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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honda USAC Western Midget Series
MICHAEL FACCINTO CHARGES TO FIRST VICTORY AT TULARE
By Lance Jennings
TULARE CA – MAY 4, 2015... Starting tenth, Hanford, California’s Michael Faccinto took the lead from Trey Marcham on the fourth lap and sailed to victory at Tulare’s Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway. For Faccinto, the 30-lap triumph was his first career win with the Honda USAC Western Midget Series. Cody Swanson, Shannon McQueen, Brian Gard, and Terry Nichols rounded out the top-five drivers.
Piloting the #35F MF Motorsports’ Chevy powered Spike, Michael Faccinto and his crew thrashed to change a rear end early in the program. Missing time trials, the second generation driver officially placed fourteenth overall and rebounded to score fourth in his heat race. Earning the night’s DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors in the main event, Faccinto has climbed to tenth in points as the series returns to the Tulare on May 30th.
Cody Swanson of Norco, California raced to second in the 30-lap main event from fifth. Driving the family owned #71S Marcie Campbell Realtor / Advanced Racing Suspension Spike, Swanson qualified second out of the fifteen racers in the pit area. The former Bakersfield feature winner left Tulare ranked third in championship points.
Bakersfield, California’s Shannon McQueen charged from ninth to take third at Thunderbowl Raceway. Racing the family owned #7 Lucas Oil / Simpson Race Products Spike, McQueen was tenth fast in time trials and scored fifth in her heat race. Returning to Tulare on May 30th, the former champion sits fifth in the point standings.
Brian Gard of Kelseyville, California scored fourth at Tulare after starting seventh. Piloting the Arata Bros.’ #88 Storcks Garage / Cliff Marden Snap-On Tools Ellis, Gard qualified seventh overall and took fifth in his heat race. At press time, last year’s Chico Gold Cup winner is currently seventh in the point chase.
Delano, California’s “Panda Express” Terry Nichols finished fifth in Tulare’s main event. Driving the family owned #1P Neverlift Motorsports / Crysalli Water Spike, Nichols was ninth quick in time trials and won the 8-lap Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1. The former West Coast Sprint Car Rookie of the Year left Tulare tied for third in the standings.
Ronnie Gardner of Norco, California earned the night’s Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award. Racing the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner ran fourth in his heat race and scored eleventh in the feature after an early exit. The defending champion has a four point advantage heading to the May 16th return to Tulare.
Manteca, California’s Nick Chivello raced to victory in the 8-lap DJ Safety Hat Race #2. Piloting the family owned #27 Rodgers Trucking / Vic Hubbard’s Auto Parts Spike, Chivello qualified sixth overall and placed sixth in the main event. The former rookie of the year left Tulare in a three-way tie for eleventh in the point chase.
On Saturday, May 30th, the Honda USAC Western Midgets will return to the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California. Located on the Tulare County Fairgrounds, the showcase will also feature the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars, Western RaceSaver Sprint Cars and Vintage Cars. For more information, visit www.tularethunderbowl.com or call 559.688.0909.
The Honda USAC Western Midget Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., 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 RACE RESULTS:
May 2, 2015 - Tulare, California - Thunderbowl Raceway - "J.D. Heiskell Race Night"
WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY TIME TRIALS:
1. Ronnie Gardner, 68, Six8-17.168; 2. Cody Swanson, 71S, Swanson-17.261; 3. Trey Marcham, 73, Ford-17.270; 4. Sean Dodenhoff, 9D, Dodenhoff-17.546; 5. Danny Faria Jr., 19W, Sala-17.600; 6. Nick Chivello, 27, Chivello-17.661; 7. Brian Gard, 88, Arata-17.780; 8. Steve Davis, 2D, Davis-17.861; 9. Terry Nichols, 1P, Nichols-17.987; 10. Shannon McQueen, 7, McQueen-17.991; 11. Scott Pierovich, 35, Pierovich-18.265; 12. Jack Hawley, 56, Hawley-18.615; 13. Nate Waite, 35W, Waite-NT; 14. Michael Faccinto, 35F, Faccinto-NT; 15. Tyler Dolacki, 99, JK-NT.
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE #1: (10 laps)
1. Nichols, 2. Marcham, 3. Faria, 4. Gardner, 5. Gard, 6. Pierovich, 7. Waite. NT
DJ SAFETY HEAT RACE #2: (10 laps)
1. Chivello, 2. Dodenhoff, 3. Swanson, 4. Faccinto, 5. McQueen, 6. Davis. 7. Hawley. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Michael Faccinto (10th), 2. Cody Swanson (5th), 3. Shannon McQueen (9th), 4. Brian Gard (7th), 5. Terry Nichols (8th), 6. Nick Chivello (1st), 7. Jack Hawley (13th), 8. Nate Waite (14th), 9. Trey Marcham (4th), 10. Scott Pierovich (12th), 11. Ronnie Gardner (6th), 12. Danny Faria Jr. (2nd), 13. Steve Davis (11th), 14. Sean Dodenhoff (3rd). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-3 Marcham, Laps 4-30 Faccinto.
DMI / ULTRA SHIELD RACE PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Michael Faccinto (10th to 1st)
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ronnie Gardner-115, 2. Trey Marcham-111, 3. Cody Swanson-106, -.Terry Nichols-106, 5. Shannon McQueen-105, 6. Scott Pierovich-91, 7. Brian Gard-82, 8. Sean Dodenhoff-80, 9. Steve Davis-76, 10. Michael Faccinto-65, 11. Nick Chivello-57, --. David Prickett-57, --. Randi Pankratz-57, 14. Jack Hawley-46, 15. Jimmy Voitel-42, 16. Nate Waite-41, 17. Jeff Harrington-38, 18. Danny Faria Jr.-37, 19. Ricky Shelton-27, 20. Tyler Dolacki-25.
2015 HONDA USAC WESTERN DIRT MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
May 30: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
July 3: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA
July 18: *Petaluma Speedway - Petaluma, CA (John Soares Classic)
September 5: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Midget Week)
September 6: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Midget Week)
September 10: *Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race Of Champions / California Midget Week)
September 12: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (California Midget Week)
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 BCRA Midgets.
# = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC National Midgets.
This schedule is subject to change.
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