PETALUMA NEXT FOR WESTERN MIDGETS AUGUST 9;

GARDNER GRABS 30-LAPPER AT LEMOORE

Trey Marcham (Dirt) and Jarid Blondel (Overall) will lead the Honda USAC Western Midgets to their next appearance, August 9, in the “John Soares Classic” at Petaluma (Calif.) Speedway. Marcham has a 17-point lead over Gardner in the dirt standings, while Blondel’s lead in the overall points is 32 over Marcham.

Gardner, of Norco, Calif., found his way back to victory lane Saturday night, winning the 30-lap Honda USAC Western Midget race at Lemoore (Calif.) Raceway. The defending USAC Western Midget king wheeled his Six8 Motorsports/Baldozier Racing Stewart/Esslinger to the win, leading all but six laps to beat Marcham, Randi Pankratz, Heath Duinkerken and Scott Pierovich.

Marcham, the fastest qualifier, led laps 19-24 before Gardner led the last six.