by Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – OCTOBER 2, 2013… This Saturday, October 5th, the Honda USAC Western Midget Series will invade Petaluma Speedway for the “2nd Annual Johnny Soares Classic.” The 101-lap “shootout” with the Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA) will award $1,500 to the main event winner. The BCRA Midget Lites, Vintage Midgets, and Hardtops will join the action packed card at “The Fastest 3/8 Mile Dirt Oval in Northern California.” The Front Gates will open at 4:00pm, Time Trials at 5:00pm, and Racing is set to begin at 6:30pm.
COMPETITOR NOTE: Tarps are mandatory under all race cars in the pit area at Petaluma Speedway.
Saturday’s event will mark the 3rd Honda USAC Western Midget show at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds. Fremont’s Shane Golobic won the inaugural 101-lap classic last October 6th and point leader Ronnie Gardner raced to victory on June 15th.
After claiming his eighth series win last Saturday at Ventura, Ronnie Gardner of Norco holds a 190 point advantage over the competition. Piloting the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner has five fast time awards, two heat race victories, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 158 feature laps led on the year. Ronnie has his sights on the championship and will be looking to add the “Soares Classic” to his win list.
Anaheim’s Jake Swanson ranks second in the Western Dirt point standings. At Ventura, Swanson jumped behind the wheel of Cory Kruseman’s #89K Lucas Oil / MavTV Spike and took second at the checkered flags. Currently, the May 11th Santa Maria winner has one fast time award, five heat race victories, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 43 feature laps led to his credit. Last season’s USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year will be looking to gain valuable points with a main event win at Petaluma.
David Prickett of Fresno sits third in the dirt series point chase. Driving the Neverlift Motorsports’ #15 Crysalli Water / Mt. Rose Cocktail Mixes Spike, Prickett scored third in the “Battle at the Beach.” Last year’s Western Dirt Series Champion has yet to win a USAC feature in 2013, but has one fast time award, six heat race victories, one semi-main win, nine top-10 finishes, and 23 feature laps led. David will have his sights at claiming the $1,500 payday at Petaluma’s “Soares Classic.”
Tehachapi’s Shannon McQueen is fourth in the dirt championship points. Piloting the McQueen Racing #7 Lucas Oil / Simpson Race Products Spike, Shannon placed thirteenth in last week’s race at Ventura. To date, last year’s champion has yet to claim a main event win in 2013, but has one fast time award, one heat race victory, three hard charger awards, and seven top-10 finishes in the campaign. On Saturday, McQueen will be looking to win the “Johnny Soares Classic.”
Cody Swanson of Norco is fifth in the Western Dirt Series. Racing the family owned #71 Edmunds Auto Research / K&N Filters machine, Swanson led the first twelve laps before scoring eleventh at Ventura. As this writing goes to press, the March 30th Bakersfield winner has one heat race victory, six top-10 finishes, and 43 feature laps led on the season. Cody will miss Saturday’s race at Petaluma to compete in a 360 Sprint Car at Ventura Raceway.
Among the other USAC drivers expected to be in action are Randi Pankratz, Scott Pierovich, Terry Nichols, Trey Marcham, Johnathon Henry, Frankie Guerrini, Nick Chivello, Britton Bock, Sean Dodenhoff, and more. Floyd Alvis leads the BCRA standings with Gary Conterno, J.R. Williams, Kevin Morris, Darin Snider, David Goodwill, Bill Lindsey, Michael Snider, Nick Chivello, and Greg Bragg rounding out the top-10 drivers.
Petaluma Speedway is located on the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, California at 100 Fairgrounds Drive. Adult Tickets are $15, Senior Tickets are $10, and Junior Tickets are $10. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.petaluma-speedway.com or call (530) 626-3680.
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/
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HONDA USAC WESTERN DIRT MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1-Ronnie Gardner-1,028, 2-Jake Swanson-838, 3-David Prickett-711, 4-Shannon McQueen-477, 5-Cody Swanson-458, 6-Randi Pankratz-456, 7-Scott Pierovich-378, 8-Terry Nichols-356, 9-Trey Marcham-348; 10-Johnathon Henry-301.
BCRA MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1-Floyd Alvis-1350, 2-Gary Conterno-1276, 3-J.R. Williams-1203, 4-Kevin Morris-1062, 5-Darin Snider-1057, 6-David Goodwill-880, 7-Bill Lindsey-830, 8-Michael Snider-732, 9-Nick Chivello-672, 10-Greg Bragg-630.