BAKERSFIELD, California — Anthony Lopiccolo made his fourth start of the year in the NMRA-TQ Midget Series seventh event, a 25-lap main event Saturday on the third-mile clay Bakersfield Speedway. He started first and led the final 24 laps. It was his first main event victory in almost 16 months. He last won on April 10, 2010 at Santa Maria Speedway. Lopiccolo drove his father Paul's No. 21 Stewart/Honda 750cc to the fourth TQ midget triumph of his four year career. The winner, NMRA's co-rookie of the year in 2008, won twice during 2009 in the same car.
Three-time NMRA driving champion Chuck West, of Clovis, started fourth and finished second in the No. 38 West Evans Stealth/750cc Suzuki. First lap leader Dakota Schweitzer, the 2009 NMRA rookie of the year, started second and finished third in Steve Parke's Stewart/Honda. Ron Ahrendt started third and placed fourth in his own Ellis/Honda. NMRA reigning champion driver and car owner West Evans started and finished fifth in his No. 36 Spike/Bob Wirth 750cc Suzuki. Scott Dobson, second year TQ driver Brian Baker, Jimmy May, rookies Michael Black and Adam Baker completed the top ten in a ten-car field. Eight drivers completed all 25 laps. The two rookies ran 23 circuits. Lopiccolo and West won the two five-car 8-lap heat races after starting from the first row.
NMRA point leader B. Baker, NMRA's 2010 rookie of the year, retained his point lead. However, he saw his 18 point advantage slide from 18 to 4 points. Only three race dates remain in the current ten race TQ season. NMRA's home track in Bakersfield will host all three remaining races with the next event slated for Saturday, August 20. Sixteen drivers and 15 car owners have scored TQ points this season. Two race dates in October remain TBA pending negotiations with track promoters.
SUMMARY:
Heat 1 – Anthony Lopiccolo, West Evans, Brian Baker, Ron Ahrendt, Adam Baker.
Heat 2 – Chuck West, Dakota Schweitzer, Scott Dobson, Michael Black, Jimmy May.
Main – Lopiccolo, West, Schweitzer, Ahrendt, Evans, Dobson, B. Baker, May, Black, A. Baker.
POINT STANDINGS: (as of August 10)
