WM: Tucson penultimate round preview

WESTERN MIDGETS VISIT TUCSON'S USA RACE PARK SATURDAY

The penultimate event in USAC's 2006 Western Midget Car Series is scheduled Saturday night at USA Race Park in Tucson, Ariz. and defending series champion Jerome Rodela will be looking to remove the pressure he might have to face Thanksgiving Night at Irwindale, Calif.

Rodela leads Chase Barber by 101 points entering Saturday night's racing program and needs to emerge with a 67-point margin to put a lock on his second consecutive series title. Barber hopes to keep his championship hopes alive by narrowing the gap going into the Nov. 23 series finale.

Rodela was the fastest qualifier for the second of tow back-to-back Western Midget races at the Tucson oval in May. He finished 14th and fifth in the two May features, while Barber had a second and a fifth.

Chris Rahe and Garrett Hansen, who rank eighth and sixth respectively, were the feature winners in May.

-credit: usac