By Dick Jordan
Cory Kruseman of Ventura, Calif. has vaulted to the top of the 2010 USAC Mopar Western Midget Series standings following his 10th-place finish in Saturday night’s 30-lap feature at the Stockton (Calif.) 99 Speedway. Kruseman takes an eight-point lead over Alex Schutte into a May 15 race at Santa Maria (Calif.) Speedway.
Chad Nichols of San Carlos, Calif. led all 30 laps to win the Stockton race in his Orange Rocket Beast/Esslinger Ford. Dan Chivello finished second ahead of Scott Pierovich, Schutte and Robby Josett.
The Santa Maria race will be the first at that 1/3-mile dirt oval since 2008, when Nic Faas won the main event. Garret Hansen, last year’s Western Midget champion, won at Santa Maria in 2007.
USAC WESTERN MIDGET SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1-Cory Kruseman-225, 2-Alex Schutte-217, 3-Robby Josett-208, 4-Brad Sweet-207, 5-Bobby East-169, 6-Brad Loyet-155, 7-Darren Hagen-155, 8-Tracy Hines-155, 9-Bryan Clauson-149, 10-Dave Darland-148.