From Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – MARCH 27, 2013… This Saturday, March 30th, the USAC Western Midget Series will make their first appearance of the year at Scott Schweitzer’s Bakersfield Speedway. The “Jack FM Night at the Races” will also feature the popular Sport Mods, Mini Stocks and NMRA TQ Midgets. The Front Gates will open at 4:00pm with Racing set for 6:00pm at “The West’s Fastest 1/3-Mile High Banked Clay Oval.”
After winning both nights of the “Copper On Dirt” at Canyon Speedway Park, Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Indiana leads the point standings. Piloting the #39 CTR/BCI/Curb/Agajanian Spike, Clauson has five career series wins with two heat race victories and 31 feature laps led in the campaign. The USAC National Sprint Car Champion has returned to the Midwest and will miss Saturday’s action.
Kingsburg’s Kody Swanson is second in the point chase. Driving Bob Rosen’s #4 Espresso Beast, Swanson claimed last Saturday’s pavement victory at Madera. With seven career feature wins, Kody has two top-10 finishes and 41 feature laps led on the season. Swanson will be looking to score the Bakersfield triumph on Saturday.
Rico Abreu of Rutherford sits third in the championship points. The pilot of the Keith Kunz Motorsports’ #67 Toyota TRD Bullet did not compete at Madera, but scored fifth and second at Canyon. Abreu has one career USAC Western Midget victory to his credit with one fast time award in 2013. Rico is scheduled to miss Bakersfield to race a winged 360 Sprint Car in Northern California.
Norman, Oklahoma’s Christopher Bell is fourth in the standings. Like Abreu, the driver of the Keith Kunz Motorsports’ #71K Toyota TRD Bullet did not compete at Madera, but had a fast time award and claimed fourth and third at the “Copper On Dirt.” Bell will skip Bakersfield to race a non-wing Sprint Car in Brownstown, Indiana.
Scott Pierovich of Alamo is fifth in the points. Racing the family owned #35 Mid-Coast Trans / Good Guys Spike, Pierovich was not at Madera, but scored eighth and seventh at Canyon. The veteran driver has three career feature wins to go with one heat race victory in the campaign. Scott will have his sights on the Bakersfield main event win on Saturday.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Jake Swanson, Ronnie Gardner, David Prickett, Ryan Bernal, Nick Chivello, Shannon McQueen, Troy Rutherford, Robby Josett, Randi Pankratz, Cody Swanson, Rick Hendrix, Richard Vander Weerd, and many more.
Bakersfield Speedway is located at 5001 North Chester Extension in Bakersfield, California. Adult tickets are $15, Kids tickets are $5, and Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. The Pit Gate will open at 2:00pm and for event information, visit the track’s website at www.bakersfieldspeedway.com or call (661) 393-3373.
For more information on the USAC Western Midget Series, visit www.usacracing.com or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/
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USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. Bryan Clauson-143; 2. Kody Swanson-138; 3. Rico Abreu-128; 4. Christopher Bell-125; 5. Scott Pierovich-91; 6. Jake Swanson-86; 7. Ronnie Gardner-84; 8. Tanner Thorson-72; 9. Dillon Welch-71; 10. David Prickett-64; 11. Riley Emmel-61; 12. Frankie Guerrini-59; 13. Trey Marcham-54; 14. Terry Goodwin-50; 15. Dan Gundo-43; 16. Rick Shuman-37; 17. J.R. Williams-36; 18. Chad Nichols-29; 19. Ken Nichols-27; 20. Ryan Bernal-2.
USAC WESTERN DIRT MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. Bryan Clauson-143; 2. Rico Abreu-128; 3. Christopher Bell-125; 4. Scott Pierovich-91; 5. Jake Swanson-86; 6. Ronnie Gardner-84; 7. Tanner Thorson-72; 8. Dillon Welch-71; 9. Kody Swanson-66; 10. David Prickett-64; 11. Riley Emmel-61; 12. Trey Marcham-54; 13. Terry Goodwin-50; 14. Rick Shuman-37; 15. Ryan Bernal-2.
2013 USAC WESTERN MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
March 30: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA
April 6: *Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Battle On The Beach)
May 4: **Madera Speedway – Madera, CA (Vukovich Classic)
May 11: Santa Maria Speedway – Santa Maria, CA
May 18: *Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Battle On The Beach)
June 1: **Placerville Speedway – Placerville, CA
June 8: **Madera Speedway – Madera, CA (Al Pombo Classic)
June 15: **Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA
June 22: Thunderbowl Speedway – Tulare, CA
June 29: Plaza Park Raceway – Visalia, CA
July 12: Ocean Speedway – Watsonville, CA (Howard Kaeding Classic)
July 13: **Madera Speedway – Madera, CA (Gerhardt Classic)
July 20: *Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Battle On 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 On 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 USAC National Midget Series.
This schedule is subject to change.