WM: Stockton summary, Ventura preview

WESTERN MIDGETS AT VENTURA RACEWAY SATURDAY; BOWMAN TAKES 40-LAP STOCKTON FEATURE

Ventura (Calif.) Raceway hosts the USAC Western Midgets this Saturday as part of a USAC "tripleheader" at the 1/5-mile dirt oval. The California Dirt Ford Focuses and Junior Focuses also compete in Saturday's program.

Garrett Hansen did not compete in last Saturday's race at Stockton, Calif. but retains a 79-point margin in the series standings over runner-up Alex Schutte, who finished fourth at Stockton to take over the number two spot from Jerome Rodela, who was ninth at Stockton.

Alex Bowman of Tucson, Ariz. led all but the opening lap of Saturday night's 40-lapper at the Stockton 99 Speedway. He passed Nick Chivello on lap two and set sail, beating fast qualifier Tanner Swanson to the checkered flag. Chivello, Schutte and Tony Hunt rounded out the "top-five" at the finish.

The three previous Western Midget races at Ventura produced three different winners, Matt Mitchell, Cory Kruseman and Hansen. Saturday's race serves as a final Ventura tune-up for the big $5,000-to-win ARP "J.W. Mitchell Fall Classic" National race there November 21.

-credit: usac