WM: Weekend summary 2004-08-02

"National City Bank 100" Wednesday at Speedrome
East Sweeps "Belleville Midget Nationals"
Ray Takes Lincoln's "Mid-Summer Midget Classic"

Bobby East of Brownsburg, Ind. took two more steps toward the 2004 USAC National Midget Championship Friday and Saturday nights, "sweeping" the Bud Racing "Belleville Midget Nationals" in Kansas.

East will lead the National series into this Wednesday night's 'National City Bank 100" presented by Diversified Insurance Brokerage Group at the Blossom Chevrolet Indianapolis Speedrome. He will be joined by teammate Dave Darland, Speedrome Regional Midget point leader Sondi Eden and track record holder Josh Wise for the track's second National event of the year. The feature is 100 laps.

Davey Ray of Davenport, Iowa led all 40 laps to win Tuesday night's "Mid-Summer Midget Classic" at Eagle Raceway in Lincoln, Neb., beating Wise, Greg Lueckert, Brad Kuhn and Darland to the checkered flag. East finished ninth as Ray wheeled the Team Mopar/Kenny's Carbon Stealth/Stanton Mopar to the win.

East trailed Scott Hatton for the first 14 laps in the Friday night National/Western Belleville feature. Hatton, of Roscoe, Ill., escaped serious injury when he and Teddy Beach tangled and both cars flipped, Hatton's exiting the track in turn two. He and Beach were transported to Republic County Hospital for treatment and later were released. Jerry Coons, Jr. finished second to East, who led the final 11 laps in his Team ASE/Ford Beast/Pink Ford. Wise, Brian Gerster and Jay Drake rounded out the "top-five".

East returned on Saturday night to dominate the 40-lap finale, leading from start to finish to beat Jay Drake, Tom Hessert III, Robby Flock and Wally Pankratz.

Johnny Rodriguez, USAC's Western Midget point leader, was Friday's fastest Belleville qualifier and finished 13th in the Friday 25-lapper. Unfortunately he was the first car eliminated from Saturday's 40-lap finale but he emerged with a 79-point series lead over Pankratz going into an August 14 race at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.-Bobby East-821
2.-Josh Wise-657
3.-Davey Ray-492
4.-Teddy Beach-482
5.-Dave Darland-464
6.-Tom Hessert-454
7.-Cole Carter-426
8.-Ron Gregory-367
9.-Brad Kuhn-341
10.-Brian Gerster-303

USAC WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.-Johnny Rodriguez-879
2.-Wally Pankratz-800
3.-Jerome Rodela-754
4.-Garrett Hansen-638
5.-Steve Paden-628
6.-Robby Flock-584
7.-Dallen McKenney-541
8.-Matt Mitchell-443
9.-Shannon McQueen-426
10.-Josh Wise-408

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