[Bill Gardner]

7/8/13 2:52 PM WESTERN MIDGETS AT OCEAN & MADERA THIS WEEKEND

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WESTERN MIDGETS AT OCEAN & MADERA THIS WEEKEND

The Honda USAC Western Midgets face both dirt and paved ovals this weekend, with races Friday and Saturday at Watsonville and Madera, Calif. respectively.

Friday night’s race is on the quarter-mile dirt Ocean Speedway at Watsonville, while Saturday’s 100-lap “Gerhardt Classic” unfolds on the one-third mile paved Madera Speedway.

Ronnie Gardner will lead the dirt series to Ocean Speedway for its first appearance this year. Gardner has eight “podium” finishes in nine starts, including four wins. He has a 54-point margin over Jake Swanson.

Chad Nichols is at the top of the Honda USAC Western Pavement standings, with a victory and a third in three Madera starts this year. Nick Chivello and Kody Swanson are the other previous Madera winners in 2013. Saturday’s “Gerhardt Classic” is co-sanctioned by USAC and BCRA, currently led by Kevin Morris.

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