CHUCK WEST 2 FOR 2 IN 2011 NMRA-TQ MIDGET VICTORIES
By noderel:
Bakersfield, Ca. April 23, 2011 – Chuck West, of Clovis, won NMRA-TQ Midget main two of two this season Saturday at the third-mile clay Bakersfield Speedway. With nine cars present, the three-time NMRA champion started sixth and became the third and final race leader on lap 19 of 25. He kept his West Evans Motorsports Stealth/Bob Wirth Suzuki in front during the final seven laps. The point leader has a four-point advantage (130-126) after two events.
Brian Baker started second and led the first five laps before yielding top third starter Dakota Schweitzer, who led laps 6-18. Schweitzer, in Steve Parke's Rick Stewart chassis with Honda power, settled for second at his family-owned speedway. Reigning NMRA champion driver and car owner West Evans came from fifth to place third in his Spike/Bob Wirth Suzuki. Ron Ahrendt started and finished fourth in his Ellis/Honda. Early leader Baker, the series 2010 rookie of the year, took fifth in his own car.
Pole starter Dave Lambert and rookie Adam Baker (Brian's twin) were the only other finishers and also completed 25 laps. Michael Black and Chris Thomas were non-finishers. Schweitzer and B. Baker won 8-lap heat races. Evans started and finished first in a four driver trophy dash for drivers who finished first and second in the two heats. West, B. Baker and Schweitzer followed in the dash.
Results:
Heat 1 – Dakota Schweitzer, West Evans, Adam Baker, Dave Lambert.
Heat 2 – Brian Baker, Chuck West, Ron Ahrendt, Michael Black, Chris Thomas.
Dash – Evans, West, B. Baker, Schweitzer.
Main – West, Schweitzer, Evans, Ahrendt, B. Baker, Lambert, A. Baker, Black, Thomas.
POINTS:
DRIVERS: 1. West, 130; 2. Schweitzer 126; 3. Evans 111, 3 tie B. Baker 111, 5. Ahrendt 103; 6. Lambert 84, 7. A. Baker 77; 8. Thomas 72; 9. Scott Dodson 55; 10. Anthony Lopiccolo 50.
OWNERS: 1. Evans 138 – 136; 2. Parke 59 – 132; 3. B. Baker 6 – 117; 4. Evans 36 – 111; 5. Ahrendt 87 – 109; 6. Lambert 55 – 90; 7. A. Baker 17 – 83; 8. Ed Thomas 40 – 78; 9. Scott Dobson 18, 58; 10. Paul Lopiccolo 21 – 53.