This message was edited on
September 04, 2013 at
02:57:02 PM by ljennings
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honda USAC Western Midget Series
#68 Ronnie Gardner. Honda USAC Western Dirt Midget Point Leader. Photo by Lance Jennings.
GARDNER LEADS HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGETS TO SILVER DOLLAR
by Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – SEPTEMBER 4, 2013... Tomorrow night, September 5th, the Honda USAC Western Midget Series will tackle Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway during the “60th Annual Gold Cup Race of Champions.” Co-sanctioned with the Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA), the “Cavalcade of Gold Cup Memories” will also showcase the USAC Western Classic Sprint Cars, Dwarf Cars, and Vintage Cars. The Spectator Gates will open at 5:00pm with time trials scheduled to begin at 6:30pm.
The popular quarter-mile oval at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds has hosted four USAC Western Midget events. Kody Swanson won the inaugural race on March 11, 2011 as Johnathon Henry, David Prickett, and Ryan Bernal have also scored wins at Chico. A talented roster of USAC and BCRA drivers will be on hand as they try to add a “Gold Cup” feature win to their resume.
Norco’s Ronnie Gardner enters Thursday’s show with a 112 point advantage over the competition. Driving the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner scored two fast time awards and ran third and fifth at Calistoga’s “Louie Vermeil Classic.” With five wins on the season, the Ronnie will be looking to continue his championship march with a Chico victory.
Jake Swanson of Anaheim is second in the dirt series point chase. Piloting the Van Dyne / Swanson #05 Ram Bull Racing / Goodwine Glass Edmunds, Swanson claimed eighth and twelfth in the 2-day “Louie Vermeil Classic.” Jake scored his first victory at Santa Maria on May 11th and will have his sights on winning the “Cavalcade of Gold Cup Memories.”
Currently third in the championship standings is Fresno’s David Prickett. Racing the Neverlift Motorsports' #15 Crysalli Water / Mt. Rose Cocktail Mixes Spike, Prickett had a tough run last weekend, scoring a twenty-third and thirteenth place finish. The veteran driver won at Chico in September 2011 and will be looking to rebound with his first USAC win of 2013.
Scott Pierovich of Alamo is fourth in the Honda USAC Western Dirt Midget point standings. Driving the family owned #35 Mid-Coast Trans / Good Guys Spike, Pierovich ran ninth and sixth at the “Louie Vermeil Classic.” Scott has three career USAC Western Midget victories and will have his sights on his first win of the campaign.
Norco’s Cody Swanson sits fifth in the dirt series point standings. Piloting the family owned #71 Edmunds Auto Research / K&N Filters Edmunds, Swanson earned a fifth and ninth place finish at Calistoga Speedway. Cody scored his first main event win at Bakersfield on March 30th and will be looking to add Chico to his win list.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Nick Chivello, Randi Pankratz, Kyle Edwards, Terry Nichols, Johnathon Henry, Frankie Guerrini, Rico Abreu, Alex Schutte, Britton Bock, Shane Golobic, Taylor Simas, Sean Dodenhoff, and more.
Multi-time champion Floyd Alvis sits atop the BCRA point standings. Gary Conterno, J.R. Williams, Kevin Morris, Darin Snider, Bill Lindsey, David Goodwill, Michael Snider, Scott Pierovich, and Nick Chivello round out the top ten in BCRA points.
Competitors should note that Silver Dollar 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.
Silver Dollar Speedway is located on the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds at 2357 Fair Street in Chico. Reserved tickets are $30 and for more information, visit www.silverdollarspeedway.com or call (530) 350-7275.
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 DIRT POINT STANDINGS:
1-Ronnie Gardner-817, 2-Jake Swanson-705, 3-David Prickett-550, 4-Scott Pierovich-550, 5-Cody Swanson-383, 6-Nick Chivello-368, 7-Randi Pankratz-366, 8-Shannon McQueen-342, 9-Kyle Edwards-295, 10-Frankie Guerrini-273.
BCRA MIDGET POINT STANDINGS: (8/24/13)
1-Floyd Alvis-1201, 2-Gary Conterno-1128, 3-J.R. Williams-1067, 4-Kevin Morris-1062, 5-Darin Snider- 887, 6-Bill Lindsey-830, 7-David Goodwill-786, 8-Michael Snider-636, 9-Scott Pierovich-589, 10-Nick Chivello-569.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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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