. 

The 25th Annual Jack London Bash Hall of Fame and Picnic is slated on the first weekend of August, August 4, at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds prior to an evening race at Placerville Speedway. That race program will feature the BCRA Midgets and BCRA Midget Lites. 

Please note, these are not official schedules. Check with the tracks and BCRA for further information. 

BCRA Midgets Tentative Schedule (compiled by WOWRN)
April 7 Marysville Raceway Park
April 28 Placerville Speedway (with King of the West Sprint Cars)
May 12 Ukiah Speedway, Ukiah, CA
June 30 Placerville Speedway (with King of the West Sprint Cars)
July 7 Lakeport Speedway
July 28 Ukiah Speedway
August 4 Placerville Speedway (Jack London Bash Hall of Fame & Picnic)
August 11 Petaluma Speedway (expected race date)
August 25 Marysville Raceway Park
September 22 Ukiah Speedway
October 20 Lakeport Speedway
EXPECTED - Races at Chowchilla and Antioch.

BCRA Midget Lites Tentative Schedule (compiled by WOWRN)
April 14 Placerville Speedway
May 5 Placerville Speedway
June 2 Placerville Speedway
June 30 Placerville Speedway  (with King of the West Sprint Cars)
August 4 Placerville Speedway (Jack London bash Hall of Fame & Picnic)
August 11 Petaluma Speedway (expected race date)
September 22 Placerville Speedway (with CA Civil War series)
EXPECTED: Races at Antioch and Merced.

For more information on the Bay Cities Racing Association, visit www.bcraracing.com


More 2012 Track Schedules Released

Placerville Speedway 2012 Schedule:

Marysville Raceway Park 2012 Schedule:


Beyond the West Coast: West Coast Racers Making International Waves


Beyond the West Coast: West Coast Racers Making International Waves

By Robert Haugh

West Coast racers have long made waves in the International Sprint Car and Midget circles, and 2011-2012 is no different.

Larson, Allard, Coons Fare Well in New Zealand

19-yard-old Kyle Larson, of Elk Grove, CA made the best of his debut in New Zealand, winning his first International Midget race in his inaugural start in New Zealand. Starting seventh in the 25-lap feature, Larson passed New Zealand’s Midget champion Michael Pickens to capture the triumph in the opening round of the Crowne Plaza International Midget series, held on Boxing night (December 26) at Western Springs Speedway.

Western Springs’ Web site says Larson “quickly moved forward and by half distance had engaged in a battle royale with current national midget champion Michael Pickens, the pair swapping the lead on just about every corner.”


Photo courtesy of Kyle Larson's Facebook page

Defending International midget series champion Jerry Coons Jr., of Tuscon, Arizona finished fourth. Larson in the Midget here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AoOssk7PFI&feature=youtu.be

Chico’s Jonathan Allard, the reigning New Zealand Sprint Car Champion won Round two of the Porter Group/Hydraulink International Sprint Car series, moving into the lead and never looking back in the 30-lap Sprint car feature.
Follow Larson, Coons and Allard’s New Zealand forays at http://springsspeedway.com/
Both are scheduled to race at Western Springs Speedway on December 31st with the World 30-lap Derby.


A highlight video of the Sprints and Midgets:




Rico Abreu Scores Top Five in Archerfield Debut
St. Helena, CA 19-year-old Rico Abreu opened his International Sprint Car racing slate with a solid fifth place finish, winning “himself a legion of fans in the process,” according to the Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway’s Web site.
Abreu placed fifth in in Round 7 of the KRE Race Engines Sprintcar Track Championship on Boxing Night, December 26 at 
 Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway in Brisbane, Australia.
Abreu, likely the shortest man to ever wheel a Sprint Car is piloting the specially-modified #USA89 Kaedings Performance/Abreu Vineyards Maxim. Abreu impressed the Australian fans by clocking impressive 11.405 laps in his first look at the track (second fast only to Donny Schatz’s 11.375s).
The next event for Abreu at Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway will be night two of the annual Summer Of Speed schedule on Sunday night January 1 with Round 8 of the KRE Race Engines Sprint Car Track Championship. Follow Abreu’s “Down Under” adventures at http://www.brisbanespeedway.com.au/default.asp
Tony Hunt to Compete in South Africa
Elsewhere, reigning and eight-time USAC champion Tony Hunt of Lincoln, CA will try to add to an international win to his resume, as he will compete at Ultimate Raceway in Vereeniging, South Africa on January 7. Hunt will be one of two Americans traveling to compete in winged 410 sprints on the quarter-mile paved oval track as part of the “Ultimate Sprint Car Series”.  Visit www.tonyhunt.com for more information.

