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USAC: Kahne, Wade share Bakersfield Victory Podium

14 March 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw, WA and Ron Wade of Bellflower, CA captured USAC MCI WorldCom feature events Saturday night at Bakersfield (CA) Speedway.

Kahne emerged the winner of the 30-lap Midget Car race after Jimmy Sills was sidelined with engine problems. Sills had led the first 25 laps before yielding to Kahne, who led the rest of the way in his Dino Tomassi Special.

Clay Klepper finished second and assumes the point lead in the Western Midget Car Series going into races March 25 and 26 at Madera and Stockton, CA. Danny Ebberts, Thomas Meseraull and Wally Pankratz rounded out the "top-five" at the checkered flag.

Klepper was the fastest Midget Car qualifier, while heat wins went to Ebberts, Kahne and Meseraull. Pankratz won the semi. Steve Paden of Downey, CA suffered a concussion in a crash during the feature and was taken to Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield for treatment.

Wade led all but the first three laps of the 20-lap MCI WorldCom TQ Midget Car feature after passing Walt Johnson on lap four. Johnson eventually dropped out of the race. Steve Lambert, Greg Edenholm, Joe Finger and West Evans completed the "top-five" in the opening race of the 2000 TQ Midget Car season. Wade was the fastest qualifier, but heats were won by Kevin Wybenga and Edenholm.

The MCI WorldCom Western Midget Car Series resumes March 25 at Madera (CA) Speedway, while the TQ Midget Cars are idle until their April 8 event at Bakersfield.

USAC MCI WORLDCOM WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.	Clay Klepper	102		6.	Ryan Newman	63
2.	Kasey Kahne	92		7.	Dave Darland	57
3.	Danny Ebberts	87		8.	Wally Pankratz	55
4.	Thomas Meseraull 	70		9.	Bobby Boone	54
5.	Steve Paden	70		10.	A.J. Fike	53

USAC MCI WORLDCOM TQ MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.	Ron Wade	71		6.	Todd Hunsaker	47
2.	Steve Lambert	65		7.	John Lakatos	42
3.	Greg Edenholm	63		8.	Steve Parke	40
4.	Joe Finger	55		9.	Deborah Paull	40
5.	West Evans	51		10.	Ron Ahrendt	33

Text provided by USAC

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