MIDGETS EYE THIS WEEKEND’S “VERMEIL CLASSIC” AT CALISTOGA

Trey Marcham of Oklahoma City, Okla. enters this weekend’s 7th “Louie Vermeil Classic” at Calistoga (Calif.) Speedway holding the point lead in the Honda USAC Western Midget overall and dirt standings. He has an eight-point lead over defending champion Ronnie Gardner in both standings.

Marcham and Gardner will be favorites for the Midget portion of Saturday and Sunday’s Midget races, while the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Cars share the billing in the two-night racing extravaganza.

Honoring the man who virtually put Calistoga on the racing map, the race unfolds on a track dating back to 1937!

Marcham has not previously competed in a “Vermeil” feature event, while Gardner has a pair of thirds and a fifth in four previous starts.

Rico Abreu of nearby Rutherford, Calif. and Kyle Larson of nearby Elk Grove, Calif. won last year’s Calistoga Midget races.

Other former “Vermeil” Midget winners included Johnny Rodriguez, Garrett Hansen, Josh Ford, Robby Josett, Cory Kruseman, Scott Pierovich, Johnathan Henry and Evan Margeson. Only Abreu, a winner in both 2012 and 2013, has two victories.