Friday Nights USAC Midget Results
By Bryan Gapinski
West Salem, Wis. - Dave Darland scored a wire-to wire victory Friday Night capturing the 30-lap Mopar USAC National Midget Championship feature at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. The event was the opening round of the four-race Midget Maynia Tour.
Darland got the jump on the start to lead polesitter Tracy Hines to the line to complete the opening lap. Darland was continuously pressured by Hines and Bobby East for the first ten circuits. At the midway point Darland led Hines, East, fast qualifier Kody Swanson and Shane Hmiel as the top five pulled away from the remainder of the field.
Darland’s teammate Swanson moved into third position on the 18th lap, and two laps later passed Hines for second place. Swanson tried several different grooves and approaches on Darland for the lead over the final ten laps but none were successful. Darland driving the Nine Racing/Toyota-Oakley sponsored Beast/Toyota#9 edged Swanson by a half car length at the finish in a caution-free event. Hines who took over the series points lead finished third, with Hmiel and Brad Sweet completing the top five.
The victory was Darland’s 27th career series feature victory moving him into a 11th place tie with Gary Bettenhausen and Tony Stewart on the all-time feature victory list.
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