BAKERSFIELD WESTERN MIDGET OPENER SATURDAY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                              MARCH 19, 2007

Contact: DICK JORDAN/MICHAEL HARKER                                                                                                         07-42

 

 

BAKERSFIELD WESTERN MIDGET OPENER SATURDAY;

RODELA AIMING FOR THIRD STRAIGHT TITLE

 

 

            The 2007 USAC Western Midget Car Series continues Saturday at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway, a track which has hosted 84 such events in the past 20 years.

 

            The series actually opened Feb. 10 in Phoenix, Ariz. when Cory Kruseman scored a victory in "The Copper on Dirt" at Manzanita Speedway. Darren Hagen, who finished second at Phoenix, emerged with the early series lead.

 

            Jerome Rodela of El Monte, Calif. has won the last two USAC Western Midget titles and is aiming for a third straight. If successful he will join 12 previous drivers who have taken at least three consecutive USAC series driving championships. They are Shorty Templeman (1956-58 National Midgets), Sleepy Tripp (1990-92 Western Midgets), Michael Lang (1994-97 Speedrome Midgets), Steve Butler (1986-88 National Sprints), Butch Hartman (1971-74 Stock Cars), Jason Leffler (1997-99 National Midgets), Jimmy Davies (1960-62 National Midgets), Brian Redman (1974-76 Formula 5000), Dean Roper (1981-1983 Stock Cars), Robbie Stanley (1991-1993 National Sprints), Ted Hines (1990-1992 Speedrome Midgets) and Chase Scott (2004-06 Carolina/Virginia Ford Focus). Tate Martz also won three straight Midwest Ford Focus titles (2004-06) but the third was on paved tracks only.

 

            Garrett Hansen, Tyler Brown and Robby Flock won USAC Western Midget races at Bakersfield last year. Hansen and Brown have moved on to the USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, while Flock's USAC victory total of 52 ranks second only to Sleepy Tripp's 104.

 

 

USAC WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

 

      1.
     Darren Hagen
     65
      
     6.
     Chris Windom
     44
     
      2.
     Jerry Coons Jr.
     62
      
     7.
     Levi Jones
     43
     
      3.
     Chris Rahe
     55
      
     8.
     Johnny Rodriguez
     39
     
      4.
     Jon Stanbrough
     48
      
     9.
     Danny Stratton
     37
     
      5.
     Cole Carter
     45
      
     10.
     Matt Mitchell
     33