Friday, December 23, 2011

2012 King of the West 410 Sprint Car Schedule

The tentative 2012 King of the West 410 Sprint Car series was announced last night (Thursday, December 22) on KWS's Internet-based TV show, "KWS Tonight" hosted by Gary Thomas and George Hague. The video is archived and available 24/7 at www.kwssprints.com


The 2012 KWS Sprint Car series features a 20-race slate, with much anticipated returns to Placerville Speedway. 



The 2012 schedule:
April 7 Placerville Speedway, Placerville, CA
April 14 Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway, Tulare, CA
April 21 Marysville Raceway Park, Marysville, CA
April 28 Placerville Speedway, Placerville, CA
May 5 Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico, CA - Dave Bradway Memorial Race
May 12 Tulare Thunderbowl
May 26 Calistoga Speedway, Calistoga, CA Tribute to Walter T. Ross
May 27 Calistoga Speedway Tribute to Walter T. Ross
June 2 Tulare Thunderbowl
June 8 Silver Dollar Speedway - Road to the Dirt Cup
June 9 Southern Oregon Speedway, Medford, OR - Road to the Dirt Cup
June 23 Antioch Speedway, Antioch, CA
June 30 Placerville Speedway
July 6 Merced Speedway, Merced, CA
July 7 Ocean Speedway, Watsonville, CA - Howard Kaeding Classic
July 14 Giant Chevrolet King's Speedway, Hanford, CA
July 21 Antioch Speedway
August 18 Silver Dollar Speedway
August 25 Petaluma Speedway, Petaluma, CA
September 15 King's Speedway - Cotton Classic

Visit King of the West Sprint Car Series for additional information on the King of the West Sprint Car series.


Thursday, December 22, 2011

Bryan Clauson (West Coast Native) 2011 Highlight Video

Thought we'd share an awesome video that highlights Bryan Clauson's 2011 Midget season.
Very well done video.

Enjoy!

Bryan Clauson 2011 Midget Highlight Video




USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Schedule Releases

The 2012 USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car series schedule features 17 race nights with a debut as Las Vegas Motor Speedway and returns to Groppetti Automotive Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway, Giant Chevrolet King's Speedway, Santa Maria Speedway, Bakersfield Speedway and Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, AZ.

The WC360 schedule kicks off with a non-points race on March 8 at las Vegas Motor Speedway, in a race sharing the bill with the WoO Sprint Cars during the NASCAR race weekend. WC360 will also share the bill with WoO on March 17 at Tulare.


Some notable events on the schedule include the Jim Evett Memorial on July 14th with the winged 410 King of the West Sprint Cars, the Jim Turner Memorial on September 8th and the 27th Annual Cotton Classic on October 13th.

For more information on the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series, visit westcoastsprintcars.com and usacracing.com

FULL SCHEDULE
March 8: *Las Vegas Motor Speedway - Las Vegas, NV (Non-Points)
March 17: Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
March 24: Bakersfield Speedway - Bakersfield, CA
April 7: Giant Chevrolet King's Speedway - Hanford, CA
April 14: Thunderbowl Raceway
April 21: Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA
May 5: Santa Maria Speedway
May 12: Thunderbowl Raceway
June 2: Thunderbowl Raceway
June 23: Santa Maria Speedway
July 7: *Santa Maria Speedway
July 14: Kings Speedway
August 4: Kings Speedway
September 8: Kings Speedway
September 22: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Non-Points)
September 29: Santa Maria Speedway (Non-Points)
October 13: Kings Speedway

* = Co-Sanctioned Event With ASCS Canyon Region Sprints.

