WM: Tracy recap, Bakersfield preview

MIDGETS AT BAKERSFIELD SATURDAY

KAPLAN TRIUMPHS AT ALTAMONT

Jerome Rodela of El Monte, Calif. and Tyler Brown of Norco, Calif. continue their battle for the 2006 USAC Western Midget Championship this Saturday when the series returns to Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway. Rodela and Brown finished fifth and seventh respectively in Saturday night's race at Altamont Motorsports Park in Tracy, Calif. won by Ryan Kaplan.

Brown trails Rodela by 19 points with 74 available at Bakersfield. Brown won at the 1/3-mile dirt oval in March on a night when Kaplan flipped and Rodela did not compete.

Kaplan passed Bradley Galedrige on the 25th lap at Tracy and led the final six laps to beat Chase Barber, Kody Swanson, Tony Hunt and Jerome Rodela. Swanson, USAC's 2006 Western Sprint Car Champion, was the fastest qualifier in his USAC Midget debut. Garratt Boyden (1-4) and Galedrige (5-24) were early lap leaders.

Saturday's race at Bakersfield will be USAC's 83rd at the storied oval. Robby Flock of Murietta, Calif. has an opportunity, with a victory, to tie Sleepy Tripp's record total of eight feature wins there.

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