WMRA drivers and alumni do well in Madera

by Andrew Kunas

MADERA, Calif. - Three midget drivers with Washington Midget Racing Association connections finished in the top ten in Saturday’s 100-lap USAC Western Midget Car Series event at Madera Speedway in California.

Tacoma’s Evan Margeson, winner of two WMRA main events last year, led the pack with a fifth-place finish in the Gerhardt Classic aboard the Margeson Racing #11x Beast, sponsored by HVB Racing and Bell Helmets.

Former WMRA alum Brian Olson of Puyallup, Wash., driving the Rosen #4x, finished eighth. Olson was the WMRA Rookie of the Year in 2003.

Ravensdale, Wash.’s Dallas Melby, who finished second in WMRA points with three wins last year, finished ninth in Saturday’s event. Melby won a BCRA event two weeks earlier at Shasta Raceway Park in Anderson, Calif. aboard the Chris Melby #9 Blue Dot with a Stanton Mopar, sponsored by Performance Tool and Blue Dot Fabrication.

Finishing 13th was former WMRA Rookie of the Year Ben Petter. Petter, out of Bellevue, was driving the Petter Motorsports #22 Beast with an Esslinger motor, sponsored by Mac Towing, Bell Helmets and Web Extreme Graphics.

Billy Wease was the winner of the 100-lap Gerhardt Classic.

In qualifying Petter was second fastest, touring the 1/3-mile asphalt oval in 14.105 seconds. Margeson was eighth with a time of 14.271 and Melby was ninth with a time of 14.328 seconds. Olson qualified 11th quick with a time of 14.412 seconds.

Longtime WMRA standout Rob Lindsey also brought his midget, having Evan Funk of La Conner, Wash. drive, but they are wishing things went better. After finishing in the top five in the BCRA race at Shasta, Funk crashed at Madera and finished a disappointing 22nd.

Twenty-two cars raced in the Gerhardt Classic, which started Indy 500-style, with the cars starting three-wide. The event, which was supported by a 40-lap USAC Western Sprint Car Series event, was completed despite the threat of rain.

The WMRA opens its season, which includes 12 events, with an April 28 show at South Sound Speedway. The WMRA races the next week, May 5, at Stateline Speedway in Post Falls, Idaho. The season concludes September 15 at South Sound. More information on the Washington Midget Racing Association and its drivers can be found online at www.wmraracing.com.

- - -

WMRA: Washington Midget Racing Association
www.wmraracing.com