King of the West Schedule to be Released Tonight

The King of the West Sprint Car series will be releasing their tentative 2012 racing schedule on their Internet-based show, "KWS Tonight" tonight, Thursday, December 22 at 7 p.m. PST. After the initial airing, it will be available 24/7  on the King of the West web site at http://www.kwssprints.com/

The KWS 410 Winged Sprint Car series is expected to return to several familiar tracks, including Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calistoga Speedway, Placerville Speedway, American Valley Raceway in Quincy, Petaluma Speedway, Ocean Speedway in Watsonville and more.

Visit King of the West Sprint Car series for additional information on the King of the West Sprint Car series.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

USAC/CRA Sprint Car Schedule

Amsoil USAC/CRA 2012 Sprint Car Schedule:
February 25 - Perris Auto Speedway, Perris, CA
March 31 - Perris
April 28 - Perris
May 19 - Giant Chevrolet King's Speedway, Hanford, CA
May 26 - Perris
June 2 - Cocopah Speedway, Yuma, AZ
June 15 - Ocean Speedway, Watsonville, CA**
June 16 - Santa Maria Speedway, Santa Maria, CA**
July 4 - Perris
July 28 - Perris
August 10 - Ocean Speedway**
August 11 - Santa Maria Speedway**
August 18 - Perris
September 1 - Calistoga Speedway, Calistoga, CA** Louie Vermeil Classic
September 2 - Calistoga Speedway** Louie Vermeil Classic
September 5 - Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico, CA**
September 15 - Perris
October 6 - Perris
October 26 - Canyon County Speedway Park, Peoria, AZ*
October 27 - Canyon County Speedway*
November 2 - Perris* Budweiser Oval Nationals
November 3 - Perris* Budweiser Oval Nationals
**=Co-sanctioned with USAC Western Classic Racing Series
*=Co-sanctioned with USAC National Sprints

Full schedule here: USAC/CRA Sprint Car Schedule

Early BCRA and King of the West Schedules (work in progress)

BCRA Midgets (www.bcraracing.com) confirmed 2012 races:
April 28 Placerville Speedway, Placerville, CA w/ King of the West Sprint Cars
July 7 Lakeport Speedway, Lakeport, CA
August 4 Placerville Speedway - Jack London Bash Picnic & Hall of Fame (expected to be with BCRA Midget Lites and BCRA Vintage)
August 11 Petaluma Speedway, Petaluma, CA (not confirmed, but expected to be with BCRA Midget Lites)
October 20 Lakeport Speedway - October Classic

Other expected races: Chowchilla, Antioch

King of the West Sprint Cars confirmed 2012 races:
April 28 - Placerville Speedway
June 30 - Placerville Speedway
July 6 - Ocean Speedway, Watsonville, CA Howard Kaeding Classic

Other races expected: Silver Dollar Speedway, American Valley Raceway, Petaluma Speedway and more.

BCRA Midget Lites:
June 30 Placerville Speedway w/ King of the West Sprint Cars

Monday, December 19, 2011

USAC Western States Midgets Schedule

Highlights of the USAC Western Midgets' slate include a return of Midgets to Ocean Speedway in Watsonville after a five-year hiatus on Friday, July 6 for the Howard Kaeding Classic, a return to Santa Maria Speedway after a three-year hiatus, two return races at the famed Silver Dollar Speedway for the Mini Gold Cup and the Gold Cup race of Champions, both on the same bill as the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and the can't-miss Louie Vermeil Classic over Labor Day Weekend at the 1/2-mile Calistoga Speedway.

On the Pavement side, the USAC Western Midgets visit the 1/3-mile Madera Speedway on five occasions.


