WM: Australian Champion polishes off Perris midget field

Three-time and current Australian Speedcar (Midget Car) Champion Mike Figliomeni captured Saturday night's 30-lap MCI WorldCom Western Midget Car feature event at the Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, Calif. He led all but the first three laps of the race to beat series point leader Bobby Boone and Bryan Stanfill to the checkered flag. Boone led the first two laps of the race before Josh Wise took the lead on lap three. The next lap saw Figliomeni set sail in his own car sporting a FIGhter chassis and a Fontana engine. Wise slipped to fourth at the finish, ahead of fifth-place finisher Wally Pankratz. Figliomeni, also a six-time Western Australia Champion, ended up with a "clean sweep," posting fast qualifying time and winning his heat race. Mike Leslie, A.J. Johnson and Danny Ebberts also won heats and Wise won the semi. The MCI WorldCom Western Midget Car Series now prepares for their June 9 appearance in concert with the MCI WorldCom National Midget Series at Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, Kans.

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USAC MCI WORLDCOM MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1. Bobby Boone 408 2. Rick Hendrix 354 3. Thomas Meseraull 343 4. Shane Scully 338 5. Danny Ebberts 333 6. Wally Pankratz 331 7. Steve Paden 309 8. Bryan Stanfill 280 9. Josh Wise 248 10. Kasey Kahne 233