Bakersfield Hosts USAC Western States Midget Season Opener
APRIL 2, 2019… This Saturday, April 6th, the USAC Western States Midget Series will open their 2019 campaign at Bakersfield Speedway. Promoted by Scott Schweitzer, the first point race will also feature Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, and Mod Lites. The Pit Gates will open at 3:00pm, the Front Gates will open at 5:00pm, and Racing is scheduled for 7:00pm at “The West’s Fastest 1/3-Mile High Banked Clay Oval.” For event information, visit the track’s website at www.bakersfieldspeedway.com or call 661.393.3373.
NOTICE TO RACERS:
-2019 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 *Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
-FULL CONTAINMENT SEATS ARE MANDATORY
-USAC MEMBERSHIPS can be purchased at the track or online at www.usaclicense.com.
Since July 3, 1987, Bakersfield Speedway has hosted 110 USAC Western States Midget races and P.J. Jones claimed the inaugural victory. Former champions Sleepy Tripp and Robby Flock are tied for the series lead with eight Bakersfield wins and Ricky Shelton set the track record of 12.339 on June 21, 1997. A complete Bakersfield series win list is at the bottom of this release.
Last season, Michael Faccinto (Hanford, CA) claimed his first USAC Western States Midget championship. Piloting the Dodenhoff Motorsports’ #9D Lightning Medical / Rocket Sports & Entertainment Spike, Faccinto posted three feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, one hard charger award, nine top-10 finishes, and 64 feature laps led to his credit. Michael is tied for twenty-fifth on the series win list and will be looking for his ninth triumph of his career.
Alex Schutte (Redding, CA) tied with Faccinto in last year’s point chase but lost the tiebreaker for a runner-up finish. Driving the Schutte/McElwee #28 Proficio / Ontario West Spike, Schutte closed out 2018 with two feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, eight heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and 43 feature laps led on the season. The 2010 Champion is tied for twenty-fifth in series wins and will have his sights on his night victory this Saturday night.
Robby Josett (Santa Clarita, CA) placed third in the championship point standings. Racing his #2 Walker Air Filtration / Morse Muffler Spike, Josett had one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, one hard charger award, seven top-10 finishes, and 5 feature laps led in the campaign. Robby is tied for fifty-first on the series win list with four victories and will be looking to add another trophy to his collection.
Robert Dalby (Anaheim, CA) scored fourth in the chase for the championship. Piloting the family owned #4D R-D Spring & Stamping / Monster Seal Spike, Dalby posted one heat race victory, seven top-10 finishes, and 17 feature laps led on the year. This Saturday night, Robert will have his sights on earning the first career USAC victory at Bakersfield.
C.J. Sarna (Palm Desert, CA) ranked fifth in the USAC Western States Midget point standings. Driving his #20 Cactus Jacks Bar & Grill / Final Final Clothing Spike, Sarna recorded eight top-10 finishes in the campaign. The 2007 Co-Rookie of the Year has one career victory and will be looking to start his championship bid with a win at Bakersfield.
Mike Leach Jr. (Orange, CA) and Jackson Dukes (Clovis, CA) are contending for Rookie of the Year honors in 2019.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are David Prickett, Kyle Beilman, Frankie Guerrini, Shannon McQueen, Randi Pankratz, “Fireball” Maria Cofer, Clayton Ruston, Jake Swanson, Cody Swanson, Daniel Anderson, Dylan Ito, Ashley Hazelton-Heredia, Bryan Drollinger, and more.
Bakersfield Speedway is located at 5001 North Chester Extension in Bakersfield, California. Adult tickets are $14, Senior and Military tickets (ID Required) are $12, Kids tickets (6 to 12) are $7, and Children Tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.bakersfieldspeedway.com or call 661.393.3373.
The USAC Western States Midget Series thanks AMSOIL, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Five Star Grafix, Hoosier Racing Tire, Loudpedal Productions, Pyrotect Racing Cells, 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 series, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC Western States Midget Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
FloSports has USAC Western States Midget live videos and on-demand coverage available for purchase at www.floracing.com.
LINKS
Visit USAC’s official website at www.USACracing.com.
Follow USAC on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usacnation.
Like USAC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usacracing.
Be sure to follow USAC on Instagram at www.instagram.com/usacnation.
Subscribe to FloRacing.com – http://bit.ly/2TVlkHe to watch USAC racing live and on-demand all year long.
Sources: Lance Jennings
2018 USAC Western States Midget champion Michael Faccinto. (Lance Jennings Photo)