WESTERN HPD DIRT OPENER MARCH 9 AT CHOWCHILLA;

LOVE TAKES KERN COUNTY EXHIBITION

The 2014 HPD USAC Western Dirt Midget Series debuts March 9 at Chowchilla (Calif.) Raceway, while the HPD Western Pavement Midget Series resumes March 15 at part of the “J.W. Mitchell Spring Classic” at Havasu 95 Speedway in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., an event also showcasing the Honda USAC Western Pavement Midgets.

On Sunday afternoon, the HPD Western Pavement Midgets competed in a non-points “exhibition” race at the new Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield, Calif. and Duke Love of Redwood City, Calif. emerged with the 25-lap feature victory on the facility’s quarter-mile oval.

Love passed Shawn Buckley on lap eight and led the rest of the way to beat Buckley, Toni Breidinger, Annie Breidinger and Cody Jessop, who posted the fastest qualifying time.

The Chowchilla race marks USAC’s return there after a 21-year hiatus. Havasu hosted a pair of USAC races last year, won by Bryant Dawson and Chris Lamb.