USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGETS EYE MERCED AND PLACERVILLE RETURN
By Lance Jennings
Image courtesy of Steve Lafond
JULY 6, 2021... The USAC Western States Midgets are ready for a rare California doubleheader. Starting this Friday, July 9th, the “mighty midgets” will tackle the Merced Speedway (Merced, CA) for their first of two appearances in 2021. Promoted by Chris Shannon and Paul Stone, the sixth point race will also feature the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Cars, Hobby Stocks, Mini Late Models, and IMCA Modifieds. Located on the Merced County Fairgrounds, the Pit Gates will open at 3:00PM, the Front Gates open at 5:30PM, Driver’s Meeting at 5:45PM, with Racing scheduled at 7:00PM. For more Merced information, visit the track’s website at mercedspeedway.net or call 209.600.8382.
The following night, Saturday, July 10th, the midgets will head to the Placerville Speedway (Placerville, CA) for the “Gold Dust Fever.” Promoted by Scott Russell and Kami Arnold, the action packed card will also showcase the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Cars and wingless BCRA Lightning Sprints. Located on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds, the Pit Gates will open at 2:00PM, the Front Gates open at 3:00PM, with Racing scheduled at 6:30PM. For more Merced information, visit the track’s website at placervillespeedway.com or call 530.344.7592.
For those that cannot travel to the races, floracing.com will broadcast a live stream of both night’s action over the internet.
MERCED NOTES:
- Any USAC Western States Midget and USAC West Coast Sprint Car driver that has ran a USAC race this season is eligible for a free driver pit pass at Merced.
- Fuel WILL NOT be available at the race track.
NOTICE TO RACERS:
- NO ENTRY FEE IN 2021.
- ALL RACERS MUST PURCHASE THEIR USAC LICENSE / MEMBERSHIPS OR TEMPORARY PERMITS (TPs) ONLINE PRIOR TO THE EVENT AT USACRACING.COM OR USACLICENSE.COM. TPs are $25 and Memberships are $150.
- California state protocol calls for competitors, crews, officials, and anyone on the grounds to practice safe social distancing, proper sanitizing, and follow local regulations regarding the COVID-19 Coronavirus.
- 2021 APPROVED/LEGAL MUFFLERS: B&B: FRAC-0375-S w/side outlet, COAST FABRICATION: 300x625x17-2s, 350x625x17-2s, 400x625x17-2s, EXTREME: 3515-3030 (15” Long 5” round shell with 3”inlet & 3” outlet), 3615-3030 (15” Long 6” round shell with 3” inlet & 3” outlet), 3515-3030-8 (15” Long 5” round shell with 3”inlet & 3” outlet with turnout), 3615-3030-8 (15” Long 6” round shell with 3” inlet & 3” outlet with turnout), FLOWMASTER: (BCRA Approved) 13009130, 13509130, 13509135, SCHOENFELD: 14272535, 14272730-78 *Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
- FULL CONTAINMENT SEATS ARE MANDATORY.
- ONE WAY DRIVER RADIOS ARE MANDATORY.
- TRANSPONDERS ARE MANDATORY.
- The USAC Western States Midget Rule Book can be found online at usacracing.com.
Merced Speedway has hosted four seven USAC Western States Midget events. Austin Liggett won the inaugural race on April 20, 2019 and is tied with Robert Dalby, Thomas Meseraull, and Tanner Thorson with one Merced triumph. NASCAR’s Kyle Larson set the 1-lap track record of 11.838 on November 21, 2020. A complete series win list at Merced is at the bottom of this release.
Since October 11, 1996, seven USAC Western States Midget events have been held at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. “The Professor” Jimmy Sills claimed the inaugural victory and “Sugar” Shane Golobic leads all drivers with two Placerville wins. When the series last visited the popular oval on October 10, 2020, New Zealand’s Scotty Farmer took the checkered flags. Dillon Welch holds the 1-lap qualifying record of 11.979, set on November 19, 2019 and a complete series win list at Placerville is at the bottom of this release.
