SCHUTTE CLAIMS BCRA/USAC-WS TRIUMPH AT KING’S SPEEDWAY ANNUAL COTTON CLASSIC; PRICKETT CLAIMS BCRA MIDGET CHAMPIONSHIP

Redding’s Alex Schutte raced to victory at the 26th Annual Cotton Classic in Cory Kruseman’s #12k Spike/Mopar on Saturday, October 3 at the smooth and fast 3/8-mile King’s Speedway in Hanford, CA, picking up the winner’s laurels in the Bay Cities Racing Association/USAC-Western States co-sanctioned event.

Following Schutte to the checkers was 2007 BCRA champion Justin Grant of Ione wheeling the #17 TNT Racesports Dave Thurston Spike/Esslinger just one tenth back, with former Belleville Nationals winner Robby Flock aboard Mike Sala’s #19s Spike/Bob Wirth Mopar nearly three seconds back and Visalia’s Scott Nail in the Neverlift Motorsports #16 Stealth/Riolo Chevy and two-time USAC Silver Crown champion Bud Kaeding rounding out the top five aboard Mike Sala’s #79 Spike/Bob Wirth Chevy both five seconds back.

Two-time USAC Western States champion Jerome Rodela of El Monte claimed sixth aboard his #25 Trench Shoring Spike/Ed Pink Toyota, followed by 1999 BCRA Midget champion Matt Streeter aboard his #14jr T&T Trucking/Delta Demolition Spike/Fontana, Tanner Swanson aboard the #19k TK Motorsports/Team 6R Spike/Toyota, USAC-WS points leader Garrett Hansen aboard Andy Bondio’s #47 Bondio/Barnes Chevy and Fresno’s David Prickett rounding out the Top ten aboard the #15 Neverlift Motorsports Stealth/Van Dyne. Swanson worked his way to a top ten finish after starting 15th.

Reigning BCRA champion Nick Foster, Jr. claimed eleventh aboard the #1 Zero-Zero Motorsports Jim Fowler Beast/Esslinger. 2008 pavement Midget champion and BCRA Rookie-of-the-Year “Nitro” Nick Chivello claimed 11th aboard Bob Roza’s #20 TEAM F.A.S.T. (Fighting Against Steroids Together) Beast/Esslinger.

After pulling to nearly a straightaway lead, Schutte had little pressure until late in the race when Grant began catching Schutte, the pole sitter.

After making moves early on, moving to fourth on Lap 1 by passing Kaeding, Grant began chasing Schutte, overtaking both Streeter and Nail, taking over second on Lap 6. After reeling Schutte down for 20 laps, Grant finally caught Schutte, passing Schutte for the lead on Lap 27. After stretching out a three tenths-second lead, Grant’s battery began struggling with two laps to go, causing his engine to backfire --- missing for the final two laps. With Grant’s mount grumbling, Schutte took advantage, passing Grant coming off of Turn 4 to take the win at the checkers.

While Schutte was rejoicing in his victory, many eyes were focused on the battle for the famed Bay Cities Racing Association Midget championship, which has seen Fresno’s “Mr. Excitement” Prickett and San Jose’s “Young Lion” Foster duking it out for several months, coming into Saturday’s BCRA/USAC-WS co-sanctioned bout, Prickett was holding a slim six-point lead over 2008 BCRA Midget champion Foster.

Prickett, the 2007 third-place driver set the tone for the evening by out-qualifying Foster and placing better in his Heat race. Finishing one spot better than Foster in the feature event, Prickett cushioned his points lead, claiming the BCRA Midget championship by a mere 11 points.

“It probably won't sink in [un]til the January 30th banquet when I get that ring. Right now with the USAC schedule, I still don't have any time to relax,” says Prickett, the newly crowned BCRA Midget champion. Prickett joins the likes of Alvis, Agabashian, Vukovich, Gresham, Mencarini, Bussell, Foland, Tarditi, Carson and more to have claimed a BCRA Midget championship over the years.

“We had a great dirt program all season … on pavement we struggled with the loss of a car at the beginning of the season and then a motor midway through. Thankfully I received great support from the Pierovich family, Bob Roza and Danny Parker helping me to not miss the two shows I didn't have a motor,” said Prickett, who will be competing this Saturday in a USAC-WS event at Stockton 99 Speedway. Prickett currently sits fourth in the USAC-WS series points, trailing Hansen, Rodela and Schutte with only a handful of races remaining.

17-year-old Cole Peard experienced mechanical gremlins in his own #58 Twister F5/Fontana, sidelining him early in the evening.

Britton Bock flipped his #62 TCR/Esslinger in Turn 2 on Lap 12, bringing out the only red flag of the evening.

Alamo’s Scott Pierovich set fast time in father Lance’s #35 Spike/Bob Wirth Mopar, with a fast lap of 16.617.

Hansen claimed the Dash over Flock, prior BCRA and USAC feature winner Shannon McQueen of Bakersfield aboard her #7 Spike/Fontana and Tanner Swanson.

Jake Swanson claimed Heat 1aboard the HPD #05 Goodwine Glass Stealth/Bruce Crower-Mike Walker Honda, one of very few Honda-powered Midgets actively competing over Pierovich, Grant and Prickett.

Streeter claimed Heat 2 over Kaeding, Randi Pankratz in her #8 AutoResearch/Fontana and Britton Bock in his own #62 TCR/Esslinger.

Schutte claimed Heat 3 over Rodela, Flock and Nail.

Prickett bested Foster, Chivello, seven-time champion Floyd Alvis, former car owner champion Bill Lindsey, Grant, McQueen, Kyle Dickerson, Peard and Danny parker to claim the 2009 BCRA Midget championship.

Visit www.bcraracing.com for information on the BCRA Midgets.