WESTERN DIRT MIDGETS AT VENTURA SATURDAY;

GARDNER TAKES OCEAN, CHIVELLO WINS “GERHARDT” 100

The Honda USAC Western Midgets invade scenic Ventura (Calif.) Raceway Saturday night and point leader Ronnie Gardner of Norco, Calif. will try to again extend his margin over runner-up Jake Swanson.

Gardner won Friday night’s 30-lap race at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif., leading the final 21 laps of the “Howard Kaeding Classic” feature. Trailing Gardner’s Baldozier Racing/Esslinger Engineering Stewart were Johnathon Henry, Swanson, Taylor Simas and Shane Golobic. Randi Pankratz led the first nine laps.

Nick Chivello of Manteca, Calif. won Saturday’s 100-lap “Gerhardt Classic” Honda USAC Western/BCRA Midget race at Madera (Calif.) Speedway. He took the lead on lap 25 from Michael Snider and led the final 76 laps in the Paul Chivello Vic Hubbard's Auto Parts/Red Top Electric Spike/Esslinger. Kevin Morris was second ahead of Scott Pierovich, Dan Gundo and Darrin Snider. Western point leader Chad Nichols suffered bruises in an early-tangle also involving fast qualifier Tanner Swanson.

The Honda USAC Western Pavement Midget calendar resumes August 10 at Madera.

So far this year Gardner is undefeated at Ventura’s oceanside race track, having won features in April and May.