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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honda USAC Western Midget Series
#7 Shannon McQueen. 5th in Honda USAC Western Midget Standings. Photo by Rob Hargraves.
VISALIA’S PLAZA PARK HOSTS USAC MIDGETS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2002
by Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – JUNE 26, 2013... This Saturday, June 29th, the cars and stars of the Honda USAC Western Midget Series will invade Plaza Park Raceway in Visalia. The second night of the “Budweiser Outlaw Nationals,” will feature the “mighty midgets” along with four divisions of the popular Micro Sprints. The Front Gates will open at 5:00pm with Racing scheduled to begin at 6:30pm.
Saturday's event will mark the fifth appearance of the Honda USAC Western Midget Series at Plaza Park Raceway. On April 13, 2002, veteran driver Wally Pankratz took the checkered flags in the group’s last visit to the 1/5-mile clay oval. Rusty Rasmussen claimed the first three main event wins at Plaza Park, starting in April 1986.
Entering Saturday’s race, Norco’s Ronnie Gardner sits atop both the overall and dirt series point chase. Racing the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner scored his third win of the season on June 15th and set a new track record at Petaluma. Currently holding a 41 point advantage over the competition, Ronne also has one heat race victory, seven top-10 finishes, and 55 feature laps led to his credit. Gardner will have his sights on a Plaza Park victory as he makes his bid for a championship.
Currently second in both the overall and dirt championship points is Jake Swanson of Anaheim. Piloting the Van Dyne / Swanson Motorsports #05 Edmunds, Jake claimed fifth at Petaluma Speedway. To date, last season’s USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has one feature win, four heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 43 feature laps led. On Saturday, Swanson will be looking to win the main event and gain valuable championship points.
Fresno’s David Prickett sits third in both the overall and dirt series point standings. Driving the Neverlift Motorsports' #15 Crysalli Water / Mt. Rose Cocktail Mixes Spike, Prickett scored a third place finish at Petaluma. The veteran driver has yet to score a feature win, but has four heat race victories, one semi-main win, and seven top-10 finishes on the season. David will be one of the favorites to watch at Plaza Park Raceway.
Scott Pierovich of Alamo is fourth in the overall points and sixth in the dirt series. On June 15th, the pilot of the family owned #35 Mid-Coast Trans / Good Guys Spike did not compete at Petaluma Speedway. Pierovich has yet to claim a main event win in 2013, but has two heat race victories, five top-10 finishes, and 6 feature laps led. Scott will be in the hunt to score the feature win this Saturday night in Visalia.
Tehachapi’s Shannon McQueen has climbed to fifth in the overall standings and fourth in the dirt points. Driving the McQueen Racing #7 Lucas Oil / Simpson Racing Products Spike, the defending series champion scored fourth at Petaluma. With one fast time award and five top-10 finishes, Shannon will be looking to claim her first win of the season at Plaza Park.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Cody Swanson, Trey Marcham, Randi Pankratz, Terry Nichols, Frankie Guerrini, Kyle Edwards, Alex Schutte, Nick Chivello, Britton Bock, Sean Dodenhoff, and more.
Plaza Park Raceway is located at 700 South Plaza Street in Visalia, California and Adult Tickets are $10. Advance tickets are on sale and for more information, visit the track's website at www.plazaparkraceway.com or call (559) 651.5114.
The Honda USAC Western Midget Series would like to thank Amsoil, Hoosier Tire, Rugged Radios, and Western Performance Parts for their support. For more information on the group, visit www.usacracing.com or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/usacwsmidgets).
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HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1-Ronnie Gardner-485; 2-Jake Swanson-444; 3-David Prickett-400; 4-Scott Pierovich-322; 5-Shannon McQueen-252; 6-Frankie Guerrini-240; 7-Cody Swanson-219; 8-Kody Swanson-212; 9-Nick Chivello-174; 10-Trey Marcham-169; 11-Tanner Swanson-164; 12-Chad Nichols-163; 13-Randi Pankratz-152; 14-Terry Nichols-146; 15-Bryan Clauson-143; 16-Rico Abreu-128; 17-Christopher Bell-125; 18-Dan Gundo-120; 19-Kyle Edwards-119; 20-Ken Nichols-109.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET DIRT POINT STANDINGS:
1-Ronnie Gardner-485; 2-Jake Swanson-444; 3-David Prickett-400; 4-Shannon McQueen-252; 5-Cody Swanson-219; 6-Scott Pierovich-199; 7-Trey Marcham-169; 8-Randi Pankratz-152; 9-Terry Nichols-146; 10-Bryan Clauson-143; 11-Kody Swanson-140; 12-Frankie Guerrini-132; 13-Rico Abreu-128; 14-Christopher Bell-125; 15-Kyle Edwards-119; 16-Johnathon Henry-102; 17-Alex Schutte-96; 18-Tanner Thorson-72; ---Britton Bock-72; 20-Dillon Welch-71.
2013 USAC WESTERN MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
June 29: Plaza Park Raceway - Visalia, CA
July 12: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA (Howard Kaeding Classic)
July 13: **Madera Speedway - Madera, CA (Gerhardt Classic)
July 20: *Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA (Battle at the Beach)
August 1: ***Belleville High Banks - Belleville, KS (Belleville Midget Nationals / Non-Points)
August 3: ***Belleville High Banks - Belleville, KS (Belleville Midget Nationals / Non-Points)
August 10: Madera Speedway - Madera, CA
August 31: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 1: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 5: **Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions)
September 14: **Madera Speedway - Madera, CA (Harvest Classic)
September 21: Bakersfield Speedway - Bakersfield, CA
September 28: *Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA (Battle at the Beach)
October 5: **Petaluma Speedway - Petaluma, CA (Soares Classic)
November 14: ***Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 15: ***Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 16: ***Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 22: Cocopah Speedway - Yuma, AZ
November 23: Cocopah Speedway - Yuma, AZ
November 28: ***Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with VRA Midget Series.
** = Co-Sanctioned Event with BCRA Midget Series.
*** = Co-Sanctioned Event with Honda USAC National Midget Series.
This schedule is subject to change.
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