USAC Western States Midgets 2012 Schedule
DIRT
March 23 Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico, CA - Mini Gold Cup
March 24 Silver Dollar Speedway - Mini Gold Cup
April 7 Bakersfield Speedway, Oildale, CA
May 12 Santa Maria Speedway, Santa Maria, CA
July 6 Ocean Speedway, Watsonville, CA Howard Kaeding Classic
August 4 Santa Maria Speedway
September 1 Calistoga Speedway, Calistoga, CA Louie Vermeil Classic
September 2 Calistoga Speedway Louie Vermeil Classic
September 6 Silver Dollar Speedway - Gold Cup
September 7 Silver Dollar Speedway - Gold Cup
September 22 Bakersfield Speedway
October 27 Chowchilla Speedway, Chowchilla, CA Pumpkin Cup

PAVEMENT
March 31 Madera Speedway, Madera, CA
May 5 Madera Speedway
June 9 Madera Speedway
July 14 Madera Speedway
September 15 Madera Speedway
November 22 - TBA

Beyond the West - West Coasters Making Waves

Several West Coast connections were in action over the weekend at POWRi's 2nd Annual Battle at the Center in DuQuoin, Illinois. In the 40-lap finale, San Jose native Thomas "T-Mez" Meseraull, the 2004 BCRA champion battled side-by-side for the duration of the A-main with California native Bryan Clauson. Clauson was victorious at the finish over T-Mez. The two swapped positions countless times in the indoor race. These two West Coast natives showed their skills and will surely be favorites in the 2012 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals. Arizona's Casey Shuman placed fourth while California native Danny Stratton claimed sixth. Both Clauson and Meseraull claimed wins in their respective Qualifying races. Video of the thrilling battle between Clauson and T-Mez is below.

POWRi Battle at the Center Results




For more information on the POWRi racing series, visit http://www.powri.com/POWRi

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Updated Chili Bowl West Coast Entries (78 and counting)

