Wiley Wins NMRA – TQ Midget Bakersfield Main March 30, 2013
By noderel:
Bakersfield, CA., Mar. 30 – Round two of the 18-race NMRA-TQ Midget Series 2013 season took place at the Bakersfield Speedway third-mile clay oval during a multi-division program. Kenny Wiley, 51, started third and became the third race leader on lap 7. He retained the lead to the lap 15 checkered flag. Making his season debut, he drove his own No. 96 self-built chassis powered by a 750cc Honda. He drove the same car to win one of nine TQ features last season on May 19, also at Bakersfield. His win Saturday in the second NMRA race of 2013 was the tenth career feature TQ victory for the 2002 NMRA rookie of the year and 2007 NMRA driving champion.
Chuck West, of Clovis, started fifth and finished a close second in a West Evans Motorsports Stealth/Suzuki. Outside front row starter Mike Black led laps 4-6 and placed third in the No. 14 Dennis Hart-built chassis with Honda power. Pole starter Don Kiefer led the first three laps and settled for fourth in his own Ellis/Honda. West Evans started fourth and placed fifth in his own Spike/Suzuki.
Dave Lambert started and finished sixth in his own Hart/Honda and was the last finisher on the lead lap. Rookie Britt Grissom started in the back row and dropped out on lap 12. Wiley also won the only eight lap heat race after starting fourth. Followers Black, West, Evans, Kiefer, Lambert and Grissom all completed eight laps.
West has the point lead by 11 digits (121-110) over his car owner and first cousin Evans. The Evans team No. 38 driven by West leads the No. 36 Evans car by 11 points (127-116). The next NMRA-TQ race will be held Saturday, April 13 at Santa Maria Speedway as part of another multi-division event with local series.
SUMMARY:
Heat, 8 laps: Kenny Wiley, Mike Black, Chuck West, West Evans, Don Kiefer, Dave Lambert, Britt Grissom.
Main, 15 laps: Wiley, West, Black, Kiefer, Evans, Lambert, Grissom.
POINTS
Drivers Car Owners
1 Chuck West 2 West Evans 3 Don Kiefer 4 Britt Grissom 4 Mike Black 6 Anthony Lopiccolo 6 Kenny Wiley 8 Chris Thomas 9 Rick Poe 9 Adam Baker |
121 110 94 90 90 66 66 55 45 45 |
1 No. 38 West Motorsports 2 No. 36 West Motorsports 3 No. 9 Don Kiefer 4 No. 43 Britt Grissom 4 No. 14 Mike Black 6 No. 21 Paul Lopiccolo 7 No. 96 Kenny Wiley 8 No. 40 Ed Thomas 9 No. 2 Rick Poe 9 No. 14 Adam Baker |
127 116 100 96 96 69 66 58 48 48 |