DRAKE EDWARDS DARTS TO WMR WAGSDASH WIN AT VENTURA
VENTURA, CALIFORNIA (June 18, 2023) – Drake Edwards of Surprise, Ariz. won his sixth-career Western Midget Racing victory and third at Ventura Raceway, claiming the prestigious Wagsdash on Saturday night. The victory in the 25-lap feature paid $1,000-to-win.
Boscacci Racing teammates Blake Bower of Brentwood and Bryant Bell of Oakley split the eight-lap heat races over the 16 Midgets on hand. Daniel Anderson of Venice and Tyler High of Goodyear, Ariz. were the front row starters for the main event.
Edwards started fifth but immediately advanced into second position on lap one. He then charged around the outside of Anderson to lead lap two.
Bower drove up the inside of Edwards in a duel for the lead before a caution flag flew. Bell used the restart to nab third from Anderson before another incident in turn three.
Bell and Bower put on a great battle for second, with the teenage Bell prevailing in the battle. He was unable to reel in Edwards, however, as Edwards steered the No. 4R to the coveted win. Bell led Bower through lapped traffic to hang on for second with Arizona’s Nathan High finishing fourth. Logan Mitchell of Santa Cruz rounded out the top-five.
The Western Midget Racing teams will get a few weeks off before competing during both nights of the Howard Kaeding Classic, July 14-15 at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif.
Western Midget Racing continues its second NorCal doubleheader of 2023 at Petaluma Speedway on June 10. For more information visit www.WesternMidgetRacing.com
RESULTS: Ventura Raceway “Wagsdash Reunion In Honor of Mrs. Wags”
HEAT 1 (8 LAPS): 9-Blake Bower.; HEAT 2 (8 LAPS): 09-Bryant Bell
FEATURE (25 LAPS): 1. 4R-Drake Edwards; 2. 09-Bryant Bell; 3. 9-Blake Bower; 4. 01-Nathan High; 5. 96X-Logan Mitchell; 6. 48-Gary DeWitt; 7. 35x-Daniel Anderson; 8. 66-Darin Horton; 9. 20-Kyle Hawse; 10. 11-Tyler Ruth; 11. 68x-Gene Sigal; 12. 31-Todd Hawse; 13. 9AZ-Tyler High; 14. 68-Marvin Mitchell; 15. 3AZ-Chloe High; 16. 35W-Nate Wait [DNS]
2023 WMR Schedule – Subject to Change
2.4 Adobe Mountain Speedway – Winner: Dustin Cormany
3.18 Mohave Valley Raceway – Winner: Drake Edwards
3.31 Ocean Speedway – RAIN
4.1 Antioch Speedway – RAIN
4.29 Ventura Raceway – Winner: Bryant Bell
5.12 Ocean Speedway – Winner: Blake Bower
5.13 Petaluma Speedway – Winner: Bryant Bell
6.9 Ocean Speedway – Winner: Blake Bower
6.10 Petaluma Speedway – Winner: Bryant Bell
6.17 Ventura Raceway *Wagsdash* Winner: Drake Edwards
7.14 & 15 Ocean Speedway *Howard Kaeding Classic*
7.28 Ocean Speedway
7.29 Antioch Speedway
8.11 Ocean Speedway
8.12 Marysville Raceway
9.2 Bakersfield Speedway
9.30 Mohave Valley Raceway
10.21 Ventura Raceway