USAC-Western States 2013 Midget Dirt Schedule

USAC-WS Midgets return to the 70th Anniversary of the Gold Cup Race of Champions in September at Silver Dollar Speedway, as well as returning for the 6th Annual Louie Vermeil Classic at Calistoga. Several stops in Arizona, including a three-day National co-sanction at Canyon Speedway Park in November. Four co-sanctioned races with BCRA at Placerville, Chico and Petaluma. Additional visits include Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Bakersfield Speedway (two races), Santa Maria Speedway, Plaza Park Raceway in Visalia and Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, marking an impressive 21-race Dirt schedule.  

2013 USAC WESTERN DIRT MIDGET SCHEDULE

March 1/2- Canyon Speedway-Peoria, AZ Copper on Dirt
March 9- TBA
March 30- Bakersfield Speedway-Oildale, CA

April 13- TBA
May 11- Santa Maria Speedway
May 18- TBA
June 1- Placerville Speedway- co-sanctioned w/ BCRA
June 15- Petaluma Speedway- co-sanctioned w/ BCRA
June 22- Thunderbowl Raceway-Tulare, CA
June29- Plaza Park Raceway-Visalia, CA
July 12- Ocean Speedway-Watsonville, CA
July 20- TBA
August 31- Calistoga Speedway
September 1- Calistoga Speedway
September 5- Silver Dollar Speedway-Chico, CA- co-sanctioned w/BCRA Gold Cup
September 21- Bakersfield Speedway-Oildale, CA
September 28- TBA
October 5- Petaluma Speedway (Soares Classic)
November 14/15/16- Canyon Speedway-Peoria, AZ- w/ National
November 22/23- Cocopah Speedway-Yuma, AZ
November 28- Perris Auto Speedway- x/ National

This observer believes the five TBA races may be Ventura, Orange Show Speedway or Route 66 raceway in Victorville. 

Early Chili Bowl Entry List Highlighted by Many West Coast Teams and Drivers

By Robert Haugh

Though early, the initial pre-entry list for the 2013 Chili Bowl has been released. Of the 124 entries thus far, approximately one third of those have West Coast connections. Several additional entries are expected to be announced soon, with the entry list likely to be updated daily. Visit www.chilibowl.com for updated entry lists and more information on the 2013  Lucal Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire.

 Among the early entries include an array of champions and feature winners including 2012 USAC-National Midget champion Darren Hagen of Riverside, CA in the RFMS Racing DCR/Esslinger, 2012 USAC-Western States champion Shannon McQueen of Bakersfield aboard the McQueen Racing #7 Lucas Oil-Simpson-ButlerBuilt-Murfdogg RC Cars-K&N Filters Spike/Esslinger by Duane McQueen and 2012 USAC-Western States Midget Dirt champion David Prickett of Fresno in his #015 Neverlift Motorsports Crysalli-Mt. Rose Mixers-K&N-Simpson-Western Performance Parts Spike/Chevrolet.

 Former BCRA Midget champion and multi-time Midget and Sprint car victor Matt Streeter of Galt campaigns his own #14JR T&T Trucking-ART Speed Equipment-Chuck Cypret Racing-Bobby Brown Racing Spike/S&S Automotive Chevy while former USAC-Western States Midget champion Alex Schutte of Rohnert Park pilots the Sean Dodenhoff #9d EMC/Fontana.

 The Josh Ford Motorsports team has a stellar lineup, with Hollister young gun and 2012 Turkey Night rookie-of-the-year Ryan Bernal in the #73 King Racing Products Ellis/Bob Wirth Fontana, World of Outlaws veteran Tyler Walker of Hermoso Beach, CA in the #73F Spike/Bob Wirth Chevy, Oklahoma's Tyler Edwards in the #72 Spike/Bob Wirth Fontana and Malibu's Greg Edenholm in the #73x Ellis/Esslinger.

 Hans Lein fields a potent two-car tandem with Arizona young gun Casey Shuman in the #2h Mid-State Equipment-G&G Spraying-Lein Acres-T&T Stone Spike/Esslinger and multiple-time Midget victor Danny Stratton of Riverside, CA in the #2s Spike/Esslinger.

 Former BCRA Midget champion and now Indiana Sprint ace "T-Mez" Thomas Meseraull will be manning the Ecker-Reisdorf #57 Spike/Esslinger. Thomas is a native of San Jose. Multiple-time 2012 feature winner Ronnie Gardner of Corona, CA will chauffer the Six 8 Motorsports Stewart/Esslinger with Fresno area open wheel ace Tanner Swanson manning Ted Finkenbinder's #3F Bullet/Chevy.

 Former A-main starter Bobby Michnowicz returns in Ron Bach's #49KR Spike/Esslinger while NASCAR young gun and former open wheel star Brad Sweet of Grass Valley, CA will pilot Willie Kahne's #67x Factory Kahne entry.

