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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honda USAC Western Midget Series
ALEX SCHUTTE SCORES PHOTO FINISH VICTORY AT BAKERSFIELD
By Lance Jennings
SEPTEMBER 25, 2015... Starting third, Alex Schutte of Redding, California led all 30 laps to earn his first Honda USAC Western Midget win of the campaign. Last Saturday’s $1,000 victory at Bakersfield Speedway was his third career triumph and the site of his first win on August 29, 2009. Fast qualifier Ronnie Gardner, Shannon McQueen, J.J. Ercse, and Cory Elliott followed the 2010 Champion to the checkered flags.
While on paper it may look like an easy win for Schutte, but that is hardly the case. Racing from sixth, Gardner had a late race surge that just fell short at the finish line. While Alex and his crew celebrated the dramatic victory, Ronnie and his team continued their bid for a third straight championship.
Taking a break from his NASCAR K&N schedule, Alex Schutte piloted the Schutte/McElwee #28 Proficio / Aircraft Electrical Components Spike to sixth quick out of eleven racers. Prior to the main event, Alex also won the night’s DJ Safety Heat Race #2, his first 8-lap win of the season.
Corona, California’s Ronnie Gardner gave a valiant effort but had to settle for second at Bakersfield. Racing the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Ram-Bull Racing Stewart, Gardner earned his fourth Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, scored third in his heat race, and was the night’s DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products “Hard Charger.” The defending champion head to Hanford with a 170-point lead on the strength of two feature wins, three heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and 45 feature laps led.
Bakersfield, California’s Shannon McQueen had a solid night at her hometown track with a third place run from fifth. Driving the McQueen Racing #7 Lucas Oil / Simpson Race Products Spike, McQueen qualified second overall and placed third in her heat race. The 2012 Champion has climbed to second in the point chase with one heat race victory, seven top-10 finishes and 12 feature laps led to her credit.
Making his first start of the year, J.J. Ercse of Lakewood, California scored fourth in the Bakersfield feature. Piloting the McQueen Racing #7M Lucas Oil / Simpson Race Products Spike, Ercse was seventh fast in time trials and ran second to Terry Nichols in his heat race. The former USAC TQ Midget Champion has found a ride for the Chili Bowl and is looking for sponsors.
Bakersfield, California’s Cory Elliott started eighth in the 30-lap feature and claimed fifth at the checkered flags. Racing the family owned #11E Oilwize / Speed Quest Motorsports Spike, Elliott qualified tenth overall and ran fourth in his heat race. To date, the young driver has one heat race victory and three top-10 finishes.
“The Panda Express” Terry Nichols of Delano, California won the night’s 8-lap Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1. Driving his #1P Johasee Rebar / Neverlift Motorsports Spike, Nichols was ninth quick in time trials and scored sixth in the main event. The 2009 West Coast Sprint Car Rookie of the Year heads to Hanford ranked fourth in the standings with three heat race victories and seven top-10 finishes.
On October 3rd, the Honda USAC Western Midgets will travel to the Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford, California. The action packed card will also feature the USAC West Coast and winged Western RaceSaver Sprint Cars. Located on the Kings County Fairgrounds at 801 South 10th Avenue, more event information can be found at www.racekingsspeedway.com or calling 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 CAR RACE RESULTS:
September 19, 2015 – Bakersfield, California – Bakersfield Speedway
WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY TIME TRIALS:
1. Ronnie Gardner, 68, Six8-13.335; 2. Shannon McQueen, 7, McQueen-13.371; 3. Michael Faccinto, 35F, MF-13.639; 4. Danny Faria Jr., 11R, Brutton-13.738; 5. Randi Pankratz, 8, Pankratz-13.781; 6. Alex Schutte, 28, Schutte/McElwee-13.798; 7. J.J. Ercse, 7M, McQueen-13.829; 8. Troy Rutherford, 87JR, Vermeer-13.996; 9. Terry Nichols, 1P, Nichols-14.054; 10. Cory Elliott, 11E, Elliott-14.241; 11. Nate Waite, MF-14.288.
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE #1: (8 laps)
1. Nichols, 2. Ercse, 3. Gardner, 4. Faccinto, 5. Pankratz. NT
DJ SAFETY HEAT RACE #2: (8 laps)
1. Schutte, 2. Rutherford, 3. McQueen, 4. Elliott, 5. Faria. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Alex Schutte (3rd), 2. Ronnie Gardner (6th), 3. Shannon McQueen (5th), 4. J.J. Ercse (2nd), 5. Cory Elliott (8th), 6. Terry Nichols (7th), 7. Danny Faria Jr. (9th), 8. Randi Pankratz (10th), 9. Nate Waite (11th), 10. Troy Rutherford (1st), 11. Michael Faccinto (4th). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1-30 Schutte.
DMI / ULTRA SHIELD RACE PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Ronnie Gardner (6th to 2nd)
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ronnie Gardner-436, 2. Shannon McQueen-277, 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-145, 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
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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