WM: Ventura recap, Perris preview

Hansen Scores USAC 1st at Ventura
Western Midgets Part of Perris "Doubleheader" Saturday

Garrett Hansen of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. scored his initial USAC Western Midget feature victory in Saturday night's 30-lap race at Ventura (Calif.) Raceway. The 19-year-old Hansen won three USAC Ford Focus Midget features in 2002.

Hansen, who finished seventh in last year's California South Ford Focus standings, caught early leader Danny Stratton on the 25th lap and never looked back in his Hansen's Welding Stealth.Fontana. Dallen McKenney finished second, ahead of Johny Rodriguez, Wally Pankratz and Robby Flock as Stratton

The win propelled Hansen to sixth in the new series standings going into this Saturday night's USAC "doubleheader" at the Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway. The Western Midgets will join the Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Cars on the 1/2-mile dirt oval, with 30-lap features on tap for both.

Series point leader Michael Lewis was 13th at Ventura but maintains a one-point lead over Rodriguez in the standings.

USAC WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1.-Michael Lewis-163
2.-Johnny Rodriguez-162
3.-Jerome Rodela-130
4.-Wally Pankratz-127
5.-Bobby East-122
6.-Garrett Hansen-107
7.-Josh Wise-102
8.-Dave Darland-99
9.-Dallen McKenney-97
10.-Brad Kuhn-93

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