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CHRIS THOMAS WINS FIRST NMRA-TQ MIDGET FEATURE – By Tim Kennedy
Bakersfield, CA., Mar. 12 – Southern California-based NMRA-TQ Midget teams opened their 12 race 2016 racing season Saturday as the only open-wheel division in a six-division program with hobby stock cars and modifieds at the third-mile clay Bakersfield Speedway. Chris Thomas, a 38-year old Brea resident and 2013 TQ midget rookie, drove his dad Ed's No. 40 Stealth chassis with Honda power to the first feature victory of his career.
Thomas started the ten-car, 20-lap main event fourth and was the fourth different race leader. He led the final eight laps. His best prior finish was a second place finish in the final race last season on October 17 at the third-mile clay Santa Maria Speedway. He became the series point leader for the first time with 64 points. His dad Ed now leads in car owner rankings for the first time with 67 points, including three appearance points.
His winning TQ was the No. 20 Jim Adams-owned and driven car that Ed Thomas purchased for his daughter Amanda to race. She did so for several years. Then her brother Chris took over the driving. Adams purchased the No. 88 TQ from owner/driver Ron Wade, who won main events in it. Chris Thomas finished tenth in final points in 2013. He finished eighth in points in 2014 and 2015 after racing in eight of the 15 NMRA races last season. The steadily improving driver scored four top fives, seven top tens and won three heat races.
Chuck West, the six-time NMRA driving champion, started sixth and finished a few lengths behind the winner with five cars running a the finish. Second year driver Kevin Kale came from sixth on the grid to finish third. Shawn Buckley, a champion USAC HPD Midget owner/driver, after starting second in Steve Parke's No. 59. Doyle Mosley, from ninth starting spot, took fifth position.
Bruce Hiroshima, Paul Sanders, Ace Kale, West Evans and first-time TQ driver Brandon Wiley, a 16-year old from Santa Maria, completed the top ten. Evans barrel-rolled his No. 36 Spike/Suzuki three-times in the second turn on lap 4 as he tried to pass his team car driven by his first cousin West. He escaped with aches and bruises but was still sore a week later.
Pole starter Ace Kale, the father of Kevin, started from pole position and led the first lap. Third starter Evans led lap 2. West led laps 3-12 in the WEM No. 38. Thomas took charge on lap 13 and remained in front to the checkered flag. He and his team celebrated in front of a good-sized crowd.
A pair of 8-lap heat races started five cars in each race. Outside row two starters West and Hiroshima won the two heats. The next NMRA-TQ race will be held Saturday, April 9 at Bakersfield Speedway, NMRA's home track.
RESULTS:
Heat 1 – Chuck West, Shawn Buckley, Chris Thomas, Doyle Mosley, Brandon Wiley.
Heat 2 - Bruce Hiroshima, West Evans, Ace Kale, Paul Sanders, Kevin Kale.
Main – Thomas, West, K. Kale, Buckley, Mosley, Hiroshima, Sanders, A. Kale, Evans, B. Wiley.
POINT STANDINGS:
Driver Car Owners
1 Chris Thomas 64 1 No. 40 Ed Thomas 67
2 Chuck West 63 2 No. 38 West Evans 66
3 Shawn Buckley 56 3 No. 59 Steve Parke 59
4 Kevin Kale 54 4 No. 07 Ace Kale 57
5 Doyle Mosley 51 5 No. 87 Doyle Mosley 54
5 Bruce Hiroshima 51 5 No. 5 Bruce Hiroshima 51
7 Paul Sanders 45 7 No. 22 Paul Sanders 48
8 Ace Kale 43 8 No. 77 Ace Kale 46
9 West Evans 41 9 No. 36 West Evans 44
10 Brandon Wiley ® 33 10 No. 20 Bruce Hiroshima 36
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