by Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – APRIL 1, 2013… This Saturday, April 6th, the USAC Western Midget Series will travel to Jim Naylor’s Ventura Raceway for the first round of the “Battle at the Beach.” The co-sanctioned event with the VRA Midget Series will also feature Dwarf Cars, IMCA Modifieds, Mod Lites, Focus Midgets, Go-Karts, and Quads. The Pit Gates will open at Noon, the Front Gates will open at 3:00pm, with Racing set for 5:30pm at “The Best Little Dirt Track In America.”
Leading the overall “mighty midget” point chase is Kody Swanson of Kingsburg. Racing the Neverlift Motorsports’ #55 Crysalli Water / Mt. Rose Cocktail Mixes Spike, Swanson placed twentieth last Saturday after an early exit at Bakersfield. The 2005 USAC Western Sprint Car Champion won at Madera on March 23rd and has two top-10 finishes with 41 feature laps led to his credit. Kody sits ninth in the dirt standings and will have his sights on winning Saturday’s “Battle at the Beach.”
After running second at Bakersfield, Norco’s Ronnie Gardner is tied for second in the championship points. Piloting Mitchell Johnson’s #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner is also tied for the Dirt Series point lead. With two top-5 finishes and 6 feature laps led on the season, the young driver also won the VRA Midget show on March 23rd. Ronnie will be among the favorites to watch at Ventura Raceway.
Jake Swanson of Anaheim is tied with Gardner for second in the overall points and the Dirt Series lead. Driving the Swanson Motorsports’ #05 Honda Racing / Goodwine Glass Stealth, Jake claimed fourth in last Saturday’s main event. As this writing goes to press, last year’s USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory and two top-10 finishes on the year. Swanson will be looking to claim the point lead with a main event win on Saturday.
Noblesville, Indiana’s Bryan Clauson sits fourth in the overall standings and third in the Dirt Series. Racing the #39 CTR/BCI/Curb/Agajanian Spike, Clauson won both nights of the “Copper On Dirt” at Canyon Speedway Park. Bryan has five career series wins with two heat race victories and 31 feature laps led on the year. The USAC National Sprint Car Champion has returned to the Midwest and will miss the action at Ventura.
Currently fifth in the overall point chase is Scott Pierovich of Alamo. Piloting the family owned #35 Mid-Coast Trans / Good Guys Spike, Pierovich ran eighth in the Bakersfield feature after starting thirteenth. The veteran driver is currently fourth in the Dirt Series with two heat race victories and three top-10 finishes on the season. Scott will be looking for his fourth USAC Western Midget win at the “Battle at the Beach.”
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Trey Marcham, Cody Swanson, Nick Chivello, Shannon McQueen, Troy Rutherford, Robby Josett, Randi Pankratz, Rick Hendrix, Jimmy Voitel, and many more.
Ventura Raceway is located at 10 West Harbor Blvd in Ventura, California. Adult tickets are $15, Seniors, Military, and Student tickets (with ID) are $11, and Children’s tickets (12 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.venturaraceway.com or call (805) 648-RACE.
The USAC Western Midget Series would like to thank Amsoil, Hoosier Tire, 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/
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USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1-Kody Swanson-157, 2-Ronnie Gardner-150, 3-Jake Swanson-150, 4-Bryan Clauson-143, 5-Scott Pierovich-138, 6-Rico Abreu-128, 7-Christopher Bell-125, 8-David Prickett-118, 9-Trey Marcham-90, 10-Tanner Thorson-72.
USAC WESTERN DIRT MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1-Ronnie Gardner-150, 2-Jake Swanson-150, 3-Bryan Clauson-143, 4-Scott Pierovich-138, 5-Rico Abreu-128, 6-Christopher Bell-125, 7-David Prickett-118, 8-Trey Marcham-90, 9-Kody Swanson-85, 10-Tanner Thorson-72.
2013 USAC WESTERN MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
April 6: *Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Battle At 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 At 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 At 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 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 USAC National Midget Series.
This schedule is subject to change.