HANFORD, Calif. — Taking control from Austin Liggett on the 10th circuit, Mitchel Moles earned his first USAC Western States Midget victory during Saturday’s Open Wheel Madness at Keller Auto Speedway.
Driving the Matt Wood Racing No. 07w Elk Grove Ford Spike, Moles topped the $1,200 Bay Cities Racing Ass’n co-sanctioned event. Matt Wood Racing also won the companion sprint car feature with Ryan Bernal at the controls.
Bernal finished second in the midget main event with point leader Liggett, Blake Bower and Shannon McQueen filling the top five.
Looking for her first win at the Kings County Fairgrounds, Maria Cofer led the first circuit. After a wild flip in the USAC West Coast Sprint Car feature, Liggett dashed those hopes and led the “mighty midgets” until Moles took command.
Despite several caution flags, Mitchel shook free from all challengers and added his name to the record books.
Moles began the night by setting the top mark in Woodland Auto Display Qualifying with a time of 15.935 over the 20-car roster.
The finish:
Feature (25 laps): 1. Mitchel Moles (6), 2. Ryan Bernal (7), 3. Austin Liggett (2), 4. Blake Bower (8), 5. Shannon McQueen (9), 6. Tony Gualda (11), 7. Alex Schutte (10), 8. David Prickett (12), 9. Ben Worth (5), 10. Maria Cofer (3), 11. Colby Johnson (4), 12. Colton Raudman (19), 13. Dylan Ito (18), 14. Jarrett Soares (17), 15. Terry Nichols (15), 16. Kyle Beilman (16), 17. C.J. Sarna (14), 18. Ron Hazelton (20), 19. Brody Fuson (13). NT