Current West Coast Chili Bowl Midget entries:
#1j J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ Triple Crown Racing F5 Twister/Toyota
#2 Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA, Keith Kunz Motorsports
#2az Rick Shuman, Gilbert, AZ  Dave Burkhart Cobra/Fontana
#2b Tyler Reddick, Corning, CA 2B racing Spike/Fontana
#2g Terry Goodwin, Laveen, AZ  Misty Goodwin Spike/Fontana
#2h Casey Shuman, Rattlesnake Bend, AZ Hans Lein Spike/Esslinger
#2T Thomas Meseraull, San Jose, CA   Mark Bush Spike/Esslinger
#3  Darren Hagen, Riverside, CA   RFMS Racing Spike/Esslinger
#3nz Jerry Coons, Jr., Tuscon, AZ Danny Lendich Spike/Esslinger
#05g Damion Gardner, Concord, CA Loyet Motorsports Spike/Esslinger
#05h  Jake Swanson, Anaheim, CA   Swanson Motorsports Stealth/Honda
#05t Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA Loyet Motorsports Spike/Esslinger
#6y Vinny Villeggiante, Gresham, OR  Vinny Villeggiante Spike/Gaerte
#7  Shannon McQueen, Tehachapi, CA  Shannon McQueen Spike/Esslinger
#7d Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK  Shannon McQueen Spike/Esslinger
#7w Harli White, Lindsay, OK Shannon McQueen Racing Spike/Esslinger
#8 Mike Lapp, Goodyear, AZ Mike Lapp Stealth/Chevy II-Fontana
#8b Bob Ream, Jr., Glendale, AZ 2B Racing F5/Fontana
#8v Jace Vanderweerd, Visalia, CA Ron Vanderweerd Spike/Stanton Mopar
#9 Levi Roberts, Broomfield, CO Steve Lewis-Nine Racing Spike/Esslinger
#9b Harris Brooks, Houston, TX  Sean Dodenhoff EMC/Fontana
#9d Sean Dodenhoff, Bakersfield, CA Sean Dodenhoff Spike/Fontana
#9x Matt Hummel, San Jose, CA KKR Spike/Speedway Motors#11b Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA Manic Racing Stealth/Fontana
#12b Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ Robbie & Gaye Allen Spike/Esslinger
#12k TBA Kruseman Motorsports  Spike/Esslinger
#12jr Josh Pelkey, Peoria, AZ Robbie & Gaye Allen Spike/Esslinger
#14jr Matt Streeter, Galt, CA Matt Streeter Spike/S&S Automotive
#15k Connor Kassik, Lake Havasu, AZ  Neverlift Motorsports TCR/Chevy
#15n T.J. Smith, Fresno, CA Neverlift Motorsports Spike/Van Dyne Chevy
#15p David Prickett, Fresno, CA Neverlift Motorsports Spike/Van Dyne Chevy
#17k Patrick Clark, Las Vegas, NV Kruseman Motorsports Spike/Esslinger
#17w Cole Wood, Auburn, CA Matt Wood Spike/Esslinger
#18 Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA Floyd Alvis Stealth/Wesmar
#19s Richard Vanderweerd, Visalia, CA Mike Sala Spike/Sala Chevy
#19w TBA Miek Sala Stealth/Wirth Chevy
#21 az Mike Visser, Cottonwood, AZ Dave Burkhart Eagle/Gaerte
#21jr Kevin Michonowicz, Lomita, CA Ron Bach Spike/Gaerte
#21k Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA Kruseman Motorsports Spike/Esslinger
#21v Jimmy Voitel, Covina, CA Jimmy Voitel Ellis/Van Dyne Chevy
#22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA Bill Camarillo Spike/Fontana
#22s Steve Stasa, West Hills, CA Steve Sasa TCR/Chevy V4
#26 Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA Doug Bock Spike/Esslinger
27  TBA  Cliff Blackwell Stealth/Yates Ford
27b TBA Cliff Blackwell Stealth/Gaerte Chevy
27c Kip Hughes, Enid, OK Cliff Blackwell Stealth/Gaerte Chevy
#28 Alex Schutte, Rohnert Park, CA Calvin Martens TCR/Mopar
#35 Justin Grant, Ione, CA Larry Gardner Stealth/Frampton-Gaerte
#35 w Ricky Wright, Ponca City, OK Douglas & Britton Bock TCR/Esslinger
#38k Brian Deegan, Omaha, NE Kruseman Motorsports Spike/Esslinger
#39k Kyle Edwards, Fountain Valley, CA Gordon Edwards Ellis/Van Dyne
#44s Clint Schubert, Calhan, CO George Schubert Spike/Fontana
#49jr Bobby Michonowicz, Lomita, CA Ron Bach Spike/Esslinger
#49x Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA KKR Spike/Speedway Motors#51 Brent Camarillo, Camarillo, CA Bill Camarillo Spike/Ed Pink Chevy
#51j R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ Bobby Martin Spike/Fontana
#51s Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA Proflyer Enterprises Spike/Proflyer
#55 Kyle Smith, Moorpark, CA Kyle Smith Spike/Chevy
#58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA Gordon & Alisa Peard F5 Twister/
#63 Cole Whitt, Alpine, CA Dooling Machine Inc. Spike/Esslinger
#67 Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA Keith Kunz Motorsports
#67k Rico Abreu, Rutherford, CA Keith Kunz Motorsports
#67x Britton Bock, Angwin, CA Britton Bock Spike/Esslinger
#71 Jason Leffler, Long beach, CA Keith Kunz Motorsports
#71p Tim Pyle, Gresham, OR Warren Pyle-Tim Pyle SPike/Brayton
#71s Ronnie Gardner, Corona, CA Keith Ford Spike/Esslinger
#72 Ryan Bernal, Hollister, CA Tom Ford JFM/Bob Wirth
#73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA Keith Ford Spike/Bob Wirth
#73f Greg Edenholm, Malibu, CA Keith Ford Spike/Bob Wirth
#77s Danny Stratton, Riverside, CA Steve & Diana Hampton Twister/Esslinger
#81 Markus Niemela, Rauma, Finland  Steve Watt Stealth/Sala Chevy
#82w Robbie Whitchurch, Chico, CA Whitchurch & Sons Trans. Stealth/Mopar
#83x Bob Lawlor, San Carlos, CA Floyd Alvis Stealth/Gaerte
#83e Chris Ennis, San Diego, CA Calvin Martens TCR/Esslinger
#88h Johnathan Henry, Stockton, CA Graundstadt Enterprises Ellis/Fontana

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Chili Bowl West Coast Entries - An early Look

West Coast Has Strong Chili Bowl Ties – Over 50 West Coast Entries Already Entered as Chili Bowl Pre-Entry Deadline Nears

By Robert Haugh

With up to over 250 entries, it’s no wonder that the 26th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is the Super Bowl of Midget racing.

