GROAT, CARLSON SCORE VICTORIES AT SALT LAKE CITY, VENTURA


USAC Ford Focus racing occurs in three states this week, beginning with Wednesday’s Midwest Ford Focus and Young Guns events at the Indianapolis (Ind.) Speedrome. Saturday’s events unfold at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway (Focus and Young Guns) and Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway (Eastern Focus).


 


Point leaders entering this week’s races are Jake Blackhurst of Mapleton, Ill (Midwest Focus), Connor Kassik of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. (Western Focus), Scott Hunter of Concord, N.C. (Eastern Focus) and Jarid Blondel of Orange, Calif. (Western Young Guns).


 


Chuck Groat of Kearns, Utah passed Michael Daniels on the 10th lap of Saturday night’s 20-lap USAC Western/Utah Ford Focus feature at Rocky Mountain Raceways and led the final 11 laps to win the race. Daniels finished second ahead of defending series champ Kipp Posey, Ron Duncombe and Kassik. Groat was also Saturday’s fastest qualifier. Duncombe led the first six laps and Daniels led the next three before yielding to Groat.


 


Nick Carlson of Norwalk, Calif. and Blondel earned USAC Ford Focus victories Saturday night at the Ventura Raceway. Carlson passed Andrew Mulhearn on lap 12 and led the final nine laps of the 20-lap Western Ford Focus race, while Blondel led all 20 laps of the accompanying Western Young Guns main event. Carlson was followed by Mulhearn, Zach Stout, Wally Pankratz and Jet Davison. In the Young Guns, Blackhurst was second ahead of Casey Martinez, Tanner Kershaw and Daniel Williams.