FACCINTO FLIES TO VICTORY AT PLACERVILLE
By: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Placerville, California (July 6, 2024)………Michael Faccinto returned to Avanti Windows & Doors USAC Western States Midget victory lane for the first time in nearly two years during Saturday night’s Sala Family Classic at California’s Placerville Speedway.
Faccinto (Hanford, California), a two-time USAC Western States Midget driving champion in 2018 and 2022, collected his 13th career series victory, and his second at Placerville, after leading the final four laps in his Graunstadt Enterprises No. 14T.
The event, co-sanctioned by the Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA), featured a front row consisting of Michael Faccinto starting on the outside alongside his wife, Danika Jo Faccinto.
Michael, the 2023 Placerville Speedway 360 Sprint Car champion, got the jump and led the initial eight circuits until series point leader Cade Lewis charged by on the cushion to take over the lead on the ninth trip during the 25-lap event with top Rookie Drake Edwards following suit into second two laps later.
With four laps remaining, Edwards slid past Lewis for the top spot, but got a bit too far sideways, which resulted in Lewis ramping up over Edwards and barrel rolling. Both drivers’ nights were abruptly finished.
From there, Faccinto took over the lead and paced the final four trips around the 1/4-mile dirt oval to take the win over Woodland Auto Display Fast Qualifier and Rod End Supply Hard Charger Brandon Wiley (Santa Maria, Calif.) who advanced from sixth to second. Dane Culver (Riverside, Calif.) took third and Dalten Gabbard (Peoria, Ariz.) grabbed fourth.
National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame inductee and 1986-1989-1993-2002 USAC Western States Midget champion Robby Flock (Murietta, Calif.) rounded out the top-five in what was his first series start since October of 2009, nearly 15 years ago at Hanford, California’s Kings Speedway where he also finished fifth aboard the Sala Racing No. 19w.
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USAC AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS WESTERN STATES MIDGET SERIES RACE RESULTS: July 6, 2024 – Placerville Speedway – Placerville, California – Co-Sanctioned by the Bay Cities Racing Association
WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY QUALIFYING: 1. Brandon Wiley, 14, Graunstadt-12.369, 2. Cade Lewis, 101, Alexander-12.376, 3. Dalten Gabbard, 77, Gabbard-12.399, 4. Drake Edwards, 3p, Petty-12.402, 5. Michael Faccinto, 14T, Graunstadt-12.527, 6. Dane Culver, 50, Knuckles Up-12.761, 7. Danika Jo Faccinto, 13, Faccinto-12.919, 8. Robby Flock, 19w, Sala-13.273, 9. Terry Nichols, 1K, Nichols/Peckfelder-13.981, 10. Ben Covich, 65NZ, Covich-14.149, 11. Floyd Alvis, 18, Champion-14.266, 12. Jim Aveggio, 1x, Aveggio-14.741, 13. Ron Hazelton, 78, Mitchell-NT, 14. Marvin Mitchell, 68, Mitchell- NT, 15. Dakota Albright, 1T, Nichols/Peckfelder- NT, 16. Jake Andreotti, 00, Davis-NT.
CAL WEST WELDING/EXTREME MUFFLER/CAR IQ FIRST HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Dalten Gabbard (5), 2. Michael Faccinto (4), 3. Brandon Wiley (6), 4. Danika Jo Faccinto (3), 5. Ben Covich (2), 6. Jim Aveggio (1), 7. Ron Hazelton (7). NT
HOT HEAD COMPETITION ENGINE HEATERS/WEST EVANS MOTORSPORTS SECOND HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Drake Edwards (5), 2. Cade Lewis (6), 3. Jake Andreotti (7), 4. Robby Flock (3), 5. Terry Nichols (2), 6. Floyd Alvis (1), 7. Marvin Mitchell (8), 8. Dane Culver (4). NT
FEATURE: (25 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Michael Faccinto (2), 2. Brandon Wiley (6), 3. Dane Culver (7), 4. Dalten Gabbard (4), 5. Robby Flock (8), 6. Danika Jo Faccinto (1), 7. Ben Covich (10), 8. Cade Lewis (5), 9. Drake Edwards (3), 10. Jim Aveggio (12), 11. Terry Nichols (9), 12. Floyd Alvis (11), 13. Jake Andreotti (13), 14. Marvin Mitchell (14). NT
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-8 Michael Faccinto, Laps 9-21 Cade Lewis, Laps 22-25 Michael Faccinto.
USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET POINTS: 1-Cade Lewis-328, 2-Drake Edwards-312, 3-Dane Culver-257, 4-Caden Sarale-228, 5-Brandt Twitty-214, 6-Ben Covich-214, 7-Dalten Gabbard-193, 8-Brandon Wiley-191, 9-C.J. Sarna-183, 10-Garrett Twitty-179.
NEXT USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET RACE: July 20, 2024 – Ventura Raceway – Ventura, California
CONTINGENCY AWARD WINNERS
Rod End Supply Hard Charger: Brandon Wiley (6th to 2nd)
