WEST WINS EIGHTH FEATURE IN NMRA-TQ MIDGETS – By Tim Kennedy
Santa Maria, CA., Aug. 19 – Chuck West did it again Saturday at the banked third-mile clay Santa Maria Speedway. The primarily open-wheel multi-division racing program was the fourth race at SMS this season for the NMRA-TQ Midget Series. West won the 20-lap main event for the eighth time in 11 events this season. He also has eight heat race wins and has averaged 64.18 points per race date.
The feature winner from Clovis drove the West Evans Motor-sports No. 38 Spike/Bob Wirth-built 750cc Suzuki as usual. West now leads his car owner/first cousin Evans, of Moorpark, by 77 points. Evans' No. 38 TQ is 88 points ahead of his own sister ride—the No. 36 Spike/Bob Wirth 750cc Suzuki.
TQ rookie Jason Arnold enjoyed his career-best second place in Rick Poe's No. 2p. Scott Dobson, in his own No. 18, Scott Niven, in Steve Parke's No. 59, dad Ace Kale, Evans, son Kevin Kale, and TQ rookie Donald Brashier followed in the eight-car field. All drivers completed 20 laps. .
NMRA teams raced a pair of eight-lap heat races. Newcomer Arnold won the first heat over West, Dobson and fellow rookie Brashier. Niven captured heat two over Evans, A. Kale and non-finisher K. Kale.
There are three Saturday night races remaining on the 14 events schedule. Santa Maria Speedway dates are September 16 and October 7. The penultimate race on September 30 will take place at NMRA's “home track” Bakersfield Speedway, the banked third-mile clay Bakersfield Speedway in Oildale.
SUMMARY:
Heat 1 – Jason Arnold, Chuck West, Scott Dobson, Donald Brashier.
Heat 2 – Scott Niven, West Evans, Ace Kale, Kevin Kale.
Main – West, Arnold, Dobson, Niven, A. Kale, Evans, K. Kale, Brashier.
POINT STANDINGS; (as of Aug. 31):
Drivers Car Owners
1 Chuck West 706 1 No. 38 West Evans 740
2 West Evans 629 2 No. 36 West Evans 662
3 Scott Niven 604 3 No. 59 Steve Parke 637
4 Ace Kale 510 4 No. 77 Ace Kale 543
5 Kevin Kale 461 5 No. 07 Ace Kale 492
6 Jason Arnold ® 426 6 No. 2P Rick Poe 450
7 Scott Dobson 395 7 No. 18 Scott Dobson 416
8 Don Mosley ® 284 8 No. 70 Ace Kale 398
9 Chris Thomas 255 9 No. 87 Doyle Mosley 305
10 Wes Cummings 186 10 No.40 Ed Thomas 270
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