Attracting the best Midget racers from throughout the U.S. and beyond, as well as a myriad of racing stars from an array of series including NASCAR, NHRA, WOO, it’s no surprise that with the pre-entry deadline looming on December 15, there are already over 50 drivers and teams from the West Coast gunning at winning the 26th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals and capturing the coveted Golden Driller trophy awarded on Saturday, January 14th.

An array of West Coast Midget champions, feature winners, veterans, young guns and car owners, many representing the Bay Cities Racing Association, USAC-Western States, Washington Midget racing Association, Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association and the Northwest Wingless Tour and NOMA Midgets are already entered in the 26th Annual Chili Bowl.

With so many championships, feature wins and accolades amidst the field, we will start with recent West Coast Midget champions: 2011 USAC-Western States and VRA Midget champion Cory Kruseman (two-time Chili Bowl champion, 2004, 2000) aboard the Kruseman Motorsports #21k Lucas Oil Spike/Esslinger, 2009 BCRA champion and 2011 USAC-Western States Car owner champion David Prickett of Fresno, CA piloting the Neverlift Motorsports #15p Manitowoc-Prickett’s Distributing-Crysalli-Fruitful Juice Spike/Van Dyne Chevy, 2011 BCRA Dirt Midget champion Shannon McQueen of Tehachapi, CA in the McQueen Racing #7 Murf Dogg Racing-R.C. 4 Less-American Waste Control-Simpson Race Products-K&N Filters Spike/Esslinger, 2007 BCRA champion Justin Grant of Ione, CA chauffeuring Larry Gardner’s #35 Stealth/Frampton Gaerte, 7-time BCRA champion “Ageless Wonder” Floyd Alvis manning his Champion Automotive #18 Stealth/Wesmar, 2004 BCRA champion and multi-time feature winner Thomas Meseraull wheeling Mark Bush’s #2T EF-65 Hand Cleaner Spike/Esslinger, former Chili Bowl winner and former USAC/CRA champion Damion Gardner of Concord, CA in the Loyet Motorsports #05g Spike/Esslinger, 1999 BCRA champion Matt Streeter of Galt, CA in his #14jr  S&S Automotive-T&T Trucking-ART Enterprises Spike/S&S, multiple-time Silver Crown and Sprint Car champion Bud Kaeding of Campbell, CA aboard the #2 Keith Kunz Motorsports entry and former NWWT and NOMA Midget champion Time Pyle of Gresham, Oregon in his #71p Spike/Brayton.

Joining the all-female McQueen Racing stable will be Guthrie, Oklahoma’s Michelle Decker aboard Shannon McQueen’s #7d Waurika Truck & Tire-Carter Custom Finishes-Starship Trucking-Simpson Race Products-Quantum Consulting Spike/Esslinger and Lindsay, Oklahoma’s Harli White (16-year-old Chili Bowl rookie) aboard McQueen’s #7w American Waste Control-Waurika Truck & Tire-Quantum Consulting-K&N Filters-Eibach Springs Spike/Esslinger.

Joining the Neverlift Motorsports team will be Lake Havasu City, Arizona’s Connor Kassik, the 2011 USAC-Western States Rookie-of-the-Year piloting the Neverlift Motorsports #15k Crysalli-Manitowoc-Fruitful Juice-Prickett’s Distributing TCR/Chevy and Fresno’s T.J. Smith aboard the #15s Neverlift Motorsports Crysalli-Manitowoc-Fruitful Juice-Prickett’s Distributing Spike/Van Dyne Chevy. Smith is coming off of a stellar Chili Bowl run in a McQueen racing mount in 2011, in which he advanced to B-Main 2.

