TULARE, Calif. — Securing the lead from Richard Vander Weerd on lap 14, Austin Liggett held off all challengers to win the Peter Murphy Classic at Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway.
For Liggett, the $4,000 USAC West Coast Sprint Car victory was his second victory of 2019 and the ninth of his career.
Driving the family owned No. 83 Excel Environmental Services / Liggett Trucking Maxim, the defending champion finished ahead of Ryan Bernal, Jace Vander Weerd, Richard Vander Weerd and Bruce St. James.
Richard Vander Weerd posted his series leading 20th Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award over the 22-car roster with a time of 15.432 seconds.
Rico Abreu won the companion winged sprint car feature.
The finish:
Feature (30 laps, with starting positions) 1. Austin Liggett (5), 2. Ryan Bernal (9), 3. Jace Vander Weerd (3), 4. Richard Vander Weerd (6), 5. Bruce St. James (8), 6. Michael Faccinto (21), 7. Ryan Timmons (7), 8. Colby Copeland (22), 9. T.J. Smith (12), 10. Kyler Shaw (13), 11. Tristan Guardino (2), 12. Tanner Boul (15), 13. Ricky Kirkbride (17), 14. D.J. Johnson (1), 15. Steve Hix (19), 16. Koen Shaw (14), 17. Hannah Mayhew (18), 18. Austin Ervine (20), 19. Danny Faria Jr. (4), 20. Scotty Farmer (16), 21. J.J. Ringo (10), 22. Slater Helt (11).