 Additional West Coast-related entries:

0K       Don O'Keefe, Jr.         Pittsboro, IN                           LOK Enterprises Spike/Esslinger

2B       Tyler Reddick                         Corning, CA                           2B Racing Beast/Gaerte

2R       Levi Roberts               Broomfield, CO                     David Roberts Spike/Esslinger

3B       Jayme Barnes              Everett, WA                           2B Racing Beast/Esslinger

3T        Tim Barber                  Fairfield, CA                          Chuck Cline Bullet/Chevrolet

7D       Michelle Decker         Guthrie, OK                            McQueen Racing Spike/Esslinger

7N       D.J. Netto                    Hanford, CA                           Frank Netto Stealth/Chevrolet

7T        Trey Marcham             Oklahoma City, OK     McQueen Racing Spike/Esslinger

8OK    TBD                                                                LOK Enterprises Spike/Esslinger

9D       Sean Dodenhoff           Bakersfield, CA          Dodenhoff Racing Spike/Fontana

11XC   Steve Newman           Steamboat Springs, CO           BRE/BRE Ford

17W    Cole Wood                  Elk Grove, CA            Matt Wood Spike/Esslinger

35D     Brett Felkins                Lodi, CA                    Felkins Spike/Fontana

44G     George Schubert          Calhan, CO      Schubert Racing Spike/Pontiac

44S      Clint Schubert Calhan, CO      Schubert Racing Spike/Fontana

55S      Trey Starks                  Puyallup, WA  Jim Ferns / Spike/Mopar

98        P.J. Jones                    Torrance, CA  RFMS Racing Spike/Esslinger

115      Conner Kassik             Lake Havasu, AZ         Neverlift Motorsports Spike/Chevrolet

151      Jesse Frazier               Tulsa, OK Neverlift Motorsports Spike/Chevrolet

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Christmas Gift Idea

Looking for a late Christmas gift? Besides buying a subscription to Western Open Wheel Racing News, you should take a look at Chris Cleveland's 2013 racing calendars. Visit http://cd-imaging.com/Blog/2013_Calendars.html to check out Chris' great calendars and work. Chris is one of the great contributos to the magazine! Please support him and his photo work!

BCRA Releases Schedule Information & Announces "New" Division

According to a column by Bay Cities Racing Association President Rick Holbrook, the fabled racing organization is adding a Vintage Hardtop division for 2013.

According to his column, the "new" division will run the rules of Vallejo Speedway of the 60s and 70s, with "spirited exhibitions" at Petaluma Speedway, Marysville Raceway Park, Placerville Speedway and SIlver Dollar Speedway, with the Hardtop division appearing on Thursday's Gold Cup race of Champions program on Thursday, September 5. The Hardtops will also join the Midgets and Lites as part of the annual Jack London Bash Picnic & Hall of Fame the first weekend of August. 

The Midgets tentatively have 11 pavement races and 9 dirt races scheduled, including being a part of the Gold Cup. On Dirt, the Midgets will visit Petaluma, Placerville and Antioch, and on pavement the Midgets will trek to Ukiah, Lakeport, Stockton 99, All-American Speedway in Roseville and Madera. 

According to sources close to Western Open Wheel racing News, many of the Dirt races will be run in conjunction with USAC-Western States Midgets, hoping t improve car counts. According to Holbrook, there is also a deal pending to bring a tri-sanctioned (BCRA, USAC, WMRA) to Oregon at Roseburg. 

The Midget Lites will run 16 races at Petaluma (four) including serving as a support to the second-annual 101-lap Johnny Soares Classic event, Marysville (four), Placerville (six) and one race each at Antioch and Bakersfield. The Bakersfield race will be the "Southern" leg of the North/South Civil War series with the CLS Lightning Sprints. 

The Vintage Midgets will return to Lakeport, Ukiah and Madera, as well be a part in the Gold Cup festivities along with the Hardtops, with promoter Dennis Gage putting together an event that Thursday honoring racing history with 2013 serving as the 70th Annual Gold Cup. 

The original writing by Holbrook can be viewed here:
http://www.bcraracing.com/2012/12/284/

2013 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR PREVIEW & SCHEDULE

By Lance Jennings 

Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series Director Chris Kearns has released the schedule for the 2013 season. Showcasing twenty-two nights of action, the traditional 410s will kickoff their campaign on March 1st with the two day "Copper On Dirt" at Canyon Speedway Park. The regional series will also return to the clay ovals of Perris, Santa Maria, Watsonville, Calistoga and Yuma, Arizona. Don Kazarian's Perris Auto Speedway will host ten dates on the calendar. 

The "home track" for USAC/CRA will continue to feature special events like the "Salute To Indy" on May 25th and the "Firecracker 30" on July 4th. The popular "California Racers Hall of Fame Night" is set for August 17th and the "Glenn Howard Classic" will be held September 14th. The "Southern California Fair Race" is October 5th and the champion will be crowned at the Budweiser Oval Nationals which begins on November 1st. 

