Exciting News - MAGAZINE coming soon

While we've been quite busy with a number of things, you will soon see a PRINT version of Western Open Wheel Racing News! It will be available in hardcopy form, full color, and will feature news, race results, action photos, features, profiles, tech items, classifieds and more. We plan it to be published every other month, with the current target of the premiere issue being a September/October publication. 


We apologize for the lack of posts lately, but we have been preparing an Editorial calendar, advertising rates and more for the printed magazine. There will also be a less-expensive digital version available for download for those who wish to view the magazine online - thought we know many of you enjoy having reading material in print. 


Be looking for many more posts soon and more information on the printed and digital magazine very soon!


Be sure to visit our Links on the right hand side of this site, which can bring you directly to the Web sites of the race organizations, tracks and teams of the West. If you are on Facebook and/or Twitter, you can find many of the series' and teams' results there. 


If you have any story ideas, advertising leads (we are willing to work out a commission agreement to anyone willing to help solicit and sell advertising space!) or general input, please comment here, or E-mail us at wowracingnews@gmail.com


Thanks for your support and thanks for reading!!!

USAC-WS/BCRA Midget Results from Madera's Al Pombo Classic

Scott Pierovich claimed the Midget triumph in the 30-lap Al Pombo Classic feature at Madera Speedway on Saturday, June 9. Pierovich was the class-of-the-field, setting quick time and going on to win the A-main over Chad Nichols, Nick Chivello, David Goodwill and Shannon McQueen. 


Goodwill, in fourth, was the winner of the BCRA portion of the "LeMans" style race where BCRA and USAC entries race two separate races inside of the overall race. Pierovich, obviously, claimed the USAC-Western States portion of the feature. 

Feature (Overall finish): 1. Pierovich, 35 Pierovich,  2. Nichols, 17 Nichols, 3. Chivello, 27 Chivello, 4. Goodwill, 88 Arata, 5. McQueen, 7 McQueen/Eskesen/Rescino, 6. Tony Hunt, 10 Mason Cook, 7. Kevin Morris, 17 Del Morris, 8. Frankie Guerrini III, 63 Guerrini, 9. Dan Gund, 6 Gundo, 10. Jake Swanson, 21k Swanson-Kruseman, 11. Floyd Alvis 12. Mikey Snider 13. Gary Conterno 14. Rick Holbrook 15. Lonny Alton 16. J.R. Williams, 74 Williams


Feature (USAC): 1. Pierovich 2. Nichols 3. Chivello 4. McQueen 5. Hunt 6. Guerrini III 7. Gundo 8. Swanson


Feature (BCRA): 1. Goodwill 2. Morris 3. Alvis 4. Snider 5. Conterno 6. Holbrook 7. Alton 8. Williams


McQueen claimed the USAC Heat over Nichols, Hunt, Chivello, Gundo, Pierovich, Guerrini III and Swanson.


Alvis won the BCRA Heat over Snider, Goodwill, Conterno, Morris, Holbrook, Alton and Williams.


Pierovich's fast time was 13.755 followed by Nichols, Guerrini III, Chivello and Hunt.


McQueen continues leading the USAC-Western States points.


 Alvis and Conterno will unofficially continue to be the Top 2 in BCRA points with Holbrook, Snider and Morris all in the hunt. 


Jake Swanson made his first-ever pavement Midget start. 


Of note, eight of the overall Top 10 finishers in the feature were USAC-WS cars, running 10" Hoosier RR tires, whereas the BCRA contingent raced on 12" RR American Racer tires. 

Travis Berryhill Hoping for Strong Angell Park Showing This Weekend

By Robert Haugh

Hoping to improve on a recent Top 10 run, American Canyon, CA native Travis Berryhill is gunning at capturing a Top 5 run in the Sunday, June 10 Badger Midget Auto Racing Association event at the historic Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, WI.

Manning the Manic Racing #11 Spike-built Stealth/Fontana, the “Spirit of American Canyon” Berryhill will be joined by Manic Racing teammate David Budres of Beloit, WI.

