By Lance Jennings
APRIL 26, 2016… After a break in the schedule, the USAC Western States Midgets will invade Bakersfield Speedway this Saturday, April 30th. Promoted by Scott Schweitzer, the “Autism Awareness Night” will also feature the new USAC Super 600 Micro Sprints, California Lightning Sprints, H&S Body Works Hobby Stocks, Johasee Rebar American Stocks, and Coca-Cola Mini Stocks. The Pit Gates will open at 2:00pm, the Front Gates will open at 4:00pm, and Racing is scheduled for 6:00pm at “The West’s Fastest 1/3-Mile High Banked Clay Oval.” For event information, visit the track’s website at www.bakersfieldspeedway.com or call 661.393.3373.
NOTICE TO RACERS: The USAC Western States Midget Series approved/legal mufflers are:
B&B: FRAC-0375-S w/side outlet,
Coast Fabrication: 300x625x17-2s, 350x625x17-2s, 400x625x17-2s
Extreme: 3512-3030 (with insert 2312-30), 3512-3030 SS (with insert 2312-30), 4615-3035- 15″ long x 6″ diameter x 3″ inlet and 3.5 outlet w/internal cone
Flowmaster: (BCRA Approved) 13009130, 1509130, 13509135
Shoenfeld: 14272735-78, 14272535
Since July 3, 1987, Bakersfield Speedway hosted 103 USAC Western States Midget races. P.J. Jones claimed the inaugural victory as Ronnie Gardner and Alex Schutte won last year’s events. Former champions Sleepy Tripp and Robby Flock are tied for the series lead with eight Bakersfield triumphs, followed by Billy Boat (7), Jay Drake (5), and “Flash” Jordan Hermansader (4). Heading into Saturday’s race, Ricky Shelton holds the 1-lap qualifying track record of 12.339, set on June 21, 1997.
After rain washed out the April 9th date at Tulare, Ronnie Gardner (Corona, California) sits atop the point standings. Piloting the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner won the Placerville season opener on March 23rd. The 3-time champion is tied with Garrett Hansen for ninth in series history with fourteen wins and will be looking to add another Bakersfield trophy to his collection.
Entering the second point race, Shane Golobic (Fremont, California) ranks second in the chase for the championship. Racing Doug Bock’s #26 Hubbard Motorsports / Factory Kahne Shocks Spike, Golobic led nine laps at Placerville before scoring second at the checkered flags. The versatile driver splits his schedule with winged sprint cars and it is unknown if he will join Saturday’s action.
Cody Swanson (Covina, California) is currently third in the USAC Western Midget point chase. Driving the family owned #71S Marcie Campbell Realtor / Advanced Racing Suspension Spike, Swanson finished third in the Placerville season opener. This Saturday, the 2012 VRA Midget Champion will be looking for his second USAC victory at Bakersfield.
Sean Dodenhoff (Bakersfield, California) is fourth in the point standings. Piloting his #9D Lightning Medical Pro / Torco Oil Spike, Dodenhoff led the first two laps before scoring fourth at the “Placerville Short Track Showdown.” Sean will have his sights on earning his first USAC main event win at his hometown track.
Michael Faccinto (Hanford, California) ranks fifth in the championship standings. Racing the MF Motorsports’ #35F Spike, Faccinto claimed fifth at the Placerville checkered flags. Michael has two USAC Western Midget victories to his credit and will be looking to celebrate a Bakersfield win on Saturday.
Currently nineteenth in points, Courtney Crone (Corona, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Robert Dalby (Anaheim, California) is also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Randi Pankratz, Britton Bock, “The Panda Express” Terry Nichols, Tyler Dolacki, Brian Gard, Matt Streeter, Cory Elliott, Nate Waite, Tyler Walker, and more.
Bakersfield Speedway is located at 5001 North Chester Extension in Bakersfield, California. Advance tickets are on sale and for more event/ticket information, visit the track’s website at www.bakersfieldspeedway.com or call 661.393.3373.