Heading to Merced, Austin Liggett (Linden, CA) holds a 36-point lead over the competition. Racing the family owned #83 Excel Environmental Services / Liggett Trucking Spike, Liggett scored a tenth place finish at Ventura Raceway on June 5th. At press time, the 2018 USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Champion has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, five top-10 finishes and 27 feature laps led on the season. With three career wins, Liggett will be racing double duty with the USAC West Coast 360 Sprints and will be looking to sweep both nights.
Shannon McQueen (Bakersfield, CA) ranks second in the championship point standings. Driving the McQueen Racing #7 Simpson Race Products / Lucas Oil Bullet, McQueen led the first three laps and scored third at Ventura. To date, the 2012 Champion has posted five top-10 finishes and 4 feature laps led in the campaign. Shannon will have her sights on her first USAC wins at Merced and Placerville.
Blake Bower (Brentwood, CA) sits third in the USAC Western States Midget point chase. Piloting Tony Boscacci’s #9 Orland Public Auto Auction / Mountain Cascade Inc. Spike, Bower placed fifth at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. At press time, the leading rookie contender has three heat race victories and four top-10 finishes on the year. Bower will be looking to earn his first USAC Western States Midget wins at Merced and Placerville.
Brody Fuson (Bakersfield, CA) has climbed to fourth in the USAC point standings. Driving Rusty Carlile’s #51 RacePa Motorsports / W.E. Spike, Fuson placed fourth at Ventura Raceway. To date, the rookie contender has posted one Woodland Auto Display Top Qualifier Award, two heat race wins, and three top-10 finishes on the year. Brody will have his sights on earning his first USAC wins this Friday and Saturday nights.
David Prickett (Fresno, CA) ranks fifth in the chase for the championship. Racing the Nichols/Peckfelder #1NP Masters Design & Construction Spike, Prickett raced from eleventh to sixth at Ventura. At press time, the 2012 Dirt Series Champion has recorded four top-10 finishes on the season. David will be looking to sweep the Merced and Placerville events.
While Bower leads the chase for rookie honors, Fuson (Bakersfield, CA), Jarrett Soares (Gilroy, CA), Colby Johnson (Penngrove, CA), Jake Andreotti (Castro Valley, CA), Troy Morris III (Bakersfield, CA), and Colton Raudman (Redding, CA) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Ben Worth, C.J. Sarna, Dylan Ito, “The Panda” Terry Nichols, “Fireball” Maria Cofer, Ron Hazelton, Kyle Beilman, Alex Schutte, Beau Lemire, Kaleb Montgomery, Randi Pankratz, Robert Carson, and more.
Merced Speedway is located on the Merced County Fairgrounds at 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Merced, California. Adult tickets are $20, Senior tickets are $18, Kids tickets (6-10) are $5, and Children (5 & Under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at mercedspeedway.net or call 209.600.8382.
Placerville Speedway is located on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville, California at 100 Placerville Drive. Adult tickets are $22, Military/Senior tickets are $18, Junior Tickets (12-17) are $18, Kids tickets (6-11) are $10, and Children (5 & Under) are FREE. Advance tickets can be purchased online and for more event information, visit the track’s website at placervillespeedway.com or call 530.344.7592.
The USAC Western States Midget Series thanks AMSOIL, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, FloRacing, Hoosier Racing Tire, Loudpedal Productions, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Ultra Shield Race Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes, 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 on the USAC Western States Midget Series, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at usacracing.com and the social media for USAC Racing. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC Western States Midget Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
FloRacing.com has live, flag-to-flag coverage of the USAC Western States Midget Series. You can catch the action by subscribing to FloRacing on a monthly or yearly basis to view their huge catalog of live and on-demand auto racing and sporting events.
