PETERSON, DRAKE TOP FOCUS FEATURES IN CALIFORNIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

USAC’s Ford Focuses and Young Guns continue their 2010 season this Saturday with events at the Ventura (Calif.) Raceway and Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City, Utah,


 


The Western Ford Focuses and Young Guns compete at Ventura, while the Utah Ford Focus series continues at the Salt Lake City oval. Connor Kassik sits atop the current Western standings, while Michael Daniels is atop the Utah points. The Western Young Guns are currently paced by Brandon White.


 


Garrett Peterson of West Sacramento, Calif. led the final 30 laps to win Saturday night’s 35-lap USAC Western Ford Focus race at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. He was also the fastest qualifier, won his heat race and won the dash. Keegan Walmer took second ahead of Cody Thompson, Cody Gerhardt and Dennis Simunovich. Walmer led the first five laps of the feature. The accompanying USAC Western Young Guns feature event was halted after an opening-lap tangle and cancelled. Keegan Walmer posted fastest qualifying time and Cody Thompson won the heat race.


 


Nick Drake of Mooresville, N.C., son of former USAC National Driving Champion Jay Drake, posted his initial USAC feature victory Saturday night at Dillon (S.C.) Motor Speedway, winning the 30-lap USAC Eastern/Carolina Ford Focus race in his Troy Cline Haas Automation/SEM Products Beast. Drake was the fourth race leader, pacing the final 16 laps after passing series point leader Scott Hunter on lap 15. Hunter took second ahead of Steven Intravaia, Justin Hommel and Brad Noffsinger. Rick Fedrizzi led the first seven laps, Cody Acton led lap eight and Hunter led the next six before Drake took command.


 


Drake is believed to be the first graduate of USAC’s Mopar .25 Midgets to post a victory in USAC Ford Focus competition.