By Dick Jordan
USAC Ford Focus racing is planned at four tracks this week as the Midwest, Western and Eastern series all continue. The Bryant Heating & Cooling Indianapolis Speedrome hosts Wednesday night’s “Elite 8 Series” finale, with six features on tap, including two each for the Midwest Ford Focus and Focus Young Guns. All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif hosts the Western Ford Focuses on Saturday. The Eastern series visits Concord (N.C.) Motor Speedway Sunday and makes a rare Monday night appearance at East Lincoln Speedway in Stanley, N.C.
Nick Drake of Mooresville, N.C. and Stevie Kuhn of Indianapolis, Ind. won Tuesday night’s “Elite 8 Series” USAC Ford Focus and Focus Young Guns features at the Bryant Heating & Cooling Indianapolis Speedrome presented by IUPUI. Drake led all 40 laps of the Midwest Ford Focus feature in his Haas Automation Beast to beat James Robertson, Davey Hamilton Jr., Gage Walker and Jessica Bean. In the accompanying Focus Young Guns race, Kuhn led all 25 laps in his Kuhn Racing/Beast to beat Sam McGhee, Michael Fanelli, Mikell McGee and Emmy Gray.
Idaho’s own Davey Hamilton Jr. sped to victory in Saturday night’s 30-lap USAC Western/Utah Ford Focus feature at Meridian (Idaho) Speedway. The win was his first in USAC competition as he beat Utah point leader Jim Waters, Chuck Groat, Ron Duncombe and fast qualifier Brodie Kostecki to the line.
Brodie Kostecki of Roseville, Calif. paced all 30 circuits of Meridian (Idaho) Speedway Friday night to win the USAC Western/Utah Ford Focus feature event. Jim Waters finished second ahead of Davey Hamilton Jr., fast qualifier Chuck Groat and Austin Luttmer.
Chris Lamb of Colfax, N.C. and Sam McGhee of Camby, Ind. emerged with victories in USAC Ford Focus and Focus Young Guns races Friday night at Kil-Kare Raceway. Lamb led all 30 laps of the Midwest Ford Focus feature in his Radical Race Gear Hawk, while McGhee led all 15 laps of the Focus Young Guns main event in his Stoops Freightliner/CPM Machine Spike. Trailing Lamb were Nick Hamilton, Ross Rankine, James Robertson and Jarett Andretti. McGhee fought off the challenge of Stevie Kuhn in the Focus Young Guns.
Cole Custer of Kannapolis, N.C. led all 30 laps to win Saturday night’s USAC Eastern Ford Focus feature at East Lincoln Speedway. He beat Scott Hunter to the checkered flag as Eastern point leader Nick Drake took third ahead of Mike Ward and Tyler Corriher.
USAC NATIONAL FORD FOCUS POINT STANDINGS
1-Nick Drake-687, 2-Ross Rankine-657, 3-Jarett Andretti-633, 4-Jessica Clark-570, 5-Jim Waters-489, 6-Austin Luttmer-441, 7-Chuck Groat-438, 8-J.R. Williams-422, 9-Toby Alfrey-414, 10-James Robertson-412.
USAC NATIONAL FOCUS YOUNG GUNS POINT STANDINGS:
1-Cole Custer-471, 2-Trevor Hunt-468, 3-Sam McGhee-468, 4-Stevie Kuhn-432, 5-Brody Kostecki-408, 6-Christine Breckenridge-351, 7-Parker Colston-342, 8-Cooper Clouse-228, 9-Brandon White-225, 10-Ricky Bowers-207.
USAC MIDWESTERN FORD FOCUS POINT STANDINGS
1-Ross Rankine-655; 2-James Robertson-468; 3-Toby Alfrey-460; 4-Jessica Bean-433; 5-Jarett Andretti-428; 6-Nick Drake-392; 7-Tyler Shullick-346; 8-Nick Hamilton-344; 9-Joey Greening-316; 10-Kent Kriegbaum-218..
USAC MIDWESTERN FOCUS YOUNG GUNS POINT STANDINGS
1-Sam McGhee-542; 2-Stevie Kuhn-498; 3-Cooper Clouse-257; 4-Emmy Gray-204; 5-Mikell McGee-170; 6-Michael Fanelli-157; 7-Tyler Shullick-137; 8-Adam Thomason-114; 9-Justen Garmenn-105; 10-Cole Custer-67.
USAC EASTERN FORD FOCUS POINT STANDINGS
1-Nick Drake-511, 2-Jarett Andretti-507, 3-Scott Hunter-370, 4-Chris Lamb-333, 5-Steven Intravaia-329, 6-Austin Prock-283, 7-Orry Hunte-274, 8-Nic Davidson-271, 9-Tyler Corriher-242, 10-Joey Greening-130.
USAC EASTERN FOCUS YOUNG GUNS POINT STANDINGS
1-Sam McGhee-73, 2-Tyler Shullick-70, 3-Jared Irvan-68, 4-Brendon Bock-64, 5-Stevie Kuhn-64, 6-Trey Hutchens-59, 7-Ty Rose-58, 8-Mikell McGee-57, 9-Justen Garmenn-55.
USAC WESTERN FORD FOCUS POINT STANDINGS
1-Jessica Clark-642, 2-Jim Waters-589, 3-Chuck Groat-544, 4-Austin Luttmer-523, 5-J.R. Williams-453, 6-Jarid Blondel-448, 7-Jeff Kelley-415, 8-Tyler Dolacki-414, 9-Gregg Fuette-382, 10-Daniel Williams-374.
USAC WESTERN FOCUS YOUNG GUNS POINT STANDINGS
1-Trevor Hunt-555; 2-Brodie Kostecki-487; 3-Cole Custer-461; 4-Parker Colston-383; 5-Christine Breckenridge-382; 6-Brandon White-264; 7-Ricky Bowers-245; 8-Katlynn Leer-222; 9-James Eden-180; 10-Keegan Walmer-146.
USAC UTAH FORD FOCUS POINT STANDINGS
1-Jim Waters-588; 2-Chuck Groat-544; 3-Austin Luttmer-523; 4-Jeff Kelley-415; 5-Gregg Fuette-382; 6-Ron Duncombe-374; 7-Michael Daniels-341; 8-J.R. Williams-326; 9-Jessica Clark-296; 10-Cheyenne Torgerson-235.