WESTERN DIRT MIDGETS HIT BAKERSFIELD SATURDAY;

NICHOLS WINS “HARVEST CLASSIC;” TAKES WESTERN PAVEMENT TITLE

Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway hosts this Saturday night’s Honda USAC Western Midget Series race as point leader Ronnie Gardner tries to take another step toward repeating his 2013 championship.

Gardner leads Trey Marcham by 40 points in the dirt standings and has a 30-point lead over Jarid Blondel in the overall points. Marcham won the race held at Bakersfield in May.

Chad Nichols of Colma, Calif. passed Jerome Rodela on the final lap to win Saturday night’s 30-lap “Harvest Classic” feature at Madera Speedway. The victory closed out Nichols’ drive to the Honda USAC Western Pavement Midget championship.

Rodela led the first 29 laps and finished second ahead of Nick Chivello, David Goodwill and Jarid Blondel.