WM: Ventura preview

POINT LEAD BATTLE SPICES VENTURA MIDGETS SATURDAY

Only five points separate Scott Pierovich and Nic Faas in the 2008 USAC Western Midget standings. This Saturday night's race at Ventura (Calif.) Raceway could open or close that gap.

Pierovich, of Alamo, Calif., has a pair of third-place finishes this year and was the fastest qualifier at Madera Speedway two weeks ago. Faas, of Huntington Beach, Calif., was second to winner Josh Ford when the Midgets raced at Ventura in early April.

Six different drivers have tasted victory in the last 10 USAC Midget races at the Ventura oval, which has a storied past, including 116 USAC Midget events. Pierovich is seeking his first Ventura USAC win, while Faas won three USAC Ford Focus features there in 2007 on his way to the USAC California Dirt Ford Focus title.

Robby Flock of Murietta, Calif. also hopes to continue his pursuit of a 53rd USAC feature win in Saturday night's Ventura race. He ranks second to Sleepy Tripp in total Western Midget career victories. Tripp is Ventura's winningest USAC driver, with 18 checkered flags at the track.

-credit: usac