In Berryhill’s last race on May 27, at Angell Park, he qualified third and finished eighth in the Feature on a very rough, hooked up track. During the feature race, a huge chunk of clay ripped off a side panel, causing Berryhill to have a rock drill his lower right leg. “We were lucky to even finish, it felt like a 100mph fast ball hit my leg, but there was no way I was pulling in.”

“I’m really looking forward to going back there [Angell Park] now that I have some time in the seat. The history there is amazing and it’d be fantastic to pilot the Manic Racing Fontana-powered #11 to a Top 5, and hopefully into victory lane at the Prairie,” says Berryhill.

The Manic Racing entries currently sport distinctive pink ribbons, with the team having hooked up with Racing 2 Cure prior to the 2012 Chili Bowl. Racing 2 Cure’s mission is helping families who are currently fighting cancer.

Vallejo Coin Exchange, K&N, MPD Racing, Schroeder Torsion Bars, Hinchman Racing Uniforms, Redline Oil and Manic Racing are proud sponsors of Travis Berryhill Racing.

Visit www.travisberryhill.com for Travis’ schedule, news and merchandise. Also, follow Travis on Twitter (@tbspeed11) and on Facebook at facebook.com/tbspeed11.

West Coast Well-Represented This Weekend

Former BCRA Midget champion Justin Grant of Ione, CA claimed the non-wing Sprint Car win in the Legends of Lawrenceburg Classic at Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, IN on June 2, his first win at Lawrenceburg. Grant also claimed a Heat win at the track of which he has been plagued by blown tires and mechanical gremlins all year.  

Hollister, CA's Ryan Bernal, recent High School graduate claimed fifth in the POWRi Lucas Oil National Series/USAC Mopar National series' co-sanctioned  60th Annual Lucas Oil Hut 100 at Tri-State Speedway in Indiana on June 2. Bernal was driving the famous Keith Kunz #67 Spike/Toyota, and started third in the 34-car starting field, jumping to the early lead, leading Laps 1-16. Arizona's Jerry Coons, Jr. dominated the race, lapping up to the Top 5 before dropping back after a suspension component failed on the final lap, still finishing sixth! 41 entries compete for 33 feature starting positions. 

The Washington Midget Racing Association is inviting all West Coast Midget racers (USAC, BCRA, etc.) to compete in a $1,000-to-win race at Cottage Grove Speedway in Oregon on Saturday, June 16th.

Cottage Grove is a high-banked 1/4-mile track.

According to WMRA, the track owner will supply hotel rooms on Friday night and a reduced rate of $79 on Saturday to the first five cars that confirm attendance. The Saturday night rooms are limited, so it’s a first-come first-served at the $79.00 rate. Limit 1 room per car team. In addition, WMRA will pay $50 tow money for those first five cars.

The program will include qualifications, a four-lap trophy dash, 2-3 heats, and a 35 lap feature. The track gate opens at 3PM and there is ample pit space. Transponders and radios are not required.

For more information, contact
Tom Maples at (360) 944-1175 or (503) 519-8453 llamas4u@msn.com
Tony Seidelman (253) 226-8003 blindside108@hotmail.com

Becker Claims Gold in Gold Country Midget Shootout

Disclosure: This article in no way is an official article endorsed by, nor representing BCRA. The views are independent to the author. This article was written as a service to the racers and to give credit to the racers and teams involved. 

By Robert Haugh

After picking off David Prickett on Lap 26, Auburn’s Sean Becker piloted Mile Sala’s #19w Stealth/Bob Wirth Chevy to victory lane on the red clay of Placerville Speedway on Saturday, June 2, claiming his first-ever Midget win in the Bay Cities Racing Association event that featured several visiting teams and drivers.

Becker started ninth, moving into fifth on the opening lap, benefiting from a series of early race cautions that included National Sprint Car Hall of Famer “Buckwheat” Jimmy Sills tipping over in Turn 1 in Dave & Wendy Thurston’s #11 Spike/Esslinger after contact with another car.

Following Sills’ tipover (minimal damage), Lonny Alton unfurled the second of three first-lap cautions, spinning his #5a Stealth/Gaerte in Turn 3. On the ensuing restart, Alton and second-place BCRA pointsman Gary Conterno tangled, ending the evening for both, Alton due to the two-spin rule, with Conterno towed off on the hook with front end damage.

