WESTERN MIDGETS EYE OCTOBER 3 HANFORD APPEARANCE;

SCHUTTE SCORES BAKERSFIELD MIDGET SURPRISE

Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford, Calif. hosts the next Honda USAC Western Midget race on October 3 and defending two-time series champion Ronnie Gardner hopes to continue his drive toward a third consecutive title.

Gardner was the fastest qualifier and finished second Saturday night at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway and has a 170-point lead over Shannon McQueen in the latest standings.

2010 series champion Alex Schutte of Rohnert Park, Calif. returned to the Honda USAC Western Midget Series for the first time this year and led all 30 laps to capture Saturday night’s feature at Bakersfield. Trailing second-place Gardner at the finish were McQueen, J.J. Ercse and Cory Elliott.