WATSONVILLE, Calif. — Western Midget Racing opened its 2026 season at the newly re-named Watsonville Speedway with a new winner with Cody Gray prevailing in the 20-lap feature.
Friday’s action was the first race at Watsonville’s quarter-mile dirt track under the direction of new promoters Rob Gallaher and Samatha Harper, with a healthy crowd on hand.
Primarily known as a Micro Sprint driver, Gray made four starts in the WMR series in 2025. He earned a best finish of second at Ventura before he finally broke into the win column this weekend.
Gray won the first six-lap heat race. Rookie pilot Nicholas Leonard of San Jose drove the Boscacci Racing No. 09 to victory in his inaugural heat race in the second run.
Terry Nichols and defending champion Logan Mitchell shared the front row for the feature. Mitchell immediately darted out to the lead before slowing with mechanical issues on lap eight that eventually dropped him out of the event.
Gray inherited the lead then maintained it over several short cautions to win the feature. Nichols opened his season in second followed by Isaac Johnson, Leonard, and Cole Frerichs of Wheatland.
The finish:
Feature (20 Laps): 1. 11-Cody Gray[4]; 2. 1P-Terry Nichols[1]; 3. 4R-Issac Johnson[6]; 4. 09-Nick Leonard Jr[3]; 5. 9-Cole Frerichs[5]; 6. 25JR-Nathan Moore[7]; 7. 96X-Logan Mitchell[2]; 9. 7-Dalton Wright[9] DQ: 68-Marvin Mitchell[8];
