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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honda USAC Western Midget Series
#05 Jake Swanson. 2nd in Honda USAC Western Midget Standings. Photo by MMRacingPhotos.com.
WATSONVILLE “HOWARD KAEDING CLASSIC” ON TAP FOR USAC WESTERN MIDGETS
by Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – JULY 9, 2013... The cars and stars of the Honda USAC Western Midget Series will travel to Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway this Friday, July 12th. The opening night of the “Howard Kaeding Classic” will also showcase the USAC Western Classic Sprint Cars, BAD Dwarf Cars, and Sport Mods. The Spectator Gates at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds will open at 4:30pm with Racing set to begin at 6:00pm.
Friday’s event will mark the second appearance of the Honda USAC Western Midget Series at Watsonville’s quarter-mile clay oval. On July 6, 2012, “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman scored a popular main event win at Ocean Speedway. After Friday’s “Howard Kaeding Classic,” the series will battle on the Madera Speedway pavement for Saturday’s “Gerhardt Classic.” For more information on the Madera event, visit www.racemadera.com.
Heading to Watsonville, Ronnie Gardner of Norco sits atop both the overall and dirt series point chase. Driving the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner claimed his fourth win of the season at Visalia’s Plaza Park Raceway on June 29th. To date, Ronnie holds a 54 point advantage over the competition with one fast time award, one heat race victory, eight top-10 finishes, and 71 feature laps led to his credit. The former USAC/CRA Most Improved Driver will be looking to continue his championship bid with an Ocean Speedway victory.
Anaheim’s Jake Swanson is second in both the overall and dirt Western Midget point chase. Racing the Van Dyne / Swanson Motorsports #05 Edmunds, Jake scored fifth in the main event at Visalia. As this writing goes to press, last year’s USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has one feature win, four heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and 43 feature laps led on the season. Swanson will have his sights on a Watsonville victory and gaining valuable championship points.
Sitting third in both the overall and dirt series point standings is David Prickett of Fresno. Piloting the Neverlift Motorsports' #15 Crysalli Water / Mt. Rose Cocktail Mixes Spike, Prickett claimed fifteenth at Plaza Park Raceway. The veteran driver has yet to score a feature win, but has one fast time award, four heat race victories, one semi-main win, and seven top-10 finishes in the campaign. David will be looking to breakthrough with a victory at the “Howard Kaeding Classic.”
Alamo’s Scott Pierovich is fourth in the overall points and sixth in the dirt series. The driver of the family owned #35 Mid-Coast Trans / Good Guys Spike has run a limited schedule and did not compete at Visalia. Pierovich has yet to score a main event win, but has two heat race victories, five top-10 finishes, and 6 feature laps led on the season. At press time, Scott may miss the “Howard Kaeding Classic,” but he is a threat to win at every race.
Shannon McQueen of Tehachapi is fifth in the overall points and fourth in the dirt standings. Piloting the McQueen Racing #7 Lucas Oil / Simpson Racing Products Spike, Shannon placed fourteenth at Plaza Park after an early tangle ended her night. To date, the defending series champion has yet to claim a feature win, but has one fast time award, one heat race victory, and five top-10 finishes in the campaign. On Friday, McQueen will be looking to add the “Howard Kaeding Classic” to her win list.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Cody Swanson, Randi Pankratz, Terry Nichols, Trey Marcham, Randi Pankratz, Kyle Edwards, Frankie Guerrini, Alex Schutte, Nick Chivello, Britton Bock, Sean Dodenhoff, Ryan Bernal, and more.
Ocean Speedway is located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, California at 2601 E. Lake Avenue. Adult Tickets are $20, Senior Tickets (over 65) are $19, and Kid Tickets (12-6) are $15. For more information, visit the track's website at www.oceanspeedway.com or call (831) 662-9466 (WINN).
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-555; 2-Jake Swanson-501; 3-David Prickett-439; 4-Scott Pierovich-322; 5-Shannon McQueen-285; 6-Frankie Guerrini-240; 7-Cody Swanson-219; 8-Kody Swanson-212; 9-Randi Pankratz-197; 10-Terry Nichols-176; 11-Nick Chivello-174; 12-Trey Marcham-169; 13-Tanner Swanson-164; 14-Chad Nichols-162; 15-Kyle Edwards-156; 16-Bryan Clauson-143; 17-Johnathon Henry-138; 18-Rico Abreu-128; 19-Christopher Bell-125; 20-Dan Gundo-120.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET DIRT POINT STANDINGS:
1-Ronnie Gardner-555; 2-Jake Swanson-501; 3-David Prickett-439; 4-Shannon McQueen-285; 5-Cody Swanson-219; 6-Scott Pierovich-199; 7-Randi Pankratz-197; 8-Terry Nichols-176; 9-Trey Marcham-169; 10-Kyle Edwards-156; 11-Bryan Clauson-143; 12-Kody Swanson-140; 13-Frankie Guerrini-132; 14-Rico Abreu-128; 15-Christopher Bell-125; 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
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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