USAC WEST COAST & SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SEASON OPENS FRIDAY AT LAS VEGAS By Lance Jennings MARCH 1, 2016... This Friday, March 4th, the USAC West Coast and SouthWest Sprint Cars will clash at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The prestigious "5th Annual FVP Sin City Showdown" opens the point season for both groups and will pay $2,500 to the winner. A talented roster of drivers from Arizona, California, and the Midwest will race for bragging rights on the large half-mile clay oval. The famed World of Outlaw Craftsman Sprint Cars and IMCA Modifieds will share the spotlight as the spectator gates will open at 5:00pm with racing set for 7:00pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.lvms.com/dirt or call 702.644.4444. Held during NASCAR weekend, the "FVP Sin City Showdown" has become one of the most popular dates on the USAC West Coast and SouthWest schedules. Last year, Stevie Sussex of Tempe, Arizona grabbed the lead from Sikeston, Missouri’s Hunter Schuerenberg on the twenty-second lap. From there, Sussex held off all challengers to claim his first Las Vegas triumph. Ryan Bernal, Matt Mitchell, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., and Schuerenberg were the top-five drivers. Campbell, California’s Bud Kaeding won the inaugural event on his way to the 2012 USAC West Coast championship. Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, Indiana) raced Mike Martin’s second car to victory the following year and Austin Liggett (Tracy, California) earned his first USAC Sprint Car win in 2014. At press time, former USAC National champions Clauson and “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland (Lincoln, Indiana) will be in action this Friday night. After winning his second championship, “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. (Tipton, California) will lead a strong contingent of drivers from the USAC West Coast series. Trey Marcham, Richard Vander Weerd, Jace Vander Weerd, D.J. Johnson, Tristan Guardino, Brody Roa, Ryan Bernal, Bud Kaeding, and “Shifter” Landon Hurst rounded out the top-10 in last year’s point chase. Former VRA Champion Troy Rutherford has announced that he will compete in Las Vegas. Laveen, Arizona’s R.J. Johnson capped off a successful year with his third consecutive USAC SouthWest crown. Johnson heads a strong roster of “Copper State” drivers including “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., Matt Rossi, Stevie Sussex, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Josh Pelkey, Brian Hosford, Andy Reinbold, Nick Aiuto, and Dennis Gile. Other probable drivers are “The Bull” Tye Mihocko, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, Michael Curtis, and Shon Deskins. The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is located twelve miles north of downtown Las Vegas, Nevada off Interstate 15 at Exit 54 (Speedway Blvd). The pit gate will open at 2:00pm and more event information can be found at www.lvms.com/dirt or calling (702) 644-4444. Advance General Admission tickets are on sale for $39 and Reserve tickets are $40. For more ticket information, visit www.dirtcar.ticketforce.com. The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series thanks Amsoil, Hoosier Tire, DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Rod End Supply, Ultra Shield Race Products, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. For more information, visit westcoastsprintcars.com, and www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC West Coast Facebook and Twitter pages. Mike Truex's Loudpedal Productions has DVDs available for purchase at www.loudpedalvideo.com and 805.407.7229. The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series thanks Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Tire, Racers Advantage Store, and the Hose Advantage Store for their support. For more information on the group, visit www.southwestsprintcars.com and www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC SouthWest Facebook page. ----------------------------------------------- USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS: 2009-Justyne Hamblin, 2010-Craig Stidham, 2011-Richard Vander Weerd, 2012-Bud Kaeding, 2013-Danny Faria Jr., 2014-Matt Mitchell, 2015-Danny Faria Jr. USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS: 2013-R.J. Johnson, 2014-R.J. Johnson, 2015-R.J. Johnson. SIN CITY SHOWDOWN WINNERS: 2012-Bud Kaeding, 2013-Bryan Clauson, 2014-Austin Liggett, 2015-Stevie Sussex. 2016 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE DATE-TRACK-LOCATION March 4: The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway - Las Vegas, NV (FVP Sin City Showdown / $2,500-to-Win) March 11: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA March 12: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA March 19: Bakersfield Speedway - Bakersfield, CA April 2: Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA April 9: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA April 23: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA May 14: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (Chris & Brian Faria Memorial) June 18: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA June 25: Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA July 22: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (Peter Murphy Classic) July 23: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (Peter Murphy Classic) August 6: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (Bud Stanfield Memorial) August 12: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA August 13: Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA November 24: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix / Non-Points) ----------------------------------------------- This schedule is subject to change. 2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE DATE - TRACK - LOCATION March 4: *The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (FVP Sin City Showdown / $2,500-to-Win) March 26: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Easter Eggstravaganza) April 9: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ April 23: Cocopah Speedway - Yuma, AZ April 30: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Canyon Clash) May 7: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ May 28: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Salute to Indy) May 29: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Salute to Indy) June 3: #El Paso Speedway Park - El Paso, TX (Border Tour) June 4: #Southern New Mexico Speedway - Las Cruces, NM (Border Tour) June 11: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ July 2: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ July 30: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Allscapes Back to School Special) August 17: Lawton Speedway - Lawton, OK (Freedom Tour / Non-Points) August 18: Creek County Speedway - Sapulpa, OK (Freedom Tour / Non-Points) August 19: 81 Speedway - Wichita, KS (Freedom Tour / Non-Points) August 20: Dodge City Raceway Park - Dodge City, KS (Freedom Tour / Non-Points) September 2: #El Paso Speedway Park - El Paso, TX (Border Tour / $2,000-to-Win) September 3: #Southern New Mexico Speedway - Las Cruces, NM (Border Tour / $2,000-to-Win) September 17: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ October 15: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ October 22: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Hank Arnold Memorial) October 29: Central Arizona Speedway - Casa Grande, AZ November 4: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships / $2,000-to-Win) November 5: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships / $5,000-to-Win) ----------------------------------------------- * = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC West Coast Sprints. # = Co-Sanctioned Event with NMMRA Sprints. This schedule is subject to change.