by Lance Jennings
VENTURA, CA – APRIL 8, 2013… Taking the lead from Jake Swanson on lap nineteen, Norco’s Ronnie Gardner of Norco won Saturday’s “Battle at the Beach” at Ventura Raceway. The 30-lap VRA co-sanctioned victory marked Gardner’s first career USAC Western Midget Series triumph as the group heads to the Madera pavement on May 4th. Swanson, Johnathon Henry, David Prickett, and Kody Swanson followed Gardner to the checkered flags.
Driving Mitchell Johnson’s #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Ronnie Gardner left Ventura with both the overall and dirt series point lead. The 2011 Most Improved Driver with USAC/CRA ran second in his heat race, with three top-five finishes and 18 feature laps led to his credit. During the break in the schedule, Gardner might return to USAC/CRA Sprint Car action.
After running a strong race, Jake Swanson of Anaheim had to settle for second at Ventura. Racing the family owned #05 Honda Racing / Goodwine Glass Stealth, Swanson won the night’s second 8-lap heat race and is second in both the overall and dirt series points. Last year’s USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year will be looking for his first USAC dirt midget win at Santa Maria on May 11th.
Stockton’s Johnathon Henry claimed third in the “Battle at the Beach” after starting sixth. Piloting the Ken Graunstadt owned #88 Ellis, Henry placed third in his heat race and is tied for sixteenth in both the overall and dirt standings. With one top-five finish on the year, the hard charging driver will have his sights on the May 11th victory at Santa Maria Speedway.
David Prickett of Fresno came home fourth at the checkered flags. Driving his Neverlift Motorsports’ #15 Motorsports’ #15 Crysalli Water / Mt. Rose Cocktail Mixes Spike, Prickett won the night’s first 8-lap heat race. Currently fourth in the overall and third in the dirt points, the veteran driver will be looking to breakthrough with a Santa Maria victory.
Fresno’s Kody Swanson scored fifth in the 30-lap main event. Racing the Neverlift Motorsports’ #55X Crysalli Water / Mt. Rose Cocktail Mixes Spike, Swanson claimed second in his heat race. To date, the March 23rd feature winner at Madera sits third in the overall points and fifth in the dirt standings. Kody will have his sights on claiming another Madera Speedway victory on May 4th.
Shannon McQueen of Tehachapi earned the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a seventh place run after starting fifteenth. Driving the McQueen Racing #7 Lucas Oil / Simpson Race Products Spike, last year’s champion scored fifth in her heat race. Currently tenth in both the overall and dirt championship points, Shannon will compete with BCRA during the break in the schedule.
Piloting Calvin Martens’ #11 Woodworks Unlimited / Ryno Fabrication TCR, Ojai’s Troy Rutherford won the program’s third 8-lap heat race. Claiming twelfth in the main event, the former VRA Sprint Car Champion will be looking to rebound with a Santa Maria victory on May 11th.
The USAC Western Midget Series will be back in action on Saturday, May 4th at Kenny Shephard’s Madera Speedway. Co-sanctioned with the BCRA Midget Series, the “Vukovich Classic” will also feature Super Modifieds vs. Winged Sprints, NCMA Sprint Cars, Vintage Super Modifieds, Valley Sportsman, and BCRA Vintage Cars. For more event and ticket information, visit www.racemadera.com or call 559.673.RACE.
The 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 series, visit www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/
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USAC WESTERN MIDGET DIRT RACE RESULTS (Co-sanctioned by VRA):
April 6, 2013 – Ventura, California – Ventura Raceway – “Battle at the Beach”
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
1. David Prickett (#15 Neverlift), 2. Kody Swanson (#55x Neverlift), 3. Johnathon Henry (#88 Graunstadt), 4. Kyle Edwards (#39 Edwards), 5. Randi Pankratz (#8 Pankratz), 6. Steve Davis (#2D Davis). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Jake Swanson (#05 Swanson), 2. Ronnie Gardner (#68 Johnson), 3. Sean Dodenhoff (#9d Dodenhoff), 4. Kyle Smith (#55 Smith), 5. Shannon McQueen (#7 McQueen), 6. Jimmy Voitel (#21 Voitel). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Troy Rutherford (#11 Martens), 2. Cody Swanson (#71 Swanson), 3. Danny Ebberts (#5x Van Dyne), 4. Jim Donley (#89k Kruseman), 5. Kyle Cline (#2 Cline), 6. Terry Nichols (#45 Neverlift). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Ronnie Gardner (2nd), 2. Jake Swanson (3rd), 3. Johnathon Henry (6th), 4. David Prickett (1st), 5. Kody Swanson (5th), 6. Sean Dodenhoff (8th), 7. Shannon McQueen (15th), 8. Danny Ebberts (9th), 9. Kyle Edwards (11th), 10. Jim Donley (10th), 11. Terry Nichols (18th), 12. Troy Rutherford (4th), 13. Kyle Smith (13th), 14. Randi Pankratz (14th), 15. Cody Swanson (7th), 16. Jimmy Voitel (17th), 17. Kyle Cline (12th), 18. Steve Davis (16th). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-18 Jake Swanson, Laps 19-30 Ronnie Gardner.
HARD CHARGER: Shannon McQueen (15th to 7th)
USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ronnie Gardner-217; 2. Jake Swanson-215; 3. Kody Swanson-212; 4. David Prickett-177; 5. Bryan Clauson-143; 6. Scott Pierovich-138; 7. Rico Abreu-128; 8. Christopher Bell-125; 9. Cody Swanson-98; 10. Shannon McQueen-91; 11. Trey Marcham-90; 12. Tanner Thorson-72; 13. Dillon Welch-71; 14. Kyle Edwards-65; 15. Ryan Bernal-63; 16. Riley Emmel-61; –. Johnathon Henry-61; 18. Frankie Guerrini-59; 19. Randi Pankratz-57; 20. Rick Shuman-54.
USAC WESTERN MIDGET DIRT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ronnie Gardner-217; 2. Jake Swanson-215; 3. David Prickett-177; 4. Bryan Clauson-143; 5. Kody Swanson-140; 6. Scott Pierovich-138; 7. Rico Abreu-128; 8. Christopher Bell-125; 9. Cody Swanson-98; 10. Shannon McQueen-91; 11. Trey Marcham-90; 12. Tanner Thorson-72; 13. Dillon Welch-71; 14. Kyle Edwards-65; 15. Ryan Bernal-63; 16. Riley Emmel-61; –. Johnathon Henry-61; 18. Randi Pankratz-57; 19. Rick Shuman-54; 20. Terry Goodwin-50; –. Terry Nichols-50.