Honda USAC Western Midgets invade Bakersfield this Saturday

By Lance Jennings

PHOENIX, AZ – SEPTEMBER 16, 2014… This Saturday, September 20th, the Honda USAC Western Midget Series will invade Bakersfield Speedway in Bakersfield, California for the final time in 2014. Promoted by Scott Schweitzer, the “Monster Energy Recycling Night” will also feature IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, Mini Stocks, Hard Tops, and Ignite Midgets. The Pit Gates will open at 2:00pm, the Front Gates will open at 4:00pm, with Racing 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.

Saturday’s event will mark the 100th appearance of the USAC Western Midgets at the Bakersfield clay oval. P.J. Jones claimed the inaugural victory on July 3, 1987 and Trey Marcham joined the winner’s list on May 3rd. Former champions Sleepy Tripp and Robby Flock are tied for the series lead with eight main event wins at Bakersfield, followed by Billy Boat (7), Jay Drake (5), and “Flash” Jordan Hermansader (4). On June 21, 1997, Ricky Shelton set the 1-lap qualifying track record of 12.339 on his way to the series championship.

Heading to Bakersfield, Ronnie Gardner of Norco, California leads both the dirt and overall point standings. Racing the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, Gardner set a new track record at Chico on September 4th and claimed seventh in the feature. To date, the defending champion has two feature wins, four VanLare Steering Repair Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, nine top-10 finishes, and 83 feature laps led. Ronnie will be looking to extend his point lead by earning his twelfth career series win this Saturday night.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma’s Trey Marcham is second in the dirt series and third in the combined dirt/pavement standings. Piloting Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products TCR, Marcham led the first fourteen laps at Chico before finishing second to Brian Gard. At press time, last season’s Rookie of the Year has two feature wins, two VanLare Steering Repair Fast Time Awards, two heat race victories, eight op-10 finishes, and 56 feature laps led to his credit. Trey will have his sights on regaining the point lead by adding another win at Bakersfield Speedway to his resume.

After charging from twenty-first to eighth at Silver Dollar Speedway, Alex Schutte of Redding, California ranks third in the dirt points and fifth in the overall series. Currently, the driver of the Schutte/McElwee #28 Proficio / Aircraft Electrical Components Spike has two heat race victories, and five top-10 finishes on the season. On Saturday, the 2010 Champion will have his sights on his first main event win at Bakersfield Speedway.

Orange, California’s Jarid Blondel ranks fourth in the dirt series and second in the combined dirt/pavement points. Racing his #98 G&J Aircraft / Repair Service Edmunds, Blondel has one hard charger award and eight top-10 finishes to his credit. The leading rookie contender will be looking for a breakthrough win at the 1/3-mile clay oval.

Scott Pierovich of Alamo, California sits fifth in the dirt points and sixth in the overall series. Piloting the family owned #35 Mid-Coast Trans / Good Guys Spike, Pierovich did not compete during the “Gold Cup Race of Champions” at Chico. To date, the veteran driver has one VanLare Steering Repair Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, three top-10 finishes, and 4 feature laps led in the campaign. At Bakersfield, Scott will have his sights on claiming his fourth career USAC Western Midget feature win.

Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Shannon McQueen, Sean Dodenhoff, “The Wild Child” Chris Ennis, Chad Nichols, Tyler Dolacki, Nick Chivello, Ricky Shelton, Johnathon Henry, Terry Nichols, Brian Gard, Randi Pankratz, Danny Ebberts, and more.

While Jarid Blondel leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors, Barry Pries Jr. of Discovery Bay, California is also in contention. Pries is currently ranked nineteenth in the dirt standings and twentieth in the overall points.

Bakersfield Speedway is located at 5001 North Chester Extension in Bakersfield, California. Adult tickets are $16, Senior (65 & older) are $14, Military tickets (with ID) are $14, Kids tickets (12-6) are $6, and Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.bakersfieldspeedway.com or call 661.393.3373.

The Honda USAC Western Midget Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Rugged Radios, Saldana Racing Products, and VanLare Steering Repair 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 Honda USAC Western Midget Series, visit www.usacracing.com or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/usacwsmidgets), or Twitter (www.twitter.com/USAC_WSMIDGET).