Midgets to invade Fernley

The three divisions of the Bay Cities Racing Association will be in force this Saturday at Reno-Fernley Raceway.

The open wheel, open cockpit Midgets, Midget Lites and Vintage Midgets will see action on the 3/8 mile dirt oval along with Dwarf Cars and 318 Open Wheel Modifieds.

Topping the BCRA action will be the full Midgets. Powered by 350-plus horsepower four-cylinder racing engines, the Midgets are among the fastest and most agile race cars that can be seen in the local area.

Topping the entry list will be current point leader Thomas Meseraull of San Jose, Calif. Meseraull will drive the Bill Ferrari Esslinger powered Stealth Midget in which he has achieved one win and seven second-place finishes this season.

Veteran seven-time BCRA champion Floyd Alvis of San Carlos, Calif., always a crowd pleaser, will celebrate his 70th birthday later in the month. Alvis drives the Interstate Batteries Esslinger/Stealth.

Returning to defend his win at Reno-Fernley Raceway earlier this year will be Rob Russell of Fremont, driving the Guerrine Gaerte Ford-Stealth.

Among the other top entries will be five of the best rookies to compete in many years, including 18-year-old two-time winner Brian Gard of Kelseyville, Calif., 16-year-old third generation race winner Michael Hubert III of Anderson, Calif., winner Greg Dennett of Livermore, Calif., Scott Pierovich of Alamo, Calif., and Garratt Boyden of Santa Cruz, Calif.

Bakersfield's USAC campaigner Shannon McQueen will return to Fernly where she placed fifth in June in her Esslinger powered TCR. Minden's Doug Lippincott will represent Nevada aboard his RPM Chevy/Stealth.

The winged BRA MIdget Lites will feature current point leader Scott Clark in his 1150cc Suzuki powered ART Lite. Scott Kinney of Sacramento, currently in an intense battle with Clark for this year's championship, will be in the 3D Motorsports Suzuki/ART.

Among others will be Tyler Franklin of Roseville, Calif., defending champion Doug Hunting and Chad Compton both of Elk Grove, Calif., Sam Corso of Ripon, Calif., and practicing veterinarian April Halliday-Sullivan of Fair Oaks. Calif.

The Vintage division will demonstrate Midget racing as it was done in the 1940s to mid-1970s. Gates open at 3 p.m. with qualifying at 5 and racing at 6.