Doty Picks Up Where He Left Off at Ascot

Brad Doty of Fredricksburg, Ohio, who closed the 1986 World of Outlaws season with a $24,000 victory in the Pacific Coast championship at Ascot Park in October, picked up where he left off Saturday by winning the 20-lap preliminary main event in the two-day Midwinter nationals at the Gardena track, the opener of the 1987 series.

Doty earned $2,000 for his victory and gained a second-row starting position in today’s 30-lap feature that will pay the winner $10,000. Danny Smith of Danville, Ind., finished second, with Johnny Herrera of Albuquerque, N.M., third and Keith Kauffman of Mifflintown, Pa., fourth. The top four will start today’s main event in reverse order of their finish.