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Moorpark, CA, Jan. 24 - The NMRA-TQ Midget
Championship Awards Banquet for 2003-the second year of operation
for the re-born sanctioning body-took place Saturday night in The
Grinder Restaurant with 70 persons present. The second banquet for
the "new" NMRA, which sanctioned TQ-Midget racing from
1957-86, followed an 11-race season in which five drivers won the 11
features at five dirt tracks.
Honored as first time champions were driver Steve
Lambert, 29, of Port Hueneme, and car owner Greg Edenholm, who
fielded a pair of TQs that finished one-two in final points. He will
use those car numbers in 2004. Former TQ driver/2003 NMRA
board member Edenholm, 55, had his Hart/Honda cars in victory lane
in eight of the 11 features, leading some to call his Dennis
Hart-run TQ operation "Penske West". His ten-year old twin
son and daughter carried off huge trophies to share with his drivers
Jimmy May, Hart and Scott Hansen.
Lambert, who raced in all 11 events for his
father Dave, did not visit a main-event victory lane en-route to his
first crown. However, he set one fast qualifying time, won two heat
races and had seven top tens, including six top five feature
finishes. He won the championship over Walt Johnson by two
points-536 to 534. Lambert won a 2002 feature with NMRA at Pahrump,
Nevada. Lambert made his TQ debut with USAC in 1995 with a single
appearance. He raced nine times in 1996 and finished 20th in points.
His point rankings were 15, 16, nine, 12 and second from 1997-2001.
Lambert tallied his only USAC main event victory in 1999. He
received Most Improved USAC-TQ Driver for his runner-up point finish
in 2001, the final year USAC sanctioned TQ competition.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Special awards went to Michael Bliffen as Most
Improved Driver; Lambert as Hard Charger; ten-year TQ-Midget veteran
Chris Hedge, 40, for his first career feature triumph on June 7 at
Route 66 Raceway in Victorville. Jody Bandfield, 19, received the
Curly and Cookie Merrill Rookie of the Year plaque. He had ten
starts, one heat victory and six top tens, including four top fives
in features. Bandfield finished seventh in points as 35 drivers
earned NMRA points.
A special glass and gold plaque appreciation
award was presented by fellow NMRA board members to outgoing
director Edenholm for all his services during the last two seasons.
Director/owner/driver West Evans presented a surprise appreciation
award to banquet host/MC Ron Ahrendt. Series sponsors and supporters
also received plaques, as did board members Edenholm, Evans,
Johnson, S. Lambert and Ahrendt.
Second place trophies went to Walt Johnson and
Edenholm for his No. 2x car. Third place driver Chuck West, NMRA'a
2002 champion, and car owner Guy Barber, the 2002 owner champion who
was attempting to win his fourth consecutive TQ owner title,
received the huge third place hardware. Plaques went to fourth
through tenth point drivers in order: Hansen, Kenny Wiley, the 2002
rookie of the year, Evans, Bandfield, Jimmy May (a six-time winner
for Edenholm in his only six races), Steve Parke, Hedge and Hart
(tied for tenth). Plaques to fourth through tenth place car owners
in order went to D. Lambert, Judi Ahrendt, Paul Lopiccolo, Evans,
Bandfield, Parke and Bliffen. Participation certificates went to all
other 2003 NMRA competitors.
Evans and his wife Paula were instrumental in
resurrecting NMRA-TQ racing after USAC started the Ford Focus
Division in 2002 following a seven USAC-TQ race season in 2001. NMRA
conducted eight races at three tracks and averaged 14 cars in 2002.
The 11-race 2003 season averaged 15 cars, with a high car count of
21 cars at the October 25 season finale; 27 TQ owners earned points.
Evans said 25 TQ Midgets are registered with NMRA for 2004
competition.
The 2004 NMRA schedule (available on-line at www.wstqmidgets.com)
currently lists 14 race dates at three dirt tracks-Bakersfield
Speedway, Santa Maria Speedway and Ventura Raceway. The season
opener will be Saturday, March 27 at Bakersfield Speedway in Oildale.
That track will again host the season finale on October 23. NMRA
season sponsors are Hoosier Tires West, Schroeder Race
products/Torsion Bars, A & E Trophies and Engraving, Ringers
Gloves and Racing Optics.
Driver Final 2003 Points: 1. Steve Lambert 536;
2. Walt Johnson 534; 3. Chuck West 530; 4. Scott Hansen 505; 5.
Kenny Wiley 449; 6. West Evans 416; 7. Jody Bandfield 400; 8. Jimmy
May 397; 9. Steve Parke 381; 10. (tie) Chris Hedge and Dennis Hart
376. Car Owner Final 2003 Points: 1. Greg Edenholm # 2 665;
2. Edenholm # 2x 607; 3. Guy Barber # 1 597; 4. Dave Lambert # 55
566; 5. Judi Ahrendt # 87 490; 6. Paul Lopiccolo # 21 480; 7. West
Evans # 36 453; 8. Jody Bandfield # 4 430; 9. Steve Parke # 59 411;
l0. Michael Bliffen # 3 400.
NMRA-TQ 2004 race schedule: March 27-Bakersfield
(CA) Speedway; April
10-Santa Maria (CA) Speedway; April 24-Bakersfield; May 1-Santa
Maria; May
15-Ventura (CA) Raceway; May 22-Santa Maria; June 12-Bakersfield;
June 19-Santa
Maria; July 3-Bakersfield; August 4-Ventura (during County Fair);
Aug.
21-Bakersfield; Sept. 18-Bakersfield; Oct. 16-Santa Maria and Oct.
23-Bakersfield.
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