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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honda USAC Western Midget Series
HANFORD HOSTS USAC WESTERN MIDGET SHOWDOWN THIS SATURDAY
By Lance Jennings
SEPTEMBER 29, 2015... This Saturday, October 3rd, the “mighty midgets” of the Honda USAC Western Midget Series will invade the Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds. Promoted by Ron Vander Weerd and Bubby Morse, the “Jim Evett Memorial” will also showcase the USAC West Coast and Western RaceSaver Sprint Cars. The pit gates will open at 2:00pm, the front gates open at 4:30pm, and racing is scheduled for 7:00pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.racekingsspeedway.com or call 559.651.1990.
Saturday’s event will be the 41st appearance of the Honda USAC Western Midgets at the Hanford, California oval. On June 6, 1986, Robby Flock won the Hanford debut and Billy Boat leads all drivers with six victories. Ryan Bernal won the last Kings Fairgrounds event in 2012 and veteran Ronnie Day set the 1-lap qualifying track record of 15.555 on October 3, 1998. A Hanford win list is at the bottom of this release.
Entering Saturday’s race, Ronnie Gardner of Corona, California has a 170-point advantage. Driving the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner charged from sixth to finish second at Bakersfield on September 19th. Getting closer to his third straight championship, Ronnie has two feature wins, four Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, eight top-10 finishes, and 45 feature laps led. Currently tied with Jimmy Sills and Tony Stewart for tenth on the series win list, Ronnie will be looking for his first Hanford victory.
After running third at her hometown track, Bakersfield, California’s Shannon McQueen has climbed to second in the standings. Piloting the McQueen Racing #7 Lucas Oil / Simpson Race Products Spike, McQueen has one heat race victory, seven top-10 finishes and 12 feature laps led to her credit. The veteran driver has a Hanford BCRA victory and will have her sights on adding Saturday’s winning trophy to her collection.
Cody Swanson of Covina, California ranks third in the chase for the championship. Racing the family owned #71S Marcie Campbell Realtor / Advanced Racing Suspension Spike, Swanson did not compete at Bakersfield to repair his engine. To date, the former VRA Midget Champion has one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, seven feature laps led, and 15 feature laps led. If the team can make the Hanford show, Cody will be looking for his second USAC Western Midget victory.
Delano, California’s “The Panda Express” Terry Nichols ranks fourth in the point chase. Driving his #1P Johasee Rebar / Neverlift Motorsports Spike, Nichols ran sixth in the Bakersfield main event. At press time, the 2009 West Coast Sprint Rookie of the Year has three heat race victories and seven top-10 finishes in the campaign. Terry will have his sights on his first Midget triumph at Hanford.
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 did not race at Bakersfield. To date, the 2013 Rookie of the Year has one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, five top-10 finishes, and 27 feature laps led to his credit. Trey has three career USAC Western Midget wins and will be looking for his first win of the season.
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.
Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds is located at 801 South 10th Avenue in Hanford, California. Adult tickets are $15, Student and Senior tickets are $12, and Kids (5 and Under) are FREE. Camping is available on the fairgrounds and for more event information, visit www.racekingsspeedway.com or call 559.651.1990.
The Honda USAC Western Midget Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, K&N Engineering, 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 (USAC) 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.
HANFORD HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET WINS:
6-Billy Boat, 4-Robby Flock, 3-Jimmy Sills, 2-Ronnie Day, 2-Alex Harris, 2-Rusty Rasmussen, 2-Ron Shuman, 1-Tommy Astone, 1-Donnie Beechler, 1-Ryan Bernal, 1-Mark DeBeaumont, 1-Danny Ebberts, 1-Nic Faas, 1-Joe Gaerte, 1-Garrett Hansen, 1-Levi Jones, 1-Dallen McKenney, 1-Andy Michner, 1-Alex Schutte, 1-Ricky Shelton, 1-Tony Stewart, 1-Danny Stratton, 1-Matt Streeter, 1-Sleepy Tripp, 1-Rich Vogler, 1-Josh Wise.
2015 HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET WINS:
2-Rico Abreu, 2-Michael Faccinto, 2-Ronnie Gardner, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Ryan Bernal, 1-Alex Schutte, 1-Chase Stockon.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ronnie Gardner-606, 2. Shannon McQueen-436, 3. Cody Swanson-428, 4. Terry Nichols-396, 5. Trey Marcham-339, 6. Randi Pankratz-336, 7. Michael Faccinto-329, 8. Brian Gard-273, 9. Nick Chivello-260, 10. Scott Pierovich-250, 11. Sean Dodenhoff-172, 12. Steve Davis-170, 13. Danny Faria Jr.-168, 14. Rico Abreu-145, 15. Brady Bacon-139, 16. Nate Waite-127, 17. David Prickett-122, 18. Kevin Thomas Jr.-65, 19. Jack Hawley-46, 20. Jimmy Voitel-42
2015 HONDA USAC WESTERN DIRT MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
October 3: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds - Hanford, CA (Jim Evett Memorial)
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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