RONNIE GARDNER SCORES 4TH WESTERN MIDGET WIN AT VISALIA

130701gardner — Ronnie Gardner. - Rob Hargraves Photo

Ronnie Gardner. - Rob Hargraves Photo — Ronnie Gardner. – Rob Hargraves Photo

From Lance Jennings

Visalia, CA — (July 2, 2013) — Taking the lead from Michael Faccinto on lap 15, Norco’s Ronnie Gardner led the rest of the way to claim victory at Plaza Park Raceway. The Visalia 30-lap Honda USAC Western Midget Series feature was Gardner’s fourth triumph of the season. Faccinto, Sean Dodenhoff, T.J. Smith, and Jake Swanson followed the point leader to the checkered flags.

Piloting the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Ronnie Gardner qualified fourth overall and was second in his heat race. With the victory, Gardner has a 54 point advantage with one fast time award, one heat race victory, eight top-10 finishes, and 71 feature laps led to his credit.

Making his first start of 2013, Michael Faccinto of Hanford led the opening 14 laps before settling for second at Visalia. Driving Steve Watt’s #62 Steve Watt Enterprises machine, Faccinto was sixth quick in time trials and placed third in his heat race.

Bakersfield’s Sean Dodenhoff had another strong night and claimed third at Plaza Park Raceway. Racing his #9E Lightning Medical Pro / Torco Oil Spike, Dodenhoff qualified fifth overall and claimed third in his heat race. Despite missing some races, Sean has one heat race victory, four top-10 finishes, and one feature lap led in the campaign.

T.J. Smith of Fresno scored fourth in USAC’s return to the Visalia 1/5-mile oval. Driving the Neverlift Motorsports’ #55 Crysalli Water / Mt. Rose Cocktail Mixes Spike, Smith was second fast in qualifications and ran fourth in his heat race. In limited appearances, the former Santa Maria Sprint Car Champion has two top-10 finishes on the year.

Anaheim’s Jake Swanson has a solid night behind the wheel of the #05 Van Dyne / Swanson Racing Edmunds. Last season’s USAC/CRA Sprint Car Rookie of the Year qualified third, ran fourth in his heat race, and scored fifth in the main event. To date, Swanson is second in points with one feature win, four heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and 43 feature laps led.

Randi Pankratz of Atascadero earned the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a seventh place run after starting thirteenth. Racing Wally Pankratz’s #8 HASA Pool Products / Trench Shoring Edmunds, Randi was thirteenth quick and sixth in her heat race. Currently, the veteran driver is seventh in the dirt series with two top-10 finishes on the season.

Fresno’s David Prickett earned his first fast time award and set a new track record. Piloting his Neverlift Motorsports’ #15 Crysalli Water / Mt. Rose Cocktail Mixes Spike, Prickett scored third in his heat race and placed thirteenth in the main event. David sits third in the dirt standings with four heat race victories, one semi-main win, and seven top-10 finishes in the campaign.

Greg Bragg of Visalia won the night’s first 8-lap heat race. Driving the Dave LaMott #0 Bob Wirth Engines / Finish Line Construction TCR, Bragg qualified tenth and finished sixth in the main event. In limited appearances, the former California Lightning Sprints Champion has one semi-main win, one hard charger award, and three top-10 finishes.

Also making his first start of the campaign was Hanford’s Mitchell Faccinto. Racing Steve Watt’s #81 Christian Stover Foundation / Steve Watt Enterprises Stealth, Faccinto was fourteenth fast in time trials, won the second 8-lap heat race, and placed sixteenth in the main event.

Shannon McQueen of Tehachapi won the night’s third heat race at Visalia. Piloting the McQueen Racing #7 Lucas Oil / Simpson Race Products Spike, the defending champion qualified ninth and scored fourteenth after an early flip. McQueen was uninjured and left Plaza Park fourth in the dirt points with one fast time award, two hard charger awards and five top-10 finishes.

On Friday, July 12th, the USAC Western Midget Series will travel to Ocean Speedway in Watsonville. Located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, the “3rd Annual Howard Kaeding Classic” will also feature the USAC Western Classic Sprint Cars, BAD Dwarf Cars, Sport Mods, and Wingless Sprints. Advance tickets are on sale and for more information, visit the track’s website at www.oceanspeedway.com or call (831) 662-9466 (WINN).

The Honda 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/usacwsmidgets).

—————————————————————

HONDA WESTERN MIDGET DIRT RACE RESULTS:

June 29, 2013 – Visalia, California – Plaza Park Raceway

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. David Prickett, 15, Neverlift-12.120; 2. T.J. Smith, 55, Neverlift-12.213; 3. Jake Swanson, 05, VanDyne/Swanson-12.268; 4. Ronnie Gardner, 68, SIX-EIGHT-12.286; 5. Sean Dodenhoff, 9D, Dodenhoff-12.432; 6. Michael Faccinto, 62, Watt-12.469; 7. Taylor Simas, 62T, Bock-12.498; 8. Kyle Edwards, 39, Edwards-12.555; 9. Shannon McQueen, 7, McQueen-12.611; 10. Greg Bragg, 0, LaMott-12.712; 11. Pete Davis, 00, Davis-12.761; 12. Terry Nichols, 45, Neverlift-12.821; 13. Randi Pankratz, 8, Pankratz-12.850; 14. Mitchell Faccinto, 81, Watt-12,891; 15. Jimmy Voitel, 21, Voitel-12,894; 16. Dylan Black, 84, Black-13.963.

FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)

1. Greg Bragg, 2. Ronnie Gardner, 3. David Prickett, 4. Taylor Simas, 5. Dylan Black, 6. Randi Pankratz. NT

SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)

1. Mitchell Faccinto, 2. Pete Davis, 3. Sean Dodenhoff, 4. T.J. Smith, 5. Kyle Edwards. NT

THIRD HEAT: (8 laps)

1. Shannon McQueen, 2. Terry Nichols, 3. Michael Faccinto, 4. Jake Swanson, 5. Jimmy Voitel. NT

FEATURE: (30 laps)

1. Ronnie Gardner (3rd), 2. Michael Faccinto (1st), 3. Sean Dodenhoff (2nd), 4. Tyler Smith (5th), 5. Jake Swanson (4th), 6. Greg Bragg (10th), 7. Randi Pankratz (13th), 8. Taylor Simas (7th), 9. Pete Davis (11th), 10. Kyle Edwards (8th), 11. Dylan Black (16th), 12. Jimmy Voitel (15th), 13. David Prickett (6th), 14. Shannon McQueen (9th), 15. Terry Nichols (12th), 16. Mitchell Faccinto (14th). NT

—————————-

**Shannon McQueen flipped on lap 1 of the feature.

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-14 Michael Faccinto, Laps 15-30 Ronnie Gardner.

HARD CHARGER: Randi Pankratz (13th to 7th)

HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET DIRT POINT STANDINGS:

1-Ronnie Gardner-555, 2-Jake Swanson-501, 3-David Prickett-439, 4-Shannon McQueen-285, 5-Cody Swanson-219, 6-Scott Pierovich-199, 7-Randi Pankratz-197, 8-Terry Nichols-176, 9-Trey Marcham-169, 10-Kyle Edwards-156.

———————————————-

2013 HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE

DATE – TRACK – LOCATION

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)