Rodela Leads Midgets to Ventura

Defending USAC Western Midget Champion Jerome Rodela of El Monte, Calif. is back atop the series standings but his nine-point lead over Tyler Brown will be in jeopardy this Saturday night at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway.

Despite his "top-10" finishes in all three previous events at the 1/5-mile dirt oval this season and two fast qualifying efforts there, Rodela has yet to win at Ventura in 2006. Garrett Hansen, Robby Flock and Chris Rahe, all ranked in the "top-10" in series points, have posted the 2006 Ventura victories.

Flock, of Murietta, Calif., is the newest member of the "top-10" after scoring his 52nd career series triumph in Saturday night's 30-lapper at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway. He passed Brown on lap six and led the rest of the way in his Sala Racing machine to beat Brown, Rahe, Greg Bragg and Rodela. Rahe led the opening lap and Brown the next four before Flock took over.

The victory was Flock's eighth at Bakersfield, tying Sleepy Tripp as all-time USAC Bakersfield Midget race victory leaders.

USAC WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

      1.
     Jerome Rodela
     500
      
     6.
     Garrett Hansen
     339
     
      2.
     Tyler Brown
     491
      
     7.
     Matt Mitchell
     303
     
      3.
     Chase Barber
     400
      
     8.
     Shannon McQueen
     292
     
      4.
     Chris Rahe
     371
      
     9.
     Randi Pankratz
     247
     
      5.
     Greg Bragg
     364
      
     10.
     Robby Flock
     241