WM: Perris race recap, standings

Rutherford Wins Perris Midget Main
Saturday's Madera "Vukovich Classic" Next

Sprint car veteran Troy Rutherford of Ojai, Calif. surprised the USAC Western Midget Series regulars with his 30-lap feature victory in Saturday night's extremely-competitive race at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.

Driving a Roy Miller Freight Lines/Sander Engineering Kunz/Stanton Mopar for his Sprint car owner Mark Priestley, Rutherford was the fourth race leader in a race which included six lead changes. Wally Pankratz led the opening lap, then Tyler Brown led lap two. Defending series champion Steve Paden led for three laps before Brown regained the lead through lap 20. Rutherford sneaked past on lap 21, then slipped behind Brown for the next three laps. On lap 25 Rutherford took over for good.

Series point leader Johnny Rodriguez finished second ahead of Brown, with Pankratz fourth and Dallen McKenney fifth. Paden was the fastest qualifier.

Rodriguez has a 41-point cushion over Pankratz in the new series standings going into this Saturday's USAC/BCRA "Vukovich Classic" at Madera (Calif.) Speedway also featuring the Valvoline Western Sprint Cars and California Ford Focus Midgets. The program features triple 50-lap main events.

Rutherford also finished second in Saturday night's 30-lap Valvoline USCA/CRA Sprint Car feature at Perris.

USAC WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.-Johnny Rodriguez-225
2.-Wally Pankratz-184
3.-Michael Lewis-163
4.-Jerome Rodela-162
5.-Dallen McKenney-151
6.-Garrett Hansen-135
7.-Bobby East-122
8.-Josh Wise-102
9.-Dave Darland-99
10.-Matt Mitchell-97

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