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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honda USAC Western Midget Series
#71 Ricky Shelton – 10th in Honda USAC Western Midget Dirt Standings. Photo by Scott Sheldon / SprintCarScotty.com.
USAC WESTERN & BCRA MIDGETS CLASH AT CHICO SEPTEMBER 4TH
By Lance Jennings
PHOENIX, AZ – AUGUST 26, 2014... On Thursday, September 4th, the Honda USAC Western Midget Series will invade Dennis Gage’s Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California. Held during the “61st Gold Cup Race of Champions,” the co-sanctioned event with the Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA) will also showcase the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars. The Pit Gates at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds will open at 2:00pm, the Spectator Gates will open at 5:00pm, with Racing set to begin at 7:00pm.
Since March 2011, the USAC Western Midgets have been featured at Silver Dollar Speedway on five occasions. Kody Swanson won the series debut and Ronnie Gardner claimed the checkered flags last September on his way to the championship. Johnathon Henry, David Prickett, and Ryan Bernal have also celebrated their victories at the popular 1/4-mile oval. Shannon McQueen holds the USAC Western Midget 1-lap qualifying track record of 14.328, set on August 5, 2011.
NOTICE TO COMPETITORS: Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway has a strict state mandated sound rule if the sound levels are broken, the racer will be disqualified and not allowed to compete. We recommend that racers use their quietest mufflers at Chico. The Honda Western Midgets follow the National Series Rule Book, which can be found at www.usacracing.com/assets/files/rules/2014/2014_Appendix_D_Midget_Dirt.pdf
At press time, Trey Marcham of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has a slim 8-point lead atop the overall and dirt standings. Racing Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products TCR, Marcham ran second in Petaluma’s 50-lap “Soares Classic” on August 9th. Currently, last season’s Rookie of the Year has two feature wins, two VanLare Steering Repair Fast Time Awards, two heat race victories, six top-10 finishes, and 29 feature laps led to his credit. Trey will have his sights on extending his point lead by adding the Silver Dollar Speedway to his win list.
Norco, California’s Ronnie Gardner is second in both the dirt and overall point chase. Driving the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner earned his second win of the year at the “Soares Classic.” To date, the defending champion has three VanLare Steering Repair Fast Time Awards, one heat race victory, six top-10 finishes, and 83 feature laps led on the year. Ronnie will be looking to overtake Marcham for the points lead with another feature win at Chico.
Jarid Blondel of Orange, California ranks third in the dirt and combined dirt/pavement standings. Piloting his #98 G&J Aircraft / Repair Service Edmunds, Blondel scored twenty-third at Petaluma Speedway. Heading to the “Gold Cup Race of Champions” the young driver has one hard charger award and six top-10 finishes to his credit. Jarid will have his sights on adding Chico’s winning trophy to his collection.
After running fifth at Petaluma, Alamo, California’s Scott Pierovich has climbed to fourth in the dirt points and sixth in the overall series. Racing the family owned #35 Mid-Coast Trans / Good Guys Spike, Pierovich has one VanLare Steering Repair Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, three top-10 finishes, and 4 feature laps led in 2014. Scott will be one of the favorites to watch at Silver Dollar and will be in the mix to claim the feature win.
Alex Schutte of Redding, California ranks fifth in the dirt and overall series points. Driving the Schutte/McElwee #28 Aircraft Electrical Components / Ontario West Spike, Schutte ran eighth in the Petaluma main event. Currently, the 2010 Champion has one heat race victory and four top-10 finishes on the season. Alex will have his sights on adding the “Gold Cup Race of Champions” to this resume.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Shannon McQueen, “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, Sean Dodenhoff, Tyler Dolacki, Ricky Shelton, Chad Nichols, Nick Chivello, Terry Nichols, Johnathon Henry, Barry Pries Jr., Randi Pankratz, Brian Gard, Danny Ebberts, Rico Abreu, Christopher Bell, and more.
Currently eleventh in USAC Western Dirt Midget points, Chad Nichols of Colma leads the BCRA Midget point chase. As of August 9th, Gary Conterno, Floyd Alvis, J.R. Williams, Nick Chivello, Rick Holbrook, Darin Snider, Bill Lindsey, Sean Dodenhoff, and Shannon McQueen round out the top-10 drivers.
Silver Dollar Speedway is located on the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds at 2357 Fair Street in Chico, California. Advance tickets are on sale with 4-day and single day tickets available for the Gold Cup Race of Champions. Thursday’s Reserved tickets are $30, General Admission tickets are $15, and Kids tickets (11 & Under) are FREE. For more information, visit www.silverdollarspeedway.com or call (530) 350-7275.
The Honda USAC Western Midget Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Rugged Radios, Saldana Racing Products, and VanLare Steering Repair 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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CHICO HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET WINS:
03/11/11: Kody Swanson – TK/6R Racing #19
08/05/11: Johnathon Henry – Ken Graunstadt #88
09/08/11: David Prickett – Neverlift Motorsports #15
03/23/12: Ryan Bernal – Dodenhoff Racing #9B
09/05/13: Ronnie Gardner - Six8 Motorsports #68
CALISTOGA HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET 1-LAP QUALIFYING RECORD:
Shannon McQueen – 14.328 (08/05/11)
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET DIRT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Trey Marcham-388, 2. Ronnie Gardner-380, 3. Jarid Blondel-212, 4. Scott Pierovich-208, 5. Alex Schutte-204, 6. Shannon McQueen-203, 7. Chris Ennis-186, 8. Sean Dodenhoff-167, 9. Tyler Dolacki-155, 10. Ricky Shelton-147, 11. Chad Nichols-138, 12. Nick Chivello-101, 13. Jake Swanson-97, 14. Terry Nichols-93, 15. Johnathon Henry-90, 16. Barry Pries Jr.-57, 17. Terry Goodwin-53, 18. Troy Rutherford-50, --Steve Davis-50.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. Trey Marcham-388, 2. Ronnie Gardner-380, 3. Jarid Blondel-375, 4. Chad Nichols-325, 5. Alex Schutte-257, 6. Scott Pierovich-247, 7. Shannon McQueen-203, 8. Nick Chivello-201. 9. Chris Ennis-186, 10. Sean Dodenhoff-167, 11. Tyler Dolacki-155, 12. Ricky Shelton-147, 13. Jake Swanson-140, 14. Darin Snider-116, 15. Terry Nichols-94, 16. Johnathon Henry-90, 17. Barry Pries Jr.-57, 18. Terry Goodwin-53, 19. Troy Rutherford-50, --Steve Davis-50.
BCRA MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. Chad Nichols-1134, 2. Gary Conterno-1014, -. Floyd Alvis-1014, 4. J.R. Williams-924, 5. Nick Chivello-776, 6. Rick Holbrook-664, 7. Darin Snider-616, 8. Bill Lindsey-603, 9. Sean Dodenhoff-595, 10. Shannon McQueen-532, 11. Taylor Simas-489, 12. Barry Pries Jr.-473, 13. Cody Gerhardt-460, 14. Michael Donaldson-401, 15. Tanner Swanson-378, 16. Scott Kinney-376, 17. Rick Cook II-364, 18. Brian Gard-362, 19. Scott Pierovich-362, 20. Alex Schutte-297.
2014 HONDA USAC WESTERN DIRT MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
August 30: Calistoga, CA - Calistoga Speedway (Louie Vermeil Classic / $10,000-to-win)
August 31: Calistoga, CA - Calistoga Speedway (Louie Vermeil Classic / $10,000-to-win)
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
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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