By Dick Jordan
The Honda USAC Western Midget series resumes August 30-31 in the 7th Annual “Louie Vermeil Classic” at Calistoga (Calif.) Speedway and defending Honda USAC Western Midget Champion Ronnie Gardner is “ready” after his latest victory last weekend.
Gardner, of Norco, Calif. won Saturday night’s 50-lap race at Petaluma (Calif.) Speedway in his Six8 Motorsports/Baldozier Racing Stewart/Esslinger and now trails series point leader Trey Marcham by eight points entering the California “double.”
Gardner trailed Scott Pierovich for the first four laps before taking the lead and leading the final 46 laps. Marcham finished second ahead of Taylor Simas, Sean Dodenhoff and Pierovich.
2014 Honda USAC Western Midget Dirt Standings: 1-Trey Marcham-388, 2-Ronnie Gardner-380, 3-Jarid Blondel-212, 4-Scott Pierovich-208, 5-Alex Schutte-204, 6-Shannon McQueen-203, 7-Chris Ennis-186, 8-Sean Dodenhoff-167, 9-Tyler Dolacki-155, 10-Ricky Shelton-147,
2014 Honda USAC Western Midget Standings: 1-Trey Marcham-388, 2-Ronnie Gardner-380, 3-Jarid Blondel-375, 4-Chad Nichols-325, 5-Alex Schutte-257, 6-Scott Pierovich-247, 7-Shannon McQueen-203, 8-Nick Chivello-201, 9-Chris Ennis-186, 10-Sean Dodenhoff-167.