RYAN KAPLAN ROCKETS TO KING'S SPEEDWAY GOLD

Chico's Ryan Kaplan methodically picked off nearly a dozen competitors from his 11th starting spot, capturing the DMS Race Products BCRA Midget series feature win at the speedy 3/8-mile King's Speedway in Hanford on Saturday, August 25, wheeling the Ken Kaplan #21 Stealth/Mopar to the checkers first.

Kaplan found his way to the front after finding a lightning fast route around the high groove around the slick track. After taking the lead on Lap 24, Kaplan swapped the lead several times with 16-year-old local boy Michael Faccinto of Hanford piloting the #41 Scelzi Motorsports Beast/Mopar and Kody Swanson, another local boy from Kingsburg, chauffeuring the #27d Cliff Blackwell Motorsports Stealth/Gaerte.

Following Kaplan to the checkers in the intense 30-lap feature were Faccinto, two-time reigning BCRA champion John Sarale aboard the #32 Sarale Farms Stealth/Riolo-Chevy, C.J. Sarna aboard his #20x and Alfred Galeridge, Jr. aboard his #26x Beast/Mopar entry rounding out the tightly contested Top Five.

Following closely was Kody Swanson, 19-year-old BCRA rookie Kevin Morris aboard father Del's #17k Spike/Esslinger, 7-time BCRA champion Floyd Alvis aboard the #18 Champion Automotive 'Green Beret' Stealth/Esslinger, Fresno's David Prickett aboard the Neverlift Motorsports #15 Stealth/Van Dyne and Clovis' Steve Roza in Bob Roza's #20 Beast/Esslinger closely pursuing the leaders and rounding out the Top Ten.

After gently tipping over on Lap 9 after contact with another car, Prickett regrouped, restarting at the rear-of-the-field, battling back to finishing ninth-place. Roza brought out the yellow on Lap 20, spinning in Turns 3 and 4. Roza resumed, finishing tenth.

On the ensuing restart, Nick Foster, Jr. spun, bringing out the yellow aboard Rick Faeth's #3 Stealth/Chevy V4. Foster's hard luck continued on Lap 24, when, after losing a wheel, Scott Nail spun to a stop collecting Grant, Cortez and Foster, ending Foster's evening.

After starting from the pole, third-place pointsman Ralphie "The Racer" Cortez dropped to 11th aboard the #31 Cortez-Walker Stealth/Esslinger after being involved in the Lap 24 incident.

16-year-old BCRA points leader Justin Grant charged from 13th, racing to as high as third, challenging Kaplan and the leaders, however, spinning during the Lap 24 incident dropped him to a 12th-place finish aboard the #17 Thurston Spike/Esslinger. Grant continues to lead the championship points race over Alvis, Cortez, Morris and Prickett.

Kaplan becomes the eleventh DMS Race Products BCRA Midget series victor of 2007.

Alvis claimed Heat 1 over Kody Swanson, Scott Nail aboard Stu Donaldson's #8 Stealth/Pontiac, Nick Foster, Jr., Tanner Swanson and Dave Stoltz.

Hanford's Jared Little captured Heat 2 over Jimmy Voitel, Faccinto, Randi Pankratz, David Prickett and Alfred Galeridge Jr.

Sarale claimed Heat 3 over Morris, Sarna, Shannon McQueen and Grant.

Brian Gard toppled the stellar 22-car field in qualifying, setting fast time at 17.103, with Sarale, McQueen and Grant close behind.

The 2007 DMS Race Products BCRA Midget series continues its season in two weeks, visiting the smooth and fast paved 1/4-mile Ukiah Speedway on September 8.