WATSONVILLE, Calif. — Bryant Bell prevailed for his fourth consecutive Ocean Speedway Western Midget Racing win on Friday night, holding off Logan Mitchell 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.
The action opened with Mitchell and Anthony Bruno claiming the eight-lap heat races. Southern California racers Adam Weisberg and Todd Hawse 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 Bell and 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, Josh Young 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.”