By Dick Jordan
HPD USAC Midget racing explodes on three fronts this weekend. The Washington, Midwest and Western series are all in action.
A “special’ non-points race at Deming Speedway Friday opens the Washington campaign, which gets under way with points implications Saturday at Skagit Speedway in Alger. Ohio track at Xenia and Columbus host Friday and Saturday night Midwest races respectively, with Friday’s race at Kik-Kare Raceway and Saturday’s race at Columbus Motor Speedway. Saturday’s Western pavement race is part of the “Vukovich Classic” at Madera (Calif.) Speedway.
Patrick Bruns of Champaign, Ill. continued unbeaten in USAC HPD Midwest Midget competition with his victory in Friday night’s 15-lap feature at Gas City I-69 Speedway. Bruns trailed Alex Watson for the first three laps, then led the final 12 laps to beat John Heydenreich, Watson, Austin Nemire and Bill Kriegbaum.
Dustin Ash of Las Vegas, Nev. debuted in the USAC Western HPD Midgets Saturday night at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring and walked off with an impressive 30-lap feature victory. Ash led the final seven laps in the Jamie Belfiore entry after passing Michael Fanelli on lap 24. Shawn Buckley led the first 16 laps and Fanelli led the next seven before Ash took over. Michael Fanell finished second ahead of Jeff Kelley, Christine Breckenridge and Shane Buckley at the checkered flag.
Shawn Buckley (Western) and Bruns (Midwest) lead their respective HPD series standings.
2014 HPD USAC Midwest Dirt Midget Standings: 1-Patrick Bruns-207, 2-Austin Nemire-183, 3-Aaron Schuck-129, 4-Bill Kriegbaum-110, 6-John Heydenreich-69, 6-Alex Watson-63.
2014 HPD USAC Western Pavement Midget Standings: 1-Shawn Buckley-363, 2-Toni Breidinger-231, 3-Joel Rayborne-185, 4-Ashley Hazelton-147, 5-Dylan Noble-144, 6-Annie Breidinger-138, 7-Michael Fanelli-136, 8-Jeff Kelley-134, 9-Bryant Dawson-132, 10-Christine Breckenridge-132.