By Dick Jordan
Ronnie Gardner of Norco, Calif. will try to continue his drive to the 2013 Honda USAC Western Midget Dirt championship this Saturday when the series visits the Ventura (Calif.) Raceway.
Gardner won last Saturday night’s 40-lap feature at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway in his Baldozier Racing/Esslinger Company Stewart/Esslinger. He took the lead from David Prickett on lap 24 and led the final 17 laps to beat Prickett, Sean Dodenhoff, Trey Marcham and Shannon McQueen.
Gardner has won two of the races already contested at Ventura this year. In July he finished second to Cory Kruseman.
Gardner’s point lead entering Saturday’s Ventura race stands at 189 as the 2013 season winds down.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET DIRT POINTS: 1-Ronnie Gardner-962, 2-Jake Swanson-773, 3-David Prickett-649, 4-Shannon McQueen-444, 5-Cody Swanson-424, 6-Randi Pankratz-410, 7-Scott Pierovich-378, 8-Terry Nichols-306, 9-Johnathon Henry-301, 10-Trey Marcham-297.