After early race cautions settled down, 2000 BCRA champion Matt Streeter of Galt cruised to the lead in his #14JR Delta Demolition-T&T Trucking Spike/Ed Pink Chevy for the lead on the high side, pulling to a sizeable lead until Prickett, Becker and a charging Shane Golobic of Fremont began reeling him in.

Manning the Neverlift Motorsports/David Prickett Racing #15 Spike/Van Dyne Chevy, Fresno’s Prickett surpassed Streeter for the lead on Lap 12 as leaders began lapping slower cars. Becker displaced Streeter for second on Lap 13, setting his sights on former BCRA champion Prickett, who had built a steady lead.

Charging hard on the high line while getting through lapped traffic, Becker spooled in Prickett on Lap 26, taking the lead on Lap 27 as Prickett clung to the bottom, trapped behind a slower car, with Becker passing Prickett and the lapped car on the high groove, going on to win by nine tenths over Prickett.

Coming to the checkers on the final lap, Shane Golobic spun while running third in Doug Bock’s #26 Spike/Esslinger, ending the race under yellow-checkers after 29 completed laps. Golobic steadily marched from his eighth starting spot up to third place on Lap 19, where he remained until the final lap.

After getting shuffled from the Top 3, Streeter and the lapped car of Vacaville’s Rick Holbrook made contact in Turn 3 on Lap 18, with Streeter relegated to starting eleventh on the ensuing restart. Streeter rebounded to claim a Top 5 finish, finishing fifth.

Following Becker to the checkers were Prickett, Scott Pierovich in his #35 Spike/Bob Wirth Mopar, Bakersfield’s Wink Schweitzer in Brad Dodenhoff’s #9b EMC/Fontana and Streeter rounding out the Top 5.

Oakdale’s Danny Parker claimed sixth in Bob Roza’s #21 Stealth/Esslinger followed by Howard Ferguson, Jr. in Karl Hokanson’s #98, three-time BCRA champion Nick Foster, Jr. of San Jose in his #1 Beast/Esslinger, Atascadero’s Randi Pankratz in her #8x Edmunds AutoResearch/Fontana and Angwin’s Britton Bock in his #67 Spike/Esslinger rounding out the Top 10. After his spin, Golobic was scored eleventh.

Seven-time BCRA champion “Ageless Wonder” Floyd Alvis and Holbrook rounded out the finishing order of the cars running at the finish. Oregon’s Rob Lindsey sputtered to the pit area on the opening lap, only to return later, battling apparent fuel-related gremlins in his #23 Lindsey Motorsports Ellis/Pontiac.

Pankratz claimed Heat 1 over Pierovich.

Becker claimed Heat 2 over Prickett.

Golobic claimed Heat 3 over Sills, with Golobic fostering the fastest lap of the evening, a 12.169 lap during the Heat.

Prickett was the fastest during Hot laps with a 12.796 mark followed by Streeter, Sills, Pierovich and Cole Wood in the #17w Elk Grove Ford Spike/Esslinger.

Notes: J.R. Williams exited Heat 1 in his #74 Stealth/RRE Chevy EcoTec after losing a drive belt and dropping oil.

Bill Lindsey battled mechanical gremlins in Stu Donaldson’s #8 Stealth/Pontiac, completing just one lap in each the Heat and Main event.

Current second-place BCRA points man Gary Conterno’s #18a Stealth/Wesmar seized during warm ups. Luckily for Conterno’s championship hopes, Neverlift Motorsports/David Prickett Racing came through, showing great sportsmanship, offering their #151 Spike/Van Dyne Chevy to Conterno, so as to allow him to start the Heat and Feature to maintain points. With the Snider’s missing the race due their unexpected and tragic shop fire on Friday evening, the points were critical for Conterno’s championship hopes, who narrowly trailed Alvis heading into the Placerville race.

Article on the fire and video here:

http://www.lakeconews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25320:friday-night-fire-destroys-garage-race-cars&catid=1:latest&Itemid=197

West Coast Open Wheel Update

By Robert Haugh

Sure, it’s been a while – sometimes life catches up with us!

