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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honda USAC Western Midget Series
USAC WESTERN MIDGETS CLASH AT BAKERSFIELD SATURDAY
By Lance Jennings
SEPTEMBER 16, 2015... After completing their “1st Annual California Midget Week,” the Honda USAC Western Midget Series will head to Bakersfield Speedway this Saturday, September 19th. Promoted by Scott Schweitzer, the tenth point race will also feature IMCA Modifieds, Sport Mods, Mini Stocks, CDCRA Dwarf Cars, and Ignite Midgets. The Pit Gates will open at 2:00pm, the Front Gates will open at 4:00pm, with Racing scheduled for 6:00pm at "The West's Fastest 1/3-Mile High Banked Clay Oval." For event information, visit the track’s website at www.bakersfieldspeedway.com or call 661.393.3373.
Saturday’s event will mark the 102nd appearance of the USAC Western Midgets at the Bakersfield clay oval. On July 3, 1987, P.J. Jones claimed the inaugural victory and Ronnie Gardner won the season opener on March 21st. Former champions Sleepy Tripp and Robby Flock are tied for the series lead with eight Bakersfield main event wins, followed by Billy Boat (7), Jay Drake (5), and “Flash” Jordan Hermansader (4). On June 21, 1997, Ricky Shelton set the 1-lap qualifying track record of 12.339 on his way to the series championship.
Heading to Bakersfield, Ronnie Gardner of Corona, California has a stout 109-point advantage. Driving the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner won the Bakersfield season opener and the July 3rd “Doug Fort Memorial” at Santa Maria. Currently tied with Jimmy Sills and Tony Stewart for tenth on the series win list, Ronnie will be looking for his fourteenth career victory.
Covina, California’s Cody Swanson is second in the USAC Western Midget point standings. Racing the family owned #71S Marcie Campbell Realtor / Advanced Racing Suspension Spike, Swanson led fifteen laps at Santa Maria last Saturday before engine problems ended his night. The former VRA Midget Champion earned his first USAC victory at Bakersfield on March 30, 2013 and may miss Saturday’s race.
Shannon McQueen of Bakersfield, California sits third in the chase for the championship. Piloting the family owned #7 Lucas Oil / Simpson Race Products Spike, McQueen finished sixth at Santa Maria Raceway. The 2012 Champion will have former USAC TQ Champion J.J. Ercse as a teammate as she looks for her first hometown win.
Delano, California’s “The Panda Express” Terry Nichols ranks fourth in the championship point standings. Driving his #1P Johasee Rebar / Neverlift Motorsports Spike, Nichols scored eighth in Santa Maria’s “Midget Week” finale. The 2009 West Coast Sprint Car Rookie of the Year will have his sights on his first Midget feature win at Bakersfield.
Trey Marcham of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is currently fifth in the series point chase. Piloting Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products TCR, Marcham claimed fifth at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway on September 10th. The 2013 Rookie of the Year has three USAC Western Midget wins in his career as he looks for his first triumph of 2015.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Randi Pankratz, Michael Faccinto, Brian Gard, Nick Chivello, Scott Pierovich, Sean Dodenhoff, Steve Davis, David Prickett, Nate Waite, J.J. Ercse, and more.
Bakersfield Speedway is located at 5001 North Chester Extension in Bakersfield, California. Advance tickets are on sale and for more event/ticket information, visit the track’s website at www.bakersfieldspeedway.com or call 661.393.3373.
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 Honda USAC Western Midget Series, visit www.usacracing.com or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/usacwsmidgets), or Twitter (www.twitter.com/USAC_WSMIDGET).
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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.
BAKERSFIELD HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET WINS:
8-Robby Flock, 8-Sleepy Tripp, 7-Billy Boat, 5-Jay Drake, 4-Jordan Hermansader, 3-Steve Paden, 3-Ron Shuman, 3-Jimmy Sills, 3-Danny Stratton, 3-Josh Wise, 2-Hank Butcher, 2-Bob Davison, 2-Ronnie Day, 2-Ronnie Gardner, 2-Garrett Hansen, 2-P.J. Jones, 2-Page Jones, 2-Trey Marcham, 2-Wally Pankratz, 2-Frank Pedregon, 2-Shane Scully, 1-Bobby Boone, 1-Greg Bragg, 1-Larry Brown, 1-Tyler Brown, 1-Johnny Cofer, 1-Dave Darland, 1-Michelle Decker, 1-Larry Derwin, 1-Danny Ebberts, 1-Nic Faas, 1-Terry Farrar, 1-Billy Felts Jr., 1-Josh Ford, 1-Stan Fox, 1-Damion Gardner, 1-Scott Hansen, 1-Rick Hendrix, 1-Gary Howard, 1-Ryan Kaplan, 1-Kasey Kahne, 1-Cory Kruseman, 1-Brad Kuhn, 1-Josh Lakatos, 1-Jason Leffler, 1-Thomas Meseraull, 1-Troy Rutherford, 1-Alex Schutte, 1-Graham Standring, 1-Cody Swanson, 1-Brad Sweet, 1-Rich Vogler, 1-Rip Williams.
2015 HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET WINS:
2-Rico Abreu, 2-Michael Faccinto, 2-Ronnie Gardner, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Ryan Bernal, 1-Chase Stockon.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ronnie Gardner-537, 2. Cody Swanson-428, 3. Shannon McQueen-371, 4. Terry Nichols-343, 5. Trey Marcham-339, 6. Randi Pankratz-291, 7. Michael Faccinto-289, 8. Brian Gard-273, 9. Nick Chivello-260, 10. Scott Pierovich-250, 11. Sean Dodenhoff-172, 12. Steve Davis-170, 13. Rico Abreu-145, 14. Brady Bacon-139, 15. David Prickett-122, 16. Danny Faria Jr.-119, 17. Nate Waite-91, 18. Kevin Thomas Jr.-65, 19. Jack Hawley-46, 20. Jimmy Voitel-42.
2015 HONDA USAC WESTERN DIRT MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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 USAC National Midgets.
This schedule is subject to change.
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