FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    
OCTOBER 14, 2009
CONTACT: DICK JORDAN


.25 MIDGETS CROWN INITIAL GENERATION NEXT CHAMPIONS; FINALES AT COLUMBUS


    Eight drivers clinched championships in USAC’s inaugural season of .25 Midget racing during last weekend’s “Generation Next Tour” Round Seven at Kil-Kare Speedway in Xenia, OH. Five others hope to put the finishing touches on their 2009 championship seasons when the season concludes this weekend at the Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway with an event wrapping up the rained-out September 20 event.

    Six drivers from Ohio and two from Indiana are the initial .25 Midget champions crowned last weekend who will be among the honored champions at the “Generation Next” Night of Champions November 14 at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio.

    Eight-year-old Jeff Dunfee III of Mantua, 11-year-old Cooper Clouse of Ohio City, 10-year-old Nathan McCauley of Millersport, 13-year-old Justen Garmenn of Grand Rapids, 13-year-old Cody Coughlin of Delaware and 13-year-old Ross Rankine of Willard are the Ohio drivers, while Indiana boasts 11-year-old Gage Walker of Fairland and 14-year-old Josh Daugherty of Pendleton.

    Dunfee finished second and third respectively at Xenia to wrap up both the Junior Stock and Junior Honda titles. Rankine won at Xenia to claim the Senior Honda crown, while McCauley claimed the Light Mod title with his Xenia triumph. Clouse emerged as the Senior Stock champion despite not competing in that class at Xenia.

    Walker won the Light 160 championship with his Xenia victory and Daugherty’s third-place Heavy Honda finish wrapped up that crown. Garmenn put the finishing touches on the Heavy 160 title with a Xenia victory, while Cody Coughlin finished second in the Heavy Mod class to wrap up that crown.

    Walker and Rankine are among a half-dozen drivers hoping to claim titles this weekend at Columbus. Rankine won and Walker was second at Xenia to tie for the point lead in Light World Formula entering this weekend’s event! Ohio pilots Craig Swartz of New Paris, Ethan Mullet of Hilliard and Daniel Hall of Columbus won at Xenia to emerge as respective point leaders in Heavy World Formula, Heavy AA and Half class competition. Ryan Fleming of Xenia was second at Xenia and is the leader in the Light B class, while Erika Newcombe of Pickerington, Ohio was seventh at Xenia but has the lead in the Light AA class.



--USAC--