Before I continue this very belated update, be looking for an announcement soon about when the premiere issue of Western Open Wheel Racing Magazine will become available – it’s in the delayed planning stages right now, but expect the premiere issue to be launched in time for the 2013 Chili Bowl!

After getting through some early season jitters with Mother Nature, the West Coast Open Wheel scene is on fire, with some very competitive racing having taken place throughout the West Coast.

USAC-Western States Midgets

Bakersfield’s Shannon McQueen holds the overall series lead, having compiled three Top 5 runs and four Top 10 runs in five races, maintaining consistency against stellar competition. McQueen leads former BCRA driver champion and 2011 USAC-WS car owner champion David Prickett by 18 tallies, followed by Indiana’s Cole Carter, Prickett’s Neverlift Motorsports teammate Connor Kassik of Arizona and former USAC-WS champion Alex Schutte. McQueen chauffeurs the McQueen Racing #7 Spike/Esslinger on Dirt and the McQueen/Eskesen/Rescino Racing #7 Beast/Mopar on pavement.

Hollister Young Gun Ryan Bernal is making waves, having claimed feature wins at the season opener at Silver Dollar Speedway in March and also recently at King’s Speedway in Hanford, manning the Josh Ford Racing #73 Ellis/Fontana. Bernal also set fast time in Hanford. Bernal will be competing in a Keith Kunz Midget at the Hut 100 this weekend in Indiana. Bernal also sports a USAC-CRA Sprint Car win at Ocean Speedway.

Other USAC-WS wins on the year include McQueen Racing teammate Michelle Decker at Bakersfield, Chad Nichols in his #17 Orange Rocket Beast/Esslinger at Madera and Indiana’s Brad Kuhn at Santa Maria in Mason Cook’s #10. Carter has compiled two seconds and a third in Cook’s #10 mounts.

Prickett narrowly leads the Dirt points over McQueen, having garnered third, fourth, fifth and sixth place feature finishes, as well as two hard charger awards.

King of the West Sprint Cars

The King of the West 410 Sprint Cars have had an amazing season thus far, with several highlights, including Rutherford’s Rico Abreu picking up the win at the fabled ½-mile Calistoga Speedway on Memorial Day Weekend during the Tribute to Gary Patterson – the track is just five minutes from his hometown!

Through eight races (May 28), Jonathan Allard leads the KWS points over Tim Kaeding, Brent Kaeding, Evan Suggs and Bobby McMahan. Abreu also picked up a KWS win at Tulare on May 12 – his first-ever Wing 410 victory. Allard has compiled two wins (Marysville, Chico) while Tim Kaeding has amassed three wins (Antioch, Placerville and Calistoga) with Kyle Larson having a win at Tulare.

Civil War 360 Sprint Cars

After two early season rainouts, The CA Civil War series has finally started getting going. Through three races, Kyle Hirst leads the Civil War series standings over Colby Wiesz, reigning champion Andy Forsberg, Stephen Allard and Greg DeCaires. Hirst, Forsberg and Brett Rollag have wins on the season.

BCRA Midgets

Through three races, 7-time BCRA champion, “Ageless Wonder” Floyd Alvis of San Carlos leads the driver’s standings by eight markers over teammate Gary Conterno, followed closely by Vacaville’s Rick Holbrook and Lakeport brothers Darin and Michael Snider. BCRA winners thus far include Chico’s Robbie Whitchurch (Marysville), Tanner Swanson (Madera in Bob Rosen’s #4 Mr. Espresso Beast/Fontana) and Kevin Morris at Lakeport in his father Del’s #17 Beast/Esslinger. Peggy Holbrook leads the car owner’s standings over Alvis’ #83, Lauren Snider’s #2k and #6k mounts and Morris’ #17. On the Dirt side, after one race, Alvis leads Oregon’s Rob Lindsey, Conterno and Holbrook. On the pavement side, after two races, Michael Snider leads Morris, Darin Snider and Alvis.

