|
Tulare, CA., Jul. 23 - Owner/driver Jody
Bandfield won the third NMRA-TQ Midget main event of his career and
second in his own Honda-powered car Saturday at the quarter-mile
clay Thunderbowl Speedway. The race was round seven of a 14-race
season. It was the first time the TQ Midget series based in southern
California has raced at the San Joaquin Valley track in four years
of NMRA operation. It was the ninth different race track that has
hosted NMRA racing since 2002.
All of Bandfield's victories have come this
season and they have propelled him into the series point lead for
drivers. He sub-drove the Welcomer No. 15 to his first triumph on
May 28 at Bakersfield Speedway. Then he followed with his second
victory June 11 in his own No. 4 car. Bandfield became the third and
final race leader of the 25-lap Tulare feature on lap 18. Walt
Johnson led the first two circuits. Bruce Hiroshima paced laps
three-17 before settling for his career-best second place.
Chuck West, in the Evans 38, edged Johnson for
third place. NMRA officer West Evans was fifth in his own No. 36
car. Mike Bliffen, Robert Ortega, Jr. rookie Scott Taylor and Ron
Ahrendt rounded out the top nine. Steve Lambert, the 2003-04 NMRA
champion, did not start. Bandfield also won the eight-lap, nine-car
heat race. Hiroshima captured the trophy dash over Bandfield, Evans
and Johnson. In a ten-car field Evans set fastest qualifying time of
19.065, an automatic TQ series track record.
The next NMRA race will be held Saturday, August
6 at the third-mile, banked clay Bakersfield Speedway. It will be
the third and final appearance of the TQ Midget series at the track
this season.
Summary: (pick up agate)
Fast Time: West Evans, Evans 36, 19.065 - NTR.
Dash: Bruce Hiroshima, Jody Bandfield,
Evans, Walt Johnson.
Heat: Bandfield, Johnson, Hiroshima, Mike Bliffen,
Evans,Richard Ortega, Jr, West, Scott Taylor, Ron Ahrendt. DNS-Steve
Lambert.
Main: Bandfield, Hiroshima, West, Johnson, Evans,
Bliffen, Ortega, Taylor, Ahrendt. DNS-Lambert.
|
