INCLEMENT WEATHER WINS BCRA JOHNNY BALDWIN MIDGET CLASSIC!

By Floyd Busby

SANTA MARIA, CA., OCT. 16: Eighteen cars were locked in and the semi-main was about to determine the final two transfers for the $15,000 Finish Line Towing 2nd Annual Johnny Baldwin Classic at the Santa Maria Speedway - then the skies opened up, drenching the fans and competitors in the Bay Cities Racing Association sanctioned event and declaring itself as the winner!

The 29 entrants packed up their cars and equipment in the muddy pit area and headed home from the first BCRA midget rainout in many years.

The stage had been set to conclude the season for the BCRA midgets with this signature race. It had attracted a number of non-BCRA entries, including USAC National point leader Bobby East and fellow Indianian Brad Kuhn as well as Texan Johnny Murdock. Defending USAC champion Steve Paden, Danny Stratton, Robby Flock and Rick Hendrix were among the high profile visitors.

For BCRA is was the culmination of a very successful season and the setting for the crowning of Thomas Meseraull as the 2004 BCRA driving champion and the Dennett family's 3D Racing car owner championship.

Meseraull began the evening in the style of a champion by eclipsing the ultra-fast Santa Maria Speedway quarter-mile dirt oval with the quickest qualification run at 13.638, beating second-fastest and track record holder Stratton. Flock, Travis Berryhill, Kuhn and Jimmy Christian rounded out the top six qualifiers and drew for position for the "Hoosier Tire West Dash for Cash" six-lap trophy dash. Flock came out on top to receive the $1,000.00 winner's check.

With the fastest ten locked into the 50-lap feature, two semis' were run with the top four from each transferring to the
feature. East took the first 10-lapper, followed by Michael Hubert III, Greg Dennett and visitor Garrett Hansen. Three-time BCRA champ Glenn Carson won the second semi over Josh Pace, Pete Davis and seven-time titilist Floyd Alvis.

The top-ten competed in an inverted eight lap heat race.  Scoring the win was Paden over Kuhn, Brian Gard, and Greg Nelson.

BCRA's vintage midget division had run the first of two scheduled demonstration races.

Staging was taking place for the 12-lap last chance race when Mother Nature decided to conclude the celebration of the 2nd Annual Johnny Baldwin Classic.