SCHUTTE LEADS MIDGETS TO CALISTOGA’S “LOUIE VERMIEL CLASSIC”

By Dick Jordan

Alex Schutte of Redding, Calif. leads the USAC Mopar Western Midget Series to this weekend’s 3rd Annual “Louie Vermeil Classic” at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga, Calif. He has a slim three-point cushion over Cory Kruseman and is only 17 ahead of Robby Josett as the series resumes after a seven-week hiatus.

The two-night Calistoga event (Saturday and Sunday) also includes the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint cars on the half-mile dirt oval.

Schutte finished second and fifth in the Calistoga races last year and was the fastest qualifier for the second night. Josh Ford and Garrett Hansen won last year’s two Calistoga Midget features.

Schutte is still seeking his first 2010 feature win despite a trio of third-place finishes in the last four outings. Kruseman and Josett have both found the winners circle this year, Kruseman winning at Bakersfield and Josett at Ventura.

The night Josett won at Ventura, the three point leaders “swept” the podium, with Kruseman second and Schutte third.

This weekend’s Calistoga races salute the life-long commitment of Louie Vermeil to the sport of auto racing and to Calistoga’s picturesque racetrack.

USAC MOPAR WESTERN MIDGET SERIES POINT STANDINGS

1-Alex Schutte-457, 2-Cory Kruseman-454, 3-Robby Josett-440, 4-Kody Swanson-267, 5-Josh Lakatos-226, 6-Jake Swanson-215, 7-Cody Swanson-208, 8-Brad Sweet-207, 9-Randi Pankratz-206, 10-Scott Pierovich-195.