Alvis’ 2012 Chili Bowl foray will see him team with San Carlos’ Bob Lawlor in Alvis’ #83x B.L. Transport-Champion Automotive-Lindsey Enterprises-F&D Welding Stealth/Gaerte. It will be Lawlor’s first Chili Bowl appearance.

Joining the potent Kruseman stable are Las Vegas’ Patrick Clark in the #17k Kruseman Motorsports Spike/Esslinger, Omaha, Nebraska’s Brian Deegan in the #38k Kruseman Motorsports Spike/Esslinger and the #12k Kruseman Motorsports Spike/Esslinger entry with a driver TBA.

Other top West Coast entrants include two-time A-main qualifier Shane Golobic of Fremont, CA aboard Doug Bock’s #26 Get Som Sports-Bicycles Inc. (Ft. Worth, TX)-Country Builders-Piners Welding Supply & Driveline Service Spike/Esslinger, American Canyon’s Travis Berryhill aboard the Manic Racing #11b Vallejo Coin Exchange-Red Line Oil-Racing 2 Cure-Fairfield Inn & Suites-Advance Racing Stealth/Fontana, current NASCAR Truck series driver Cole Whitt (2011 A-Main eighth place finisher) of Alpine, CA aboard the Dooling Machine Inc. #63 Spike/Esslinger, two-time (2008, 2009) A-Main qualifier Josh Ford of Oxnard, CA in the Keith Ford #73 Spike/Bob Wirth, 2010 A-Main qualifier Kyle Larson of Elk Grove, CA aboard the Keith Kunz Motorsports #67, NASCAR veteran Jason Leffler aboard the Keith Kunz Motorsports #71, Stockton’s Johnathon Henry aboard the Graundstadt Enterprises #88 Ellis/Fontana, Angwin’s Britton Bock in his #67x McNamara Electric-Mike Bock-Driveline Service of Santa Rosa-Pete’s Tractor Service Spike/Esslinger, Washington native Gary Taylor aboard the Loyet Motorsports #05g Spike/Esslinger, Arizona’s Chad Boat aboard Robbie & Gaye Allen’s #12b Spike/Esslinger, Bakersfield’s Sean Dodenhoff aboard his #9d Spike/Fontana, Texas’ Harris Brooks in Dodenhoff’s #9b EMC/Fontana, Rutherford, CA’s Rico Abreu in the Keith Kunz Motorsports #67k, Cole Peard of Quincy, CA in Gordon & Alisa Peard’s #58 F5 Twister, Riverside’s Darren Hagen in the #3 RFMS Racing Spike/Esslinger, Corning, CA’s Tyler Reddick in the 2B Racing #2b Spike/Fontana, Arizona’s Josh Pelkey aboard Robbie & Gaye Allen’s #12jr Spike/Esslinger, Brent Camarillo in Brian Camarillo’s #51 Spike/Ed Pink Chevy, Brian Camarillo in the Bill Camarillo #22 Spike/Fontana, Moorpark, CA’s Kyle Smith  in his own #55 Spike/Chevy, Ronnie Gardner in the #71s Keith Ford Spike/Esslinger, Danny Stratton, Arizona’s Terry Goodwin in Misty Goodwin’s #2g Spike/Fontana, Lomita’s Kevin Michonowicz in the #21jr Ron Bach Spike/Gaerte Bobby Michonowicz in the #49jr Ron Bach Spike/Esslinger and Oklahoma’s Ricky Wright aboard the #35w Douglas & Britton Bock Get Som Sports TCR/Esslinger.


Veteran Chili Bowl owner Cliff Blackwell, of Mountain View, CA has three of his #27 Stealth’s entered with drivers TBA. Veteran Car owner Mike Sala has his #19w Stealth/Wirth Chevy entered with a driver TBA.

