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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honda USAC Western Midget Series
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGETS HEAD TO SANTA MARIA FOR FRIDAY’S “DOUG FORT MEMORIAL”
By Lance Jennings
JULY 1, 2015... After a break in the schedule, the Honda USAC Western Midgets will return to action this Friday, July 3rd, at Santa Maria Raceway. Promoted by Mike Kappmeyer, the “Doug Fort Memorial” will also showcase the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks, and American Stocks. The Pit Gate will open at 8:00am, Spectator Gates will open at 4:00pm. Time Trials at 5:00pm, and Racing at "The West’s Best Short Track" will start at 6:00pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.santamariaraceway.com or call 805.922.2232.
Saturday's point race will be the 32nd appearance of the “mighty midgets” at Santa Maria Raceway. Ron “Sleepy” Tripp, the all-time series leader with 104 victories, won the Santa Maria debut on May 11, 1985. Tripp leads all drivers with six feature wins at the 1/3-mile oval and J.R. Lawson holds the 1-lap qualifying record of 13.667, set on August 26, 1995. Last season, Richard Vander Weerd took the lead from Terry Nichols on the eleventh lap to earn his first series win at the “Doug Fort Memorial.”
The special event honors Doug Fort, who built and operated the Santa Maria Speedway. Opening on Sunday, March 31, 1964 with the California Racing Association (CRA) Sprint Cars, Fort continued to serve as owner and promoter until his passing in 1999. During his tenure, the Santa Maria track was named the "Best Short Track Operation West of the Mississippi" on two separate occasions and hosted a wide variety of race cars. The famed World of Outlaws, Stock Cars, IMCA Modifieds, Midgets, California Dirt Cars, Late Models, Winged Sprint Cars, and Non-Winged Sprint Cars have battled on the Santa Maria clay.
After finishing third at Tulare’s May 30th race, Cody Swanson of Covina, California has taken over the point lead. Racing the family owned #71S Marcie Campbell Realtor / Advanced Racing Suspension Spike, Swanson has a 14-point advantage on the strength of two top-10 finishes. This Friday, the former VRA Midget Champion will be looking for his second career series win at Santa Maria.
Entering the fourth point race, Corona, California’s Ronnie Gardner is second in the point chase. Driving the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner scored twelfth in the Tulare feature. To date, the two-time defending champion has one feature win, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, one top-10 finish, and 5 feature laps led. Currently tied with Jay Drake and Tommy White for twelfth on the series win list, Ronnie will have his sights on his thirteenth triumph.
Shannon McQueen of Bakersfield, California has risen to third in the chase for the championship. Piloting the family owned #7 Lucas Oil / Simpson Race Products Spike, McQueen placed seventh at Thunderbowl Raceway. Entering Friday’s show, the 2012 Champion has three top-10 finishes as she looks for her second Honda USAC Western Midget win.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma’s Trey Marcham ranks fourth in the point standings. Racing Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products TCR, Marcham scored eleventh in the Tulare feature. To date, the former Rookie of the Year has two top-10 finishes and 20 feature laps led to his credit. This Friday, Trey will have his sights on claiming his fourth career victory.
“The Panda Express” Terry Nichols of Delano, California sits fifth in the USAC Western Midget standings. Driving his #1P Johasee Rebar / Neverlift Motorsports Spike, Nichols finished eighth in the May 30th main event. Heading to Santa Maria, the former West Coast Sprint Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory and three top-10 finishes on the season. Terry will be looking to earn his first series win at the “Doug Fort Memorial.”
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Scott Pierovich, Nick Chivello, Brian Gard, Steve Davis, Michael Faccinto, Sean Dodenhoff, Randi Pankratz, Tyler Dolacki, Richard Vander Weerd, and more.
Santa Maria Raceway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo, California. Adult tickets are $25, Senior, Military, and Student tickets (13-17) are $23, Kids tickets (6-12) are $6, and Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.santamariaraceway.com or call 805.922.2232.
The Honda USAC Western Midget Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Ultra Shield Race Products, 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 [email protected].
For more information on the series, visit the United States Auto Club’s website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the Honda USAC Western Midget Facebook and Twitter pages. Loudpedal Productions has DVDs available for purchase that feature the Honda USAC Western Midgets and for more information, call 805.407.7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com.
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HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET CHAMPIONS:
1983-Sleepy Tripp, 1984-Tommy White, 1985-Sleepy Tripp, 1986-Robby Flock, 1987-Sleepy Tripp, 1988-Sleepy Tripp, 1989-Robby Flock, 1990-Sleepy Tripp, 1991-Sleepy Tripp, 1992-Sleepy Tripp, 1993-Robby Flock, 1994-Johnny Cofer, 1995-Billy Boat, 1996-Jay Drake, 1997-Ricky Shelton, 1998-Rick Hendrix, 1999-Marc DeBeaumont, 2000-Wally Pankratz, 2001-Danny Ebberts, 2002-Robby Flock, 2003-Steve Paden, 2004-Johnny Rodriguez, 2005-Jerome Rodela, 2006-Jerome Rodela, 2007-Johnny Rodriguez, 2008-Nic Faas, 2009-Garrett Hansen, 2010-Alex Schutte, 2011-Cory Kruseman, 2012-Shannon McQueen, 2013-Ronnie Gardner, 2014- Ronnie Gardner.
SANTA MARIA HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET WINS:
6-Sleepy Tripp, 3-Rusty Rasmussen, 2-Billy Boat, 1-Mario Bringetto Jr., 1-Tyler Brown, 1-Johnny Cofer, 1-Tommie Estes Jr., 1-Nic Faas, 1-Terry Farrar, 1-Robby Flock, 1-Frankie Guerrini, 1-Garrett Hansen, 1-Johnathon Henry, 1-Cory Kruseman, 1-Brad Kuhn, 1-Jeff Meyer, 1-Wally Pankratz, 1-Bryan Stanfill, 1-Danny Stratton, 1-Jake Swanson, 1-Richard Vander Weerd, 1-Tommy White, 1-Josh Wise.
SANTA MARIA “DOUG FORT MEMORIAL” WINNERS:
2014-Richard Vander Weerd.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. Cody Swanson-168, 2. Ronnie Gardner-154, 3. Shannon McQueen-153, 4. Trey Marcham-149, 5. Terry Nichols-148, 6. Scott Pierovich-144, 7. Nick Chivello-115, 8. Brian Gard-114, --.Steve Davis-114, 10. Michael Faccinto-99, 11. Danny Faria Jr.-92, 12. Sean Dodenhoff-80, 13. Brady Bacon-74, 14. David Prickett-57, --. Randi Pankratz-57, 16. Jack Hawley-46, 17. Jimmy Voitel-42, 18. Nate Waite-41, 19. Jeff Harrington-38, 20. Ricky Shelton-27.
2015 HONDA USAC WESTERN DIRT MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
July 3: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA
July 18: *Petaluma Speedway - Petaluma, CA (John Soares Classic)
September 5: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Midget Week)
September 6: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Midget Week)
September 10: *Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions / California Midget Week)
September 12: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (California Midget Week)
September 19: Bakersfield Speedway - Bakersfield, CA
October 3: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds - Hanford, CA
November 27: # Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with BCRA Midgets.
# = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC National Midgets.
This schedule is subject to change.
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