WM: Perris recap and new points leader

Ebberts Scores Second Victory At Perris, Takes Lead

USAC WorldCom Western Midget Car title challenger Danny Ebberts of Canyon Lake, Calif. scored his second career USAC feature victory Saturday night at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway and snatched the point lead away from Alex Harris in the process.

Ebberts, whose initial USAC win came in this year's series opener at Bakersfield, Calif., led the final 19 laps of Saturday's 30-lapper in his Systech Racing/Lucas Oil/Grove Lumber Esslinger/Autoresearch machine after passing defending series champion Wally Pankratz on lap 12. Pankratz finished second ahead of Danny Stratton, Dallen McKenney and Greg Nelson, with Pankratz' daughter Randi taking sixth.

Harris, of Simi Valley, Calif., failed to make the feature field and saw his 11-point lead evaporate into a 54-point deficit in the new series standings going into a September 22 race at Madera, Calif.

Four flips interrupted Saturday's events, including two by Thomas Meseraull, who escaped injury in each.

USAC WORLDCOM WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. Danny Ebberts 795
2. Alex Harris 741
3. Josh Wise 676
4. Wally Pankratz 593
5. Thomas Meseraull 581
6. Matt Streeter 510
7. Shane Scully 487
8. Robby Flock 442
9. Danny Stratton 357
10. Bobby Boone 296

-USAC