WM: Ventura race summary

Paden #1 at Ventura, Eyes Hanford Oct. 9

Steve Paden of Downey, Calif. led the final nine laps to win Saturday night's 30-lap USAC Western Midget Car feature at the Ventura (Calif.) Raceway. The win solidified fourth place in the series standings for the defending series champion, who now has four victories this season.

Paden caught Jerome Rodela on lap 22 and led the rest of the way in his Esslinger Engineering/Anglemyer Crane Stealth/Esslinger. Jimmy Christian finished second ahead of Robby Flock, Dallen McKenney and Rick Hendrix. Rodela ended up 12th in the 22-car field.

Series point leader Johnny Rodriguez was seventh at Ventura and continues to hold a 93-point lead over former series titlist Wally Pankratz going into an Oct. 9 race at Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif. Pankratz finished ninth at Ventura.

USAC WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1.-Johnny Rodriguez-988
2.-Wally Pankratz-895
3.-Jerome Rodela-835
4.-Steve Paden-698
5.-Garrett Hansen-652
6.-Robby Flock-647
7.-Dallen McKenney-624
8.-Matt Mitchell-507
9.-Shannon McQueen-464
10.-Tyler Brown-434

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