West Coast Sprints Eye Thunder Bowl Opener

Ryan Bernal will lead the USAC West Coast Sprint Series to its next race April 13 at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., holding a 13-point lead over Bud Kaeding in the new standings. Bernal finished second and Kaeding third in last Saturday night’s race at Bakersfield, Calif.

Richard Vander Weerd of Visalia, Calif. led all but one lap at Bakersfield Speedway in his Vander Weerd Construction/Battery Worx Maxim/Shark. Jace Vander Weerd and Rusty Carlile trailed the top trio, taking fourth and fifth respectively.

Danny Faria Jr. was seventh and led lap 4 of the feature. Markus Niemela was the fastest qualifier with a new track record. Faria and Niemela rank fourth and eighth in the new standings.

Bernal also has a pair of Tulare victories under his belt this season, winning back-to-back features March 15-16.

2013 USAC West Coast Sprint Car Standings: 1-Ryan Bernal-198, 2-Bud Kaeding-185, 3-Richard Vander Weerd-166, 4-Danny Faria Jr.-163, 5-Jace Vander Weerd-159, 6-Ricky Kirkbride-127, 7-Rusty Carlile-120, 8-Markus Niemela-117, 8-Austin Liggett-114, 10-Landon Hurst-113.