2022 Western Midget Racing champion Brentwood’s Blake Bower continued to dominate the race Friday night at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif., on the dirt track at Faye Grounds in Santa Cruz County. Recorded 10 career wins.
Moorpark’s Bower and Todd Hawes split two heat races for an outstanding field of 15 cars during ‘Modified Madness’ at the facility.
Bower led the first three laps, but was cautioned by Santa Rosa’s Sparky Howard, who spun at Turn 1 in the 22nd quarter.
France Camp’s Sage Bordenav maneuvered the number 11 around the outside of Lodi’s Nate Waite to take second place at the restart.
Darrin Horton of New York overturned the No. 66 car at Turn 3 and the red flag came out on lap four. Santa Cruz’s Logan Mitchell raised a warning flag and headed to the work area.
Bower hit the inside curb at turns three and four of the restart, with Bordenave chasing the lead. Boldenave fell back on the dangerous outside line, but Bower was able to fend off the challenge.
Waite regained second place from Bordenave on lap 11, with 2023 Ventura winner Oakley’s Bryant Bell aiming for third place to no avail. Yellow flags were shown on lap 11 when San Jose’s Norman Hurley-Rhodes made a stop on the backstretch.
Bower cruised through the final nine laps to win by 2.2 seconds over Waite. Boldenave held off Bell for third, with Todd Hawes finishing fifth.
Western Midget Racing will continue with the first NorCal doubleheader of 2023 at Petaluma Speedway on May 13th. For more information, please visit: www.WesternMidgetRacing.com
Results: Ocean Speedway May 12, 2023
Heat 1 (8 laps): 9-Blake Bower; Heat 2 (8 laps): 31-Todd Horse
Feature (20 laps): 1. 9-Blake Bower[1]2. 76-Nate Waite[3]3. 11 – Bordeneve the Wise[4]4. 09-Bryant Bell[5]5. 31N-Todd Horse[2]6. 7- Greg Dennett[7]7. 22Q – Sparky Howard[12]8. 20- Kyle Hawes[8]9. 35X-Doug Johnson[15]10. 96X- Logan Mitchell[6]11. 10-Norman Rose[11]12. 4-Rick Face[13]13. 6S-David Prickett[10]14. 66- Darrin Horton[9]15. (DNS) 35-John Salare
2023 WMR Schedule – Subject to Change
2.4 Adobe Mountain Speedway – Winner: Dustin Cormany
3.18 Mojave Valley Raceway – Winner: Drake Edwards
3.31 Ocean Speedway – Rain
4.1 Antioquia Speedway – Rain
4.29 Ventura Raceway – Winner: Bryant Bell
5.12 Ocean Speedway – Winner: Blake Bower
5.13 Petaluma Speedway
6.9 Ocean Speedway
6.10 Petaluma Speedway
6.17 Ventura Raceway *Wags Dash*
7.14 & 15 Ocean Speedway *Howard Kading Classic*
7.28 Ocean Speedway
7.29 Antioquia Speedway
8.11 Ocean Speedway
8.12 Marysville Raceway
9.2 Bakersfield Speedway
9.30 Mojave Valley Raceway
10.21 Ventura Raceway
WMR PR
