WISE LEADS MIDGETS TO TOLEDO & MANSFIELD LEWIS TAKES PPIR'S "ROCKY MOUNTAIN CLASSIC"

JULY 3, 2005


             Josh Wise of Riverside, Calif., despite failing to finish 
Sunday's "Rocky Mountain Classic" at Pikes Peak International Raceway, 
continues to lead the USAC National Midget standings heading into 
back-to-back races in Ohio this weekend.

             The series visits Toledo Speedway Friday night and Mansfield 
Motorsports Speedway Saturday. Both events are "doubleheaders" also 
featuring the Valvoline National Sprint Cars and the Toledo race marks the 
first-ever appearance of the USAC National Midgets at that 1/2-mile paved 
oval. A 30-lap Midget feature is on tap at both tracks.

             Michael Lewis of Noblesville, Ind. captured Sunday's 30-mile 
race at the 1-mile PPIR oval in Colorado piloting the Western Speed Racing 
CMKXtreme.com/Wirtgen America Gerhardt Esslinger. He started next to 
pole-winning teammate Bobby Santos III but trailed teammate Billy Wease for 
the first half of the race. He took the lead from Wease on lap 17 and led 
the rest of the way to beat Santos, Aaron Fike, Ron Gregory and Tracy Hines.

             Wise's point lead over Gregory stands at 48 points but a total 
of 148 are available at Toledo and Mansfield. Defending National Champion 
Bobby East, who finished seventh Sunday, is now third in points, 29 behind 
Gregory.

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.-Josh Wise-333
2.-Ron Gregory-285
3.-Bobby East-256
4.-Teddy Beach-242
5.-Brad Kuhn-242
6.-Tom Hessert III-237
7.-Jay Drake-201
8.-Jerry Coons, Jr.-200
9.-Darren Hagen-181
10.-Dave Darland-180