PLACERVILLE JUNE 1 NEXT FOR WESTERN MIDGETS;

GARDNER #1 IN “BATTLE AT THE BEACH” #2

Ronnie Gardner continues to lead the 2013 USAC Western Midget Series after his victory in last Saturday night’s “Battle at the Beach 2” at the Ventura (Calif.) Raceway.

Gardner will take an 18-point lead over Jake Swanson into a June 1 race at Placerville (Calif.) Speedway.

Gardner, of Norco, Calif. led all but the first lap of Saturday night’s 30-lap race in his Baldozier Racing/Esslinger Engineering Stewart. Cody Swanson finished second ahead of Frankie Guerrini, David Prickett and Robby Josett.

The June 1 race will be the first for USAC’s Midgets at Placerville since Jimmy Sills’ victory in 1996.