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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honda USAC Western Midget Series
#86 “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis – 6th in Honda USAC Western Dirt Midget Standings. Photo by Scott Sheldon / SprintCarScotty.com.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGETS DEBUT AT LEMOORE SATURDAY
By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – JULY 23, 2014... This Saturday, July 26th, the popular Honda USAC Western Midgets will make their series debut at Lemoore Raceway. Promoted by Kyle Evans, the action packed card will also showcase four classes of Micro Sprints (Junior, Non-Wing, Restricted, and Super 600s). Racer Sign-Ins are at 2:00pm, the Drivers Meeting is scheduled for 4:30pm, Spectator Gates will open at 4:30pm. Time Trials at 5:30pm, and Racing starts at 6:30pm.
To date, Trey Marcham leads all drivers with two victories in the campaign. On July 5th at Santa Maria, Richard Vander Weerd became the 164th driver to earn a USAC Western Midget triumph. One week later, Michael Snider won the 100-lap “Gerhardt Classic” on the Madera pavement. In addition, Cody Gerhardt, R.J. Johnson, and Darrin Snider have also scored main event wins. History will be made this Saturday as a talented roster of drivers will be looking to add the 1/5-mile oval to their win list.
Heading to the Lemoore debut, Marcham of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma sits atop the dirt series and ranks third in the overall points. Driving Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products TCR, Marcham ran seventh at Santa Maria’s “Party at the Coast.” Currently, last season’s Rookie of the Year has two feature wins, one fast time award, one heat race victory, four top-10 finishes, and 24 feature laps led to his credit. Trey will have his sights on continuing his championship bid with a victory at Lemoore Raceway.
Norco’s Ronnie Gardner is second in the dirt series and fourth in the overall point chase. Piloting the Six8 Motorsports #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner charged to second from thirteenth at Santa Maria. To date, the defending champion has two fast time awards, four top-10 finishes, and 20 feature laps led on the season. Ronnie will be looking for his 10th series victory and gaining valuable points on Marcham.
Jarid Blondel of Orange ranks third in the dirt points and is the overall series point leader. Racing his #98 G&J Aircraft / Repair Service Edmunds, Blondel was the Hard Charger at Santa Maria by placing eighth in the main event after starting twentieth. At press time, the young driver has six top-10 finishes and will have his sights on winning his first main event this Saturday.
Redding’s Alex Schutte sits fourth in the dirt points and fifth in the overall series. Driving the Schutte/McElwee #28 Aircraft Electrical Components / Ontario West Spike, Schutte did not compete in Santa Maria’s “Doug Fort Memorial.” Heading to Lemoore, the 2010 Champion has three top-10 finishes in the campaign. Alex will be looking for his 3rd Western Midget victory and claiming the $1,000 payday.
After running third at Santa Maria, Shannon McQueen of Tehachapi has climbed to fifth in the dirt standings and seventh in the overall series. Piloting the McQueen Racing #7 Lucas Oil / Simpson Race Products Spike, the 2012 Champion has two top-10 finishes on the season. McQueen will have her sights on claiming her second USAC Midget victory on Saturday.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, Sean Dodenhoff, Tyler Dolacki, Scott Pierovich, Ricky Shelton, Jake Swanson, Johnathon Henry, Terry Nichols, Chad Nichols, Nick Chivello, Barry Pries Jr., Heath Duinkerken, and more.
Lemoore Raceway is located almost one-mile south of Highway 198 at 1750 Highway 41 (at the corner of Highway 41 and Idaho Avenue) in Lemoore, California. For more ticket and event information, visit the track’s website at www.lemooreraceway.com or call 559.924.2536.
The Honda USAC Western Midget Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Saldana Racing Products, and Rugged Radios for their support. For more information on the 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 DIRT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Trey Marcham-254, 2. Ronnie Gardner-236, 3. Jarid Blondel-158, 4. Alex Schutte-157, 5. Shannon McQueen-154, 6. Chris Ennis-127, 7. Sean Dodenhoff-109, 8. Tyler Dolacki-106, 9. Scott Pierovich-101, --. Ricky Shelton-101, 11. Jake Swanson-97, 12. Johnathon Henry-90, 13. Terry Nichols-69, --. Chad Nichols-69, 15. Nick Chivello-62, 16. Terry Goodwin-53, 17. Troy Rutherford-50, ---. Steve Davis-50, 19. Barry Pries Jr.-1.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. Jarid Blondel-321, 2. Chad Nichols-256, 3-Trey Marcham-254, 4. Ronnie Gardner-236, 5. Alex Schutte-210, 6. Nick Chivello-164, 7. Shannon McQueen-154, 8. Jake Swanson-140, -. Scott Pierovich-140, 10. Chris Ennis-127, 11. Darin Snider-116, 12. Sean Dodenhoff-109, 13. Tyler Dolacki-106, 14. Ricky Shelton-101, 15. Johnathon Henry-90, 16. Terry Nichols-70, 17. Terry Goodwin-53, 18. Troy Rutherford-50, ---. Steve Davis-50, 20. Barry Pries Jr.-1.
2014 HONDA USAC WESTERN DIRT MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
July 26: Lemoore, CA - Lemoore Raceway
August 9: *Petaluma, CA - Petaluma Speedway (John Soares Classic)
August 30: Calistoga, CA - Calistoga Speedway (Louie Vermeil Classic / $10,000-to-win)
August 31: Calistoga, CA - Calistoga Speedway (Louie Vermeil Classic / $10,000-to-win)
September 4: *Chico, CA - Silver Dollar Speedway (Gold Cup Race Of Champions)
September 20: Bakersfield, CA - Bakersfield Speedway
November 20: #Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway Park (Western World Championships)
November 21: #Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway Park (Western World Championships)
November 22: #Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway Park (Western World Championships)
November 27: #Perris, CA - Perris Auto Speedway (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.
2014 HONDA USAC WESTERN PAVEMENT MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
September 13: *Madera Speedway – Madera, CA (Harvest Classic)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with BCRA Midgets.
This schedule is subject to change.
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