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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honda USAC Western Midget Series
#35 Scott Pierovich. 4th in Honda USAC Western Midget Standings. Photo by Lance Jennings.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGETS SET TO CLASH AT CALISTOGA
by Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – AUGUST 26, 2013... After a break in the schedule, the cars and stars of the Honda USAC Western Midget Series will battle at Calistoga’s “6th Annual Louie Vermeil Classic.” Starting this Saturday, August 31st, the scenic 1/2-mile speedway will also host the Amsoil USAC/CRA and Western Classic Sprint Cars for two nights of action. Operations Manager Tommy Hunt and his staff have raised an impressive purse with an unprecedented $10,000-to-win each night. The Spectator Gates at the Napa County Fairgrounds will open at 5:00pm with racing set to begin at 6:30pm.
The festivities will begin on Friday, August 30th with the Calistoga Speedway Hall of Fame Dinner. National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Driver Brad Doty will serve as Grand Marshall and Bobby Gerould will host the ceremony. This year’s inductees are Johnny Anderson, Mike Andreetta, Hank Butcher, Mel Fernandez, Hank Hanestad, George Hawkins, Mike McGreevy, Walt Ross and Lem Tolliver. On race day, there will also be a vintage car show, raffles, wine tasting, silent auctions, and beer garden events for fans to enjoy.
Norco’s Ronnie Gardner has had a stellar campaign and sits atop both the overall and dirt series point chase. Piloting the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner has five victories with wins coming at Ventura (twice), Petaluma, Visalia, and Watsonville. In addition, the former USAC/CRA Most Improved Driver has one fast time award, two heat race victories, ten top-10 finishes, and 101 feature laps led to his credit. Ronnie will be looking for a big payday at Calistoga and continuing his march to the championship.
Jake Swanson of Anaheim is second in both the overall and dirt standings. Racing the Van Dyne / Swanson Motorsports #05 Edmunds, Swanson claimed his first series win at Santa Maria on May 11th. As this writing goes to press, last year’s USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year also has one fast time award, four heat race victories, ten top-10 finishes, and 43 feature laps led on the season. Jake will have his sights on a Calistoga victory and gaining valuable points on Gardner.
Fresno’s David Prickett is third in both the overall and dirt championship points. Driving the Neverlift Motorsports' #15 Crysalli Water / Mt. Rose Cocktail Mixes Spike, Prickett scored a URA Midget win last Saturday at Santa Maria. The veteran driver has yet to claim a USAC win this year, but has one fast time award, five heat race victories, one semi-main win, and seven top-10 finishes. David will be looking for a breakthrough win at Calistoga’s “Louie Vermeil Classic.”
Scott Pierovich of Alamo sits fourth in the overall points and ninth in the dirt series. Piloting the family owned #35 Mid-Coast Trans / Good Guys Spike, Pierovich has run a limited schedule and has yet to win a feature in 2013. Currently, the veteran driver has one fast time award, three heat race victories, six top-10 finishes, and 28 feature laps led on the season. Scott won a Vermeil Classic preliminary feature in 2011 and will have his sights on a $10,000 victory.
After winning his third feature at Madera Speedway on August 10th, Manteca’s Nick Chivello has climbed to fifth in the overall points and second in the pavement series. Racing the family owned #27 Vic Hubbard’s Auto Parts / Red Top Electric Spike, Chivello also has two heat race victories, three top-10 finishes, and 108 feature laps led in the campaign. Nick will be looking to upset the field and take home the “Louie Vermeil Classic” feature win.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Randi Pankratz, Cody Swanson, Kyle Edwards, Terry Nichols, Johnathon Henry, Frankie Guerrini, Rico Abreu, Alex Schutte, Britton Bock, Sean Dodenhoff, Ryan Bernal, and more. At press time, NASCAR Nationwide Series standout Kyle Larson, and USAC Champion Bryan Clauson have committed to Sunday’s finale. On Saturday, Larson will race with NASCAR in Atlanta, Georgia and Clauson will compete in Terre Haute, Indiana with the USAC National Sprint Cars.
Competitors should note that Calistoga Speedway is located on a California State Fairgrounds and has a mandatory 95db at 100ft muffler rule. Knoxville type mufflers are not allowed and series rules apply. All cars must meet series tech standards and race track muffler rules to compete.
Calistoga Speedway is located on the Napa Valley Fairgrounds at 1435 North Oak Street in Calistoga. Reserved tickets are $30, General Admission Adult tickets are $25, and General Admission Kids tickets (12-4) are $10. For more information, visit www.louievermeilclassic.net, www.calistogaspeedway.org, or call (916) 773-7223.
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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LOUIE VERMEIL CLASSIC MIDGET WINNERS:
2008-Johnny Rodriguez; 2009-Josh Ford; 2010-Cory Kruseman; 2011-Johnathon Henry; 2012-Rico Abreu.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1-Ronnie Gardner-691; 2-Jake Swanson-623; 3-David Prickett-504; 4-Scott Pierovich-454; 5-Nick Chivello-347; 6-Shannon McQueen- 342; 7-Randi Pankratz-291; 8-Cody Swanson-288; 9-Frankie Guerrini-273; 10-Chad Nichols-254; 11-Kyle Edwards-244; 12-Dan Gundo-233; 13-Terry Nichols-232; 14-Kody Swanson-212; 15-Johnathon Henry-202; 16-Trey Marcham-200; 17-Tanner Swanson-197; 18-Bryan Clauson-143; 19-Ken Nichols-132; 20-Rico Abreu-128.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET DIRT POINT STANDINGS:
1-Ronnie Gardner-691; 2-Jake Swanson-623; 3-David Prickett-504; 4-Shannon McQueen-342; 5-Randi Pankratz-291; 6-Cody Swanson-288; 7-Kyle Edwards-244; 8-Terry Nichols-232; 9-Scott Pierovich-217; 10-Johnathon Henry-202; 11-Trey Marcham-200; 12-Frankie Guerrini-165; 13-Bryan Clauson-143; 14-Kody Swanson-140; 15-Rico Abreu-128; 16-Christopher Bell-125; 17-Nick Chivello-106; 18-Alex Schutte-96; 19-Britton Bock-72; ---Tanner Thorson-72
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET DIRT POINT STANDINGS:
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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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