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NMRA-TQ MIDGETS CHAMPIONSHIP BANQUET
by Tim Kennedy

MOORPARK, CA., Jan. 15 - Driver Steve Lambert, 30, and car owner Greg
Edenholm, 56, enjoyed winning their initial championships so much in 2003 they repeated their respective NMRA-TQ Midget championships in 2004. They were honored here Saturday night during an awards banquet at The Grinder Restaurant.

    It was the third year of operation for the racing organization that sanctioned TQ- Midget competition from 1957-86. NMRA was revived in 2002 to fill the void left when USAC withdrew as the West Coast TQ Midget sanctioning body to launch the Ford Focus Midget Series. During 2004 NMRA conducted 13 races at three dirt tracks-Bakersfield, Santa Maria and Ventura. There were ten different winners of 12 main events. Rain canceled the final feature at Santa Maria after two heat races had been run.

    Lambert won one main event at Bakersfield Speedway in the Hart/Honda owned by his father Dave. He won the driving title by 27 points (691-664) over Chuck West, the 2002 NMRA champion. Lambert spoke to the audience of 60 and thanked generous Edenholm for loaning him the Honda engine that he used in several races.

    Edenholm's championship car-the No. 2 "Silver Bullet" Dennis Hart chassis powered by a 836 cc Honda-won five of the 12 main events. Three drivers, Scott Hansen, Dennis and Marc Hart, steered Edenhom's No. 2 car to feature triumphs. The car won the 2004 title by seven points (709-702) over West Evans' No. 38 car. Edenholm's second car, the "Orange Crush" No. 1 Hart chassis with a 760 cc Suzuki, won the 2003 owner's championship and finished sixth in 2004. Edenholm collected his huge championship trophy accompanied by his 11-year old twin son and daughter.

    Emcee Ron Ahrendt called drivers and car owners outside the top ten forward to receive participation certificates. He presented engraved glass paperweights to all NMRA officials. Special thank you plaques were presented to Tim Kennedy (public relations), Paula Evans and Judi Ahrendt (banquet committee), Dave Wolf (banquet photos) and all NMRA sponsors-American Race Tires, Racing Optics, Schroeder Race Products, A & E Trophies, and Ringers Gloves.

                                                SPECIAL AWARDS

    Hard charger honors, sponsored by Mulligan Family Fun Center/Storm Karting, went to owner/driver Steve Parke. He competed seven times despite a terminal illness loss in his family and had three top fives and five top tens. The first Ron Otto family perpetual Sportsmanship Trophy, presented by widow Gay and son Tony Otto, went to surprised Ron Ahrendt, driver of the No. 87 Ellis/Honda and banquet emcee for the second consecutive year. Bruce Hiroshima won the Rookie of the Year Trophy presented in memory of Curly and Cookie Merrill and sponsored by Racing Optics. He finished sixth in the driver category in which 32 drivers scored NMRA points. Hiroshima also ranked ninth among 21 car owners with NMRA points.

    Drivers and owners ranked tenth through fourth received plaques. The top three drivers and owners received large NMRA trophies. West Evans, third place, his cousin Chuck West, second place, and champion Lambert addressed the audience, as did the top three car owners-Evans for third place with his No. 36 car and second place with his No. 38 TQ, and Edenholm. Each recipient thanked crews and families and said they will return this year for more TQ Midget racing.

    Announced NMRA rookie contenders for 2005 include Jenna Bliffen, 22-year old daughter of TQ owner/driver Michael Bliffen, in a second Bliffen TQ. Eric Montgomery, of Santa Maria, bought the No. 42 Ken Bonnema (ex-No. 11 Randi Pankratz TQ) and will race it himself. The No. 70 John Gardner TQ also is available to a buyer for $7,000 to clean out his racing garage.

                                    FINAL 2004 POINTS
Drivers: 1. Steve Lambert 691; 2. Chuck West 664; 3. West Evans 592; 4. Kenny Wiley 589; 5. Ron Ahrendt 384; 6. Bruce Hiroshima 380; 7. Michael Bliffen 338; 8. Scott Hansen 313; 9. Steve Parke 302; 10. Walt Johnson 300. 

Car Owners: 1. Greg Edenholm # 2 - 709; 2. West Evans # 38 - 702; 3. West Evans # 36 - 628; 4. Paul Lopiccolo # 21 - 623; 5. Dave Lambert # 55 - 592; 6. Greg
Edenholm # 1 - 551; 7. Guy Barber # 18 - 493; 8. Judi Ahrendt # 87 - 464; 9. Bruce
Hiroshima # 5 - 416; 10. Michael Bliffen # 3 - 402.

    The NMRA tentative 2005 schedule, available on line at www.wstqmidgets.com, shows 12 race dates at four tracks, three dirt and one paved, and six dates to be announced. The season opener will be Saturday, March 19 at Orange Show Speedway, the re-paved quarter mile in San Bernardino. Current schedule: 3/19-San Bernardino, 4/2-Ventura, 4/23-Santa Maria, 4/30-Bakersfield, 5/14-TBA, 5/28-Bakersfield, 6/11-Santa Maria "Ron Otto Memorial", 7/2-San Bernardino, 7/23-TBA, 8/6-Bakersfield, 8/20-Santa Maria. 9/3-TBA, 9/17-San Bernardino, 10/1-Santa Maria, 10/15-Ventura, 10/29-TBA, 11/12-TBA, 11/26-TBA.

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