By Dick Jordan
Petaluma (Calif.) Raceway hosts the Honda USAC Western Dirt Midgets Saturday night and point leader Ronnie Gardner will try to protect a 23-point lead in the standings. The event is co-sanctioned by BCRA.
Shane Golobic, who won the last USAC Western Dirt Midget race at Placerville, also won last year’s race at Petaluma.
Nick Chivello of Manteca, Calif. passed Scott Pierovich on the 28th lap Saturday night and led the final three laps to win the 30-lap “Pombo/Sargent Classic” USAC/BCRA Honda Western Midget race at Madera (Calif.) Speedway. Chivello led the first 21 laps and Pierovich the next six before the final pass. Tanner Swanson finished second ahead of Chad Nichols, Scott Pierovich and David Goodwill. Chivello piloted the Hubbard’s Auto Parts/Red Top Electric Spike/Esslinger.
The Honda USAC Western Pavement Midgets, led by point leader Chad Nichols, return to Madera July 13.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET DIRT POINTS: 1-Ronnie Gardner-413, 2-Jake Swanson-390, 3-David Prickett-338, 4-Cody Swanson-219, 5-Shannon McQueen-197, 6-Scott Pierovich-173, 7-Trey Marcham-168, 8-Randi Pankratz-152, 9-Bryan Clauson-143, 10-Kody Swanson-140.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET PAVEMENT POINTS: 1-Chad Nichols-163, 2-Tanner Swanson-141, 3-Scott Pierovich-124, 4-Dan Gundo-120, 5-Ken Nichols-109, 8-Frankie Guerrini-108, 7-Nick Chivello-102, 8-Kody Swanson-72.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINTS: 1-Ronnie Gardner-352, 2-Jake Swanson-334, 3-David Prickett-294, 4-Scott Pierovich-262, 5-Cody Swanson-219, 6-Kody Swanson-212, 7-Frankie Guerrini-212, 8-Shannon McQueen-178, 9-Trey Marcham-169, 10-Tanner Swanson-164.