WM: Las Vegas doubleheader finale preview

RODRIGUEZ SEEKS "LOCK" FOR 2007 WESTERN MIDGET TITLE IN SATURDAY'S RACE AT THE LVMS DIRT TRACK

Saturday's USAC "doubleheader" at the Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway Dirt Track features the USAC Western Midgets and the Lucas Oil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars and Johnny Rodriguez hopes to put a lock on the 2007 Western Midget title with a strong showing.

Rodriguez, of Elk Grove, Calif., needs 37 points to dispatch runner-up Scott Pierovich of Alamo, Calif. as the challenger. A total of 140 points are available in races Saturday and Nov. 22 at Irwindale, Calif. and Rodriguez' lead stands at 104 entering the Las Vegas program. A title would be Rodriguez second, having previously won the 2005 crown, while Pierovich is seeking his first championship.

Rick Hendrix won the last USAC Midget race on the Las Vegas dirt, in 1998. Although he's not currently in the "top-10" in series standings, he has competed this season, posting a pair of "top-10" finishes at Ventura, Calif.

Lady drivers Shannon McQueen and Randi Pankratz are both in the "top-10". McQueen won a race at Madera, Calif. earlier this year while Pankratz finished second to Rodriguez at Quincy, Calif. in June.

Four-time Western Midget Champion Robby Flock also bears watching as he strives for a 53rd career feature win. He already has second-place finishes on the dirt at Ventura and Santa Maria, Calif. this year.

-credit: usac