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USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET CHAMPIONS: *1982-Jeff Heywood, 1983-Sleepy Tripp, 1984-Tommy White, 1985-Sleepy Tripp, 1986-Robby Flock, 1987-Sleepy Tripp, 1988-Sleepy Tripp, 1989-Robby Flock, 1990-Sleepy Tripp, 1991-Sleepy Tripp, 1992-Sleepy Tripp, 1993-Robby Flock, 1994-Johnny Cofer, 1995-Billy Boat, 1996-Jay Drake, 1997-Ricky Shelton, 1998-Rick Hendrix, 1999-Marc DeBeaumont, 2000-Wally Pankratz, 2001-Danny Ebberts, 2002-Robby Flock, 2003-Steve Paden, 2004-Johnny Rodriguez, 2005-Jerome Rodela, 2006-Jerome Rodela, 2007-Johnny Rodriguez, 2008-Nic Faas, 2009-Garrett Hansen, 2010-Alex Schutte, 2011-Cory Kruseman, 2012-Shannon McQueen, 2013-Ronnie Gardner, 2014- Ronnie Gardner, 2015-Ronnie Gardner, 2016-Ronnie Gardner, 2017-Ronnie Gardner, 2018-Michael Faccinto, 2019-Robert Dalby, 2020-NO AWARD.
MERCED USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET TRACK RECORD: Kyle Larson – 11.838 (11/21/20)
MERCED USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS: 1-Robert Dalby, 1-Austin Liggett, 1-Thomas Meseraull, 1-Tanner Thorson.
PLACERVILLE USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET TRACK RECORD: Dillon Welch – 11.979 (11/19/19)
PLACERVILLE USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS: 2-Shane Golobic, 1-Scotty Farmer, 1-Ronnie Gardner, 1-Kyle Larson, 1-Gio Scelzi, 1-Jimmy Sills.
2021 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS: 1-Maria Cofer, 1-Chase Johnson, 1-Austin Liggett, 1-Mitchel Moles, 1-Ben Worth.
2021 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET POINT STANDINGS: 1. Austin Liggett-356, 2. Shannon McQueen-320, 3. Blake Bower ®-308, 4. Brody Fuson ®-285, 5. David Prickett-279, 6. Ben Worth-254, 7. C.J. Sarna-241, 8. Dylan Ito-190, 9. Terry Nichols-173, 10. Maria Cofer-159, 11. Ron Hazelton-157, 12. Mitchel Moles-148, 13. Kyle Beilman-133, 14. Alex Schutte-113, 15. Jarrett Soares ®-111, 16. Colby Johnson ®-90, 17. Chase Johnson-83, 18. Jake Andreotti ®-77, 19. Ryan Bernal-75, --. Tony Gualda ®-75, 21. Robby Josett-73, 22. Davey Ray-72, 23. Max Adams ®-65, 24. Troy Rutherford-60, 25. Troy Morris III-50, --. Sparky Howard-50, --. Ronnie Gardner-50, --. Randi Pankratz-50, 29. Beau Lemire-47, 30. Colton Raudman ®-41, --. Mike Leach Jr.-41, 32. Kaleb Montgomery-36, 33. Jake Vermeer-27, 34. Robert Carson-11.
2021 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
March 27: #Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA (Winner: Chase Johnson)
April 10: #Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA (Winner: Mitchel Moles)
April 17: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA (Winner: Austin Liggett)
May 15: Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA (Winner: Maria Cofer)
June 5: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Winner: Ben Worth)
July 9: Merced Speedway – Merced, CA
July 10: Placerville Speedway – Placerville, CA (Gold Dust Fever)
July 31: Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA
August 7: #Merced Speedway – Merced, CA
August 28: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Ron Otto Memorial)
September 11: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
October 9: #Placerville Speedway – Placerville, CA (Prospector Pandemonium)
October 10: #Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA
October 16: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
October 29: Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA (Tom Tarlton Classic)
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# = Co-Sanctioned Event with Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA)
This schedule is subject to change.