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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honda USAC Western Midget Series
#98 Jarid Blondel – 4th in Honda USAC Western Dirt Midget Point Standings.
SANTA MARIA HOSTS USAC WESTERN MIDGET “PARTY AT THE COAST”
By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – JULY 2, 2014... After a break in the schedule, the Honda USAC Western Midgets will return to Santa Maria Speedway this Saturday, July 5th. Promoted by Chris Kearns and USAC, “The Party at the Coast” / “Doug Fort Memorial” will also feature the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars and Mini Stocks. The Pit Gate will open at 2:00pm, Spectator Gates will open at 4:30pm. Time Trials at 5:15pm, and Racing at "The West’s Best Short Track" will start at 6:00pm. For an additional $5.00, race fans can watch the show from infield grandstands with food, beverage, and beer stands setup nearby.
Saturday's point race will mark the 31st appearance of the mighty midgets at Santa Maria Speedway. Ron “Sleepy” Tripp, the all-time series leader with 104 victories, won the Santa Maria debut on May 11, 1985 and leads all drivers with six feature wins on the third-mile oval. J.R. Lawson holds the 1-lap qualifying track record of 13.667, set on August 26, 1995.
The special event also honors Doug Fort, who built 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, Santa Maria Speedway 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 claiming the last two dirt main events at Bakersfield and Tulare, Trey 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 has one fast time award, one heat race victory, three top-10 finishes, and 24 feature laps led to his credit. Last season’s Rookie of the Year will be looking to extend his point lead and continue his win streak at Santa Maria Speedway.
After setting fast time and running second at Tulare on May 31st, Norco’s Ronnie Gardner has climbed to second in the dirt series and fifth in the overall points. Piloting the Six8 Motorsports #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner has two fast time awards, three top-10 finishes, and 20 feature laps led on the year. The defending champion will have his sights on his 10th series victory and earning valuable points.
Alex Schutte of Redding sits third in the dirt points and second in the overall series. Racing the Schutte/McElwee #28 Aircraft Electrical Components / Ontario West Spike, Schutte claimed eleventh at Tulare after an early exit. Heading to Santa Maria, the 2010 Champion has three top-10 finishes in the campaign. Alex will be looking for his 3rd Western Midget victory and adding Santa Maria to his win list.
Orange’s Jarid Blondel ranks fourth in the dirt points and is the overall series point leader. Driving his #98 G&J Aircraft / Repair Service Edmunds, Blondel ran tenth at Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway. At press time, the young driver has four top-10 finishes and will have his sights on making the “Party at the Coast” his first main event victory.
Sean Dodenhoff of Bakersfield has climbed to fifth in the dirt series and tenth in the overall point chase. Racing his #9D Lightning Medical Pro / Torco Oil Spike, Dodenhoff claimed seventh in Tulare’s main event. To date, Sean has recorded two top-10 finishes and 18 feature laps led on the season. The young driver will be looking to earn his first series win at the “Doug Fort Memorial.”
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Jake Swanson, “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, Shannon McQueen, Tyler Dolacki, Scott Pierovich, Chad Nichols, Ricky Shelton, Johnathon Henry, Nick Chivello, Terry Nichols, Barry Pries Jr., and more.
SCHEDULE CHANGES: The July 19th race at Hanford has been cancelled and will not be made up. The
September 27th race scheduled at Visalia’s Plaza Park Raceway has been cancelled. That date has been replaced with a show at Lemoore Raceway on July 26th. Please update your schedules.
Santa Maria Speedway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo, California. Adult Tickets are $25, Military and Senior Tickets are $23. For an additional $5, fans can get a wristband for the infield “Fan Experience.” For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.racesantamariaspeedway.com or call (805) 315-2023.
The Honda USAC Western Midget Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Rugged Radios, and Western Performance Parts for their support. For more information on the series, visit www.usacracing.com or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/usacwsmidgets).
This Saturday at Santa Maria, VanLare Steering Repair will award certificates for Fast Time, Heat Race Winners, plus 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th in the main event. Their support is appreciated very much and you can get more information on their Sprint Car & Midget steering repair services by calling 707.481.8000.
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USAC WESTERN MIDGET DIRT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Trey Marcham-203, 2. Ronnie Gardner-174, 3. Alex Schutte-157, 4. Jarid Blondel-116, 5. Sean Dodenhoff-109, 6. Jake Swanson-97, 7. Chris Ennis-92, 8. Shannon McQueen-88, 9. Tyler Dolacki-80, 10. Scott Pierovich-72, 11. Chad Nichols-69, 12. Ricky Shelton-68, 13. Johnathon Henry-62, ---.Nick Chivello-62, 15. Terry Goodwin-53, 16. Troy Rutherford-50, ---. Steve Davis-50, 18. Terry Nichols-31, 19. Barry Pries Jr.-1.
USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. Jarid Blondel-225, 2. Alex Schutte-210, 3. Trey Marcham-203, 4. Chad Nichols-202, 5. Ronnie Gardner-174, 6. Nick Chivello-164, 7. Jake Swanson-140, 8. Darin Snider-116, 9. Scott Pierovich-111, 10. Sean Dodenhoff-109, 11. Chris Ennis-92, 12. Shannon McQueen-88, 13. Tyler Dolacki-80, 14. Ricky Shelton-68, 15. Johnathon Henry-62, 16. Terry Goodwin-53, 17. Troy Rutherford-50, --Steve Davis-50, 19. Terry Nichols-32, 20. Barry Pries Jr.-1.
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-Tommy 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-Tommy White, 1-Josh Wise.
2014 HONDA USAC WESTERN DIRT MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
July 5: Santa Maria, CA - Santa Maria Speedway (Party At The Coast / Doug Fort Memorial)
July 26: Lemoore, CA - Lemoore Raceway
August 9: *Petaluma, CA - Petaluma Speedway (John Soares Classic)
August 30: Calistoga, CA - Calistoga Speedway (Louie Vermeil Classic)
August 31: Calistoga, CA - Calistoga Speedway (Louie Vermeil Classic)
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
July 12: *Madera Speedway – Madera, CA (Gerhardt Classic 100-laps)
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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