On the strength of seven of their nine wins at the 1/2-mile track, Mike Spencer and the Ron Chaffin Motorsports team earned their fifth straight championship in 2012. For more information on the Perris events, visit perrisautospeedway.com. In addition to the season opening "Copper on Dirt," Kevin Montgomery's Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Arizona will host the two day "Hall of Fame Classic." Starting October 25th, the co-sanctioned event with the USAC National Series will also showcase Arizona "hot shoes" against the best from the Midwest, California, and New Mexico. Last October, "The Magic Man" Mike Martin upset the field by leading all 30-laps to claim the $5,000 victory in his 360 powered machine. 

For more details on the Canyon shows, visit canyonspeedwaypark.com. 

 After a successful debut last season, Yuma, Arizona's Cocopah Speedway will showcase USAC/CRA for two nights of action beginning on April 19th. Owned by the Cocopah Indian Tribe, many improvements have been made to the facility, including a larger grandstand for spectators. Last June, Brody Roa led all 30-laps to join Ron Shuman, Lealand McSpadden, Mike Kirby, and Richard Griffin as feature winners at the fast 3/8-mile facility. 

For more information on the Yuma races, visit cocopahspeedway.com. 

 John Prentice's Ocean Speedway in Watsonville will feature two dates on the schedule. The Friday night events on June 21st and August 9th will open a special doubleheader with Santa Maria and could play a key role in the championship. Last season, Mike Spencer won both events at the popular 1/4-mile facility and Cody Williams set a new track record in qualifying. For more details on the Watsonville shows, visit oceanspeedway.com. 

 Ruben and Katy Munoz have taken over the promotions at Santa Maria Speedway and will host two dates on the calendar. The Saturday night races on June 22nd and August 10th at the 1/3-mile track will close out the special doubleheaders with Watsonville. Austin Williams returned to victory circle last June and hometown favorite Danny Sheridan scored one of the most dramatic wins in the track's history at the August show. As this writing goes to press, the new promoters are working on a website for track information. 

 The scenic Calistoga Speedway will showcase the popular 2-day "Louie Vermeil Classic" over Labor Day weekend. Starting August 31st, the co-sanctioned races with the USAC Western Classic Racing Series will also host vintage cars, an autograph session, auctions, wine tasting, and more events for fans to enjoy. Last September, Ryan Bernal and Kyle Hirst added their names to the winner's list at the famed 1/2-mile facility and former "home track" to the Northern Auto Racing Club. 

For more details on the Calistoga shows, visit calistogaspeedway.org or louivermeilclassic.net. 

 Series officials are working on the annual awards banquet and details will be released as soon as possible. 

Mike Truex's Loudpedal Productions has DVDs available for purchase that feature the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series and videos can be ordered by calling (805) 407-7229 or visiting www.loudpedalvideo.com. 

 The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series would like to thank Hoosier Tire, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Integra Racing Shocks, Keizer Wheels, LRB Inc. Race Products, Ringers Gloves, Rod End Supply, SBI Fuel Systems, Saldana Racing Products, and Sander Engineering for their support. For more information on the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, visit www.usacracing.com/cra or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/USAC-CRA-Sprint-Car-Series/167535183297971) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/#!/USAC_CRA). If you or your company would like to become part of the series for the upcoming season, please email PR Director Lance Jennings at lwjennings@earthlink.net. 

 2013 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE DATE - TRACK - LOCATION March 1: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Copper On Dirt) 
March 2: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Copper On Dirt) 
March 9: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Sokola Shootout) 
April 6: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA 
April 19: Cocopah Speedway - Yuma, AZ 
April 20: Cocopah Speedway - Yuma, AZ 
May 4: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA 
May 25: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Salute To Indy) 
June 21: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA 
June 22: Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA 
July 4: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Firecracker 30) 
August 9: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA 
August 10: Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA 
August 17: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (California Racers Hall of Fame Night) 
August 31**: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic) 
September 1**: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic) 
September 14: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
 October 5: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Southern California Fair Race) 
October 25: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic) 
October 26: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic) 
November 1: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
 November 2: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Oval Nationals) 
 * = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC National Sprints. 
** = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC Western Classic Racing Series. This schedule is subject to change.

How to Subscribe Or Buy One Issue

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We are also working on making copies available for purchase at several locations. We will post information on where you can purchase copies in-person soon. This has been a long time coming and I am very excited to finally launch Western Open Wheel Racing News. There are countless people I need to thank, but there's not nearly enough space here to thank everyone. But I cannot thank my family including my lovely wife Nerissa, my Mom & Dad (Alan & Claudia) enough for supporting this endeavor and standing by my side. Their overwhlming support has been amazing. To them, and EVERYONE, I thank you for your words of encouragement and support. We expect to expand page count and coverage as advertising picks up and as we grow over time. We hope to cover as many open whele races on the West Coast as possible. To all who subscribe and/or purchase copies, THANK YOU. This publication truly is meant for you folks. For far too long, the efforts and dedication of the West Coast have not been adequately represented by publications - we are changing that! To all, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. -Robert Haugh Editor/Publisher