West Coast rookie Chili Bowl entrants include Ryan Bernal of Hollister aboard the Tom Ford #72 King Racing Products-A&A Precision Machine-Berry Pack-JFM/Bob Wirth, Anaheim’s Jake Swanson aboard the Swanson Motorsports #05h Goodwine Glass-Lucas Oil-Crower Performance Stealth/Honda, Greg Edenholm of Malibu, CA aboard  Keith Ford’s #73f Spike/Bob Wirth, Rauma, Finland’s Markus Niemela in the #81 Steve Watt Stealth/Sala Chevy, Arizona’s Mike Lapp in his own #8 Stealth/Chevy II-Fontana, Oregon’s Vinny Villeggiante in his own #6y Spike/Gaerte, Auburn, CA’s Cole Wood aboard Matt Wood’s #17w Spike/Esslinger and Lindsay, Oklahoma’s Harli White in the Shannon McQueen #7w American Waste Control-Waurika Truck & Tire-Quantum Consulting-K&N Filters-Eibach Springs Spike/Esslinger. White made her Midget debut this past October, earning a Top Five finish, and has also competed well in the Tulsa Shootout in a number of race classes. Niemela made his Midget debut at Ventura with three second-place runs. Bernal made waves throughout California showing poise behind-the-wheel of Sprint Cars.

Other expected entries, not yet entered include multiple-time 2011 feature winner Scott Pierovich, Pleasanton’s Pete Davis, the Walker-Racing-Bay Muffler #10 stable, Robby Josett, past BCRA and WMRA feature winner and WMRA champion Evan Margeson, Randi Pankratz, Wink Schweitzer and the ever-popular Swanson brothers, Tanner and Kody from Kingsburg, CA, who have dominated many Midget and Sprint Car events in the past several years.

Of the West Coast entries, Cole Whitt
, Damion Gardner, Cory Kruseman, Shane Golobic, Jason Leffler and Thomas Meseraull made the A-Main in 2011, with Whitt finishing eighth. Other West Coast entries making the dual B-Mains last year included Bud Kaeding, Danny Stratton, Robby Josett and T.J. Smith. Washington native Gary Taylor also narrowly missed the A-main on Saturday.

Whitt has competed in the A-man for the past four years, with a high of second in 2010, while Meseraull has competed in the last three A-Mains with a high of 16th in 2009. Golobic has raced in the last two A-Mains with a high of 17th in 2011.

Damion “The Demon” Gardner, who won the Chili Bowl in 2008 is looking for his second podium finish in the A-Main after finishing 14th in 2011, missing the A in 2010 and settling for 19th in 2009.

After making the A-Main in 2008, Bobby Michonowicz will be hoping to make it back into the finale, after having two B-Main runs and a disappointing 2011 C-Main finish after transferring from the D.

Larson claimed tenth in the 2010 Chili Bowl.

We have tried to include every entry, whether owner, driver or team with West Coast ties in this report, however, we apologize for any errors or omissions from this article, as there are expected to be over 250 entries in the 26th annual Chili Bowl. Please make this scribe aware of any such omissions.

The 2012 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals revs up on Tuesday, January 10 and concludes with Saturday’s feature races on January 14.

To view the entire entry list, visit www.chilibowl.com.

For detailed reports and updates on West Coast Chili Bowl entries, please visit http://wowracingnews.blogspot.com

2012 WMRA Midgets PAVEMENT Schedule (Tentative)

Tentative 2012 Washington Midget Racing Association (WMRA) PAVEMENT Schedule
May 19 South Sound Speedway
May 26 Evergreen Speedway
June 9 Agassiz, B.C. 
June 23 Evergreen Speedway
July 14 South Sound Speedway
July 28 Evergreen Speedway - Rory Price Memorial w/ NSRA
August 11 Agassiz, B.C. in conjunction w/ ARCA
August 18 South Sound Speedway
September 1 Evergreen Speedway (during Fair)
September 8 South Sound Speedway
September 15 South Sound Speedway (rain date, if necessary) 



For more information on the WMRA Midgets, visit http://www.wmraracing.com/