The USAC Western States Midget Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Competition Suspension Incorporated, DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Rod End Supply, Stand 21 Racer Goes Safer Foundation, Ultra Shield Race Products, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, email PR Director Lance Jennings at lwjennings@earthlink.net.
For more information on the series, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC Western States Midget Facebook and Twitter pages.
Loudpedal Productions has USAC Western States Midget DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
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USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET CHAMPIONS:
1982*-Jeff Heywood, 1983-Sleepy Tripp, 1984-Tommy White, 1985-Sleepy Tripp, 1986-Robby Flock, 1987-Sleepy Tripp, 1988-Sleepy Tripp, 1989-Robby Flock, 1990-Sleepy Tripp, 1991-Sleepy Tripp, 1992-Sleepy Tripp, 1993-Robby Flock, 1994-Johnny Cofer, 1995-Billy Boat, 1996-Jay Drake, 1997-Ricky Shelton, 1998-Rick Hendrix, 1999-Marc DeBeaumont, 2000-Wally Pankratz, 2001-Danny Ebberts, 2002-Robby Flock, 2003-Steve Paden, 2004-Johnny Rodriguez, 2005-Jerome Rodela, 2006-Jerome Rodela, 2007-Johnny Rodriguez, 2008-Nic Faas, 2009-Garrett Hansen, 2010-Alex Schutte, 2011-Cory Kruseman, 2012-Shannon McQueen, 2013-Ronnie Gardner, 2014- Ronnie Gardner, 2015-Ronnie Gardner.
2016 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS:
1-Ronnie Gardner.
BAKERSFIELD USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET WINS:
8-Robby Flock, 8-Sleepy Tripp, 7-Billy Boat, 5-Jay Drake, 4-Jordan Hermansader, 3-Steve Paden, 3-Ron Shuman, 3-Jimmy Sills, 3-Danny Stratton, 3-Josh Wise, 2-Hank Butcher, 2-Bob Davison, 2-Ronnie Day, 2-Ronnie Gardner, 2-Garrett Hansen, 2-P.J. Jones, 2-Page Jones, 2-Trey Marcham, 2-Wally Pankratz, 2-Frank Pedregon, 2-Alex Schutte, 2-Shane Scully, 1-Bobby Boone, 1-Greg Bragg, 1-Larry Brown, 1-Tyler Brown, 1-Johnny Cofer, 1-Dave Darland, 1-Michelle Decker, 1-Larry Derwin, 1-Danny Ebberts, 1-Nic Faas, 1-Terry Farrar, 1-Billy Felts Jr., 1-Josh Ford, 1-Stan Fox, 1-Damion Gardner, 1-Scott Hansen, 1-Rick Hendrix, 1-Gary Howard, 1-Ryan Kaplan, 1-Kasey Kahne, 1-Cory Kruseman, 1-Brad Kuhn, 1-Josh Lakatos, 1-Jason Leffler, 1-Thomas Meseraull, 1-Troy Rutherford, 1-Graham Standring, 1-Cody Swanson, 1-Brad Sweet, 1-Rich Vogler, 1-Rip Williams.
USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
- Ronnie Gardner-78, 2. Shane Golobic-74, 3. Cody Swanson-69, 4. Sean Dodenhoff-67, 5. Michael Faccinto-63, 6. Randi Pankratz-61, 7. Brady Bacon-60, 8. Britton Bock-54, 9. Taylor Simas-49, 10. Frankie Guerrini-46, 11. Terry Nichols-43, 12. Tyler Dolacki-42, 13. Brian Gard-41, 14. Matt Streeter-39, —. Maria Cofer-39, 16. Bryan Clauson-38, 17. Cory Elliott-36, 18. Danny Carroll-31, 19. Courtney Crone-30, 20. Robert Dalby-27, 21. Dustin Golobic-25, —.Nate Waite-25.