Michael Faccinto enters this Saturday night’s USAC Western States Midget race at Petaluma (Calif.) Speedway hoping to repeat last year’s victory at the 3/8-mile dirt oval and close the 32-point gap behind three-time defending series champ Ronnie Gardner in the 2016 standings.
Faccinto has landed “top-five” finishes in all five of his series starts this season. He beat Gardner at Bakersfield June 4, accounting for Gardner’s lone blemish on his otherwise flawless 2016 resume.
Gardner has been nearly perfect, winning four of five races this season as he seeks a fourth consecutive title.
Third-ranking driver Frankie Guerrini has posted “top-10s” in all five outings, while fourth-ranking Tyler Dolacki has earned four “top-10s.”