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HIROSHIMA WINS 4TH NMRA-TQ MIDGET FEATURE OF 2014 – By Tim Kennedy
Bakersfield, CA., Jun. 21 – Bruce Hiroshima won his third consecutive NMRA-TQ Midget main event and his fourth in six events this season Saturday night. The 25-lap feature took place on the third-mile, banked clay Bakersfield Speedway during a multi-division racing program. The 51-year old Camarillo resident increased his series point lead from 14 to 24 points at the halfway mark in the scheduled 12 event season.
Hiroshima, the 2003 NMRA-TQ Midget Series rookie of the year, started seventh in a nine-car field and led the final eight laps in his own No. 5 Stewart/Clerc 750cc Honda. He returned to TQ racing last season and competed in three events after reducing his racing schedule for several seasons. He is seeking his first TQ midget championship this year as both a driver and car owner.
Two-time TQ champion driver and six-time champion car owner West Evans finished second in his Spike 750cc Suzuki. Chris Thomas started from pole position and enjoyed the greatest night of his brief TQ racing career. He led the first 17 laps and finished a career-best third place in the No. 40 TQ owned by his father Ed.
Title hopeful Anthony Lopiccolo, the 2008 TQ co-rookie of the year, started fifth and took fourth position in the No. 21 Stealth/Kawasaki owned by his father Paul. He retained second place in driver points as he also is seeking his first TQ driving championship. Don Kiefer finished fifth and also completed all 25 laps. Following in the official rundown were: Doyle Mosley with 18 laps, Chuck West and Kenny Wiley at 16 laps, and non-starter Dave Lambert.
Evans, from second on the grid, and Wiley, from third, won the pair of 8-lap heat races. Hiroshima trailed Evans and West followed Wiley in the heats. Round seven will take place Saturday, July 26 at NMRA's home track—Bakersfield Speedway.
Summary:
Heat 1 -West Evans, Bruce Hiroshima, Anthony Lopiccolo, Don Lambert, Doyle Mosley.
Heat 2 – Kenny Wiley, Chuck West, Chris Thomas, Don Kiefer.
Main – Hiroshima, Evans, Thomas, Lopiccolo, Kiefer, Mosley, West, Wiley, DNS-Lambert.
POINT STANDINGS:
Drivers Car Owners
1 Bruce Hiroshima 381 1 No. 5 Bruce Hiroshima 399
2 Anthony Lopiccolo 357 2 No. 21 Paul Lopiccolo 375
3 West Evans 336 3 No. 38 West Evans 360
4 Kenny Wiley 332 4 No. 36 West Evans 354
5 Chuck West 289 5 No. 96 Kenny Wiley 350
6 Don Kiefer 234 6 No. 9 Don Kiefer 249
7 Britt Grissom 231 7 No. 43 Britt Grissom 246
8 Chris Thomas 210 8 No. 55 Don Lambert 216
9 Dave Lambert 201 9 No. 40 Ed Thomas 180
10 Doyle Mosley 156 10 No. 87 Doyle Mosley 168
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