Of note was the return of Sacramento’s Ralph Cortez in his #31 Beast/Sesco Mopar at Lakeport. Cortez wasn’t planning on competing, as he is trying to sell the #31 that has not seen a track in three years – after a little nagging by fellow competitors, Cortez wound up setting the fastest lap of the evening, finishing fourth in the feature, despite not seeing seat time in three years. Cortez plans on competing on June 23 at All-American Speedway in Roseville. For information on Cortez’ car, visit: http://bcraracing.com/classifieds/comments.php?DiscussionID=156&page=1#Item_0

Pleasant Hill’s Mike Donaldson took a wild ride at Madera Speedway, resulting in what many consider a miracle that he walked away with only severe bruises and a lot of pain. His car was completely thrashed, and word is the Stu Donaldson’s stable of Midgets are parked indefinitely after Mike’s hard impact.

BCRA Midget Lites

After three races and an early season rainout, Scott Kinney leads the standings in the Fonseca/Johnson Racing Red Hawk Casino #9 having gone three-for-three, winning all three Midget Lite features, leading over former Midget standout Craig Dillard in Wayne Albright’s #72s, Dakota Albright in father Wayne’s #35jr, Marshall Sexton in his #62 and the “Flyin’ Fisher” Rick Soto in his #30. Longtime Midget Lite supporters Hoover Racing have struggled with mechanical gremlins all season, fielding three cars for brothers Richie and Joey Hoover and Craig Holsted.

BCRA was well-represented in the first “Civil War Clash” against the California Lightning Sprints at Bakersfield Speedway on May 12, with BCRA contingent taking the Top 4 spots, with Kinney, Cameron Beard, Dakota Albright and Dillard taking the top spots. Kinney charged from ninth in the feature to take the win. Kinney’s other victories came at Placerville on May 5 and April 28.

Western Performance Parts Born

Fresno’s David Prickett has officially announced the formation of Western Performance Parts, an open wheel performance supplier that will carry a number of components, catering to Midget and Sprint Car teams and more. Western performance Parts is taking and cataloguing inventory and hopes to open in early June, with an expected “opening” no later than June 15. Some of the products they will carry include XRP, AutoMeter, Afco, K&N, Wilwood, Simpson, MPD, Winters, Barnes, Hoosier, Racing Optics, Aurora Rod Ends, Eibach and Schoenfeld. You can reach Western Performance Products at 559-485-7442. A Web site will soon follow.

ASCS Northwest Sprint Cars

After two races over Memorial Day weekend at Gray’s Harbor Raceway in Elma, WA, Roger Crockett is leading the series standings over Brock Lemley, Henry VanDam, Travis Rilat and Rick Fauver. Crockett and Lemley each scored a feature win. The series is idle until a June 22 event at Cottage Grove Speedway in Oregon.

ASCS Southwest Sprint Cars

Through five races, Rick Ziehl leads the standings over Dalten Gabbard, Lance Norick, Joshua Williams and J.T. Imperial. Ziehl, Tony Bruce, Jr., Jason Johnson, Dustin Morgan and Donny Wood each have a single win on the season.

WMRA Midgets

The WMRA Midgets have held two events, May 19 at South Sound Speedway and May 26 at Monroe Speedway. Evan Margeson swept both events, claiming feature wins, Heat wins and fast time awards. Margeson’s 13.014 was a new track record at South Sound.

RMMRA Midgets

Rain has delayed the Rocky Mountain Midget season, with their season opener now slated for June 8 at 1-76 Speedway in Fort Morgan, CO.

MISC.

Former BCRA Midget champion Matt Streeter leads the Antioch Speedway Wingless Sprint points, having claimed two feature wins. Three-time BCRA Midget champion Nick Foster, Jr. of San Jose scored his first Wingless Spec Sprint Car win at Chowchilla Speedway on memorial Day weekend, and also claimed second at Ocean Speedway on May 4.

BEYOND THE WEST

For longtime Western Open Wheel racing fans, you were certainly tuning in to the Indy 500, which saw California transplant Bryan Clauson competing – thought not the results expected, everyone that knows B.C. and his family is proud of his efforts, and here’s hoping Clauson is back at the 500 next year!

Though we attempt to include a large amount of information, we cannot cover every Open Wheel event on the West Coast on a regular basis. Please encourage your race organizations, tracks, sponsors and PR people to submit press releases and results to use at: wowracingnews@gmail.com