BRYANT BELL EARNS FOURTH CONSECUTIVE OCEAN SPEEDWAY WMR VICTORY
WATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA (July 26, 2024) – Bryant Bell of Oakley, Calif. prevailed for his fourth consecutive Ocean Speedway Western Midget Racing win on Friday night, holding off Logan Mitchell of Santa Cruz to take the 20-lap feature. Bell lifts his recent record to five wins in the last six WMR events as well. A trip to Bell’s home track at Antioch Speedway looms on Saturday night as the 2023 champion continues to lead the 2024 battle. Photo by Top Dawg Photos
Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway action opened with Mitchell and San Jose’s Anthony Bruno claiming the eight-lap heat races. Southern California racers Adam Weisberg of Santa Clarita and Todd Hawse of Moorpark then shared the front row for the main event.
Weisberg led the first 17-laps on a fast-paced Ocean Speedway fresh after track prep. 2023 champion Bryant Bell of Oakley, San Jose’s Anthony Bruno, and Santa Cruz’ Logan Mitchell hounded Weisberg in a tight formation. All three drivers pursuing Weisberg were previous winners in the WMR series, adding to the pressure of the situation for the second year Midget racer.
Bruno sailed inside of Bell for second in turn three but got sideways, allowing Mitchell to seize third on lap 15.
Weisberg’s bid for his first ever WMR victory ended when his No. 15 Stealth Chassis went up in smoke, setting up a three-lap shootout between Bell and Mitchell.
Bell outfoxed Mitchell over the final three circuits on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds dirt track for the win, followed by Mitchell, Bruno, Roseville’s Josh Young, and Las Vegas’ Kyle Hawse.
“Shoutout to Adam to have a run like that. Keep your head up after having a run like that,” Bell said. “Thank you to Tony Boscacci for busting his butt in the shop. That’s where races are won.”
Western Midget Racing continues Saturday night at Antioch Speedway, in support of the Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprint Cars. For more information visit www.WesternMidgetRacing.com
RESULTS: Ocean Speedway July 26, 2024
A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 09-Bryant Bell[3]; 2. 96X-Logan Mitchell[5]; 3. 9-Anthony Bruno[4]; 4. 57-Josh Young[11]; 5. 20-Kyle Hawse[6]; 6. 18-Todd Hawse[2]; 7. 15-Adam Weisberg[1]; 8. 68-Marvin Mitchell[8]; 9. 2ND-Terry Nichols[9]; 10. (DNS) 96XX-Nathan Moore[10]; DQ: ONE9-Adrianna DeMartini[7]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 96X-Logan Mitchell[2]; 2. 09-Bryant Bell[5]; 3. 15-Adam Weisberg[4]; 4. ONE9-Adrianna DeMartini[6]; 5. 2ND-Terry Nichols[3]; 6. 57-Josh Young[1]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 9-Anthony Bruno[1]; 2. 18-Todd Hawse[4]; 3. 20-Kyle Hawse[2]; 4. 68-Marvin Mitchell[3]; 5. 96XX-Nathan Moore[5]
2024 WMR Schedule – Subject to Change
March 16 Ventura Raceway – WINNER: Anthony Bruno
March 29 Ocean Speedway – RAIN OUT
March 30 Marysville Raceway – RAIN OUT
April 20 Bakersfield Speedway – WINNER: Logan Mitchell
May 4 Ventura Raceway – WINNER: Bryant Bell
May 17 Ocean Speedway – WINNER: Logan Mitchell
May 18 Petaluma Speedway w/ BCRA Tom Manning Memorial – WINNER: Logan Mitchell
June 7 Ocean Speedway – WINNER: Bryant Bell
June 8 Petaluma Speedway – WINNER: Bryant Bell
June 22 Ventura Raceway – WINNER: Logan Mitchell
July 12 Ocean Speedway Howard Kaeding Classic** – WINNER: Bryant Bell
July 13 Ocean Speedway Howard Kaeding Classic** – WINNER: Bryant Bell
July 26 Ocean Speedway – WINNER: Bryant Bell
July 27 Antioch Speedway
August 9 Ocean Speedway Johnny Key Classic**
August 10 Ocean Speedway Johnny Key Classic**
September 21 Bakersfield Speedway
October 25 Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway October Classic**
October 26 Ventura Raceway**
** indicates Triple Crown event