SWANSON, SIMUNOVICH TAKE KINGS FEATURES, GROAT WINS UTAH FINALE


Joe Liguori of Tampa, Fla. will lock up the 2009 USAC Midwest Ford Focus Championship Saturday when he competes in the “JEGS Crown Midget Super Nationals” at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway.


 


The Columbus program serves as the 2009 USAC National Pavement Ford Focus Championship and Liguori will face competition from across the country, although his 101-point lead over Jimmy Simpson in the Midwest standings is secure.


 


Drivers from New York, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, California, Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio are already listed among the entries for the Columbus Focus race and the winner’s name will be engraved on the permanent Henry Ford Sweepstakes Trophy.


 


Chuck Groat of Kearns, Utah won Saturday night’s USAC Utah Ford Focus series finale at Rocky Mountain Raceways but Kipp Posey of Lehi, Utah celebrated his second straight series championship after finishing fifth in the 25-lap feature. Groat passed Mike Daniels on lap 23 and led the final three laps to beat Daniels, Austin Luttmer, Ault and fast qualifier Posey. Bob Brewer led the first 13 laps and Daniels led the next nine before Groat took over.


 


Cody Swanson of Norco, Calif. led the first nine and last five laps Saturday night to win the 25-lap USAC California Dirt Ford Focus race at Kings Speedway. Swanson was trailed at the checkered flag by series point leader Brody Roa, Jet Davison, Jake Swanson and Nick Rossi. Roa led 11 laps but yielded to Swanson on lap 21. The California Dirt Focus Series resumes action October 3 at Hanford.


 


Walt Johnson of Burbank, Calif. was taken to a Fresno, Calif. hospital Saturday for treatment of vertebrae fractures suffered in a flip during the Hanford Focus feature.


 


Dennis Simunovich of Hollister, Calif. won Saturday night’s 24-lap USAC Junior Ford Focus feature at Kings Speedway. He passed Andrew Murray on lap 12 and led the rest of the way to beat Murray, series point leader Kyle Edwards and Jarid Blondel. The Junior Focus Series continues this Saturday night at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif.