From Bryan Gapinski
Waukesha, Wis., May 14—Billy Wease Jr. and Ronnie Gardner are current leaders in the National Midget Driver of the Year Championship and Western Midget Driver of the Year Champions with nine midget races nationwide slated for the weekend of May 17-19. Past weekend winners include Jake Swanson at Santa Maria Speedway, and Andrew Felker at I-44 Speedway.
Wease has scored points with three different car owners and scored two feature wins. Less than thirty points separate the top six in points. Fourteen year-old Justin Peck leads the Design 500 Racewear Rookie of the Year points. Swindell-Curb leads the car owner points, with Ford-Esslinger (engine) and Spike (chassis) are atop the Manufactures Champion.
Gardner on the strength of three victories, two seconds and third place in the first eight Western Midget events holds a 21-point lead over Swanson who has captured two events this season. Johnson Racing leads the Car Owner points, with Trey Marchum leading the Rookie points. Gardner is seeking the “West Coast Trifecta” and also finds himself leading the VRA Midget Series and tied with Swanson for the USAC Western Midget points lead.