LIGUORI DOUBLES, SWANSON WINS AT MADERA, RAIN HITS N.C.


USAC’s Midwest, UMARA, California Pavement and Carolina Ford Focus series are all in action this week. Jeremy Frankoski of Huntersville, N.C. leads the Carolina series back to Concord Motorsports Park Wednesday after rains forced cancellation of last Wednesday night’s races at the North Carolina oval. Joe Liguori of Tampa, Fla. leads the Midwest and USAC/UMARA series into Saturday’s race at Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Ill. Nick Romano of Atherton, Calif. sits atop the California Pavement standings entering Saturday’s race at the Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino.


 


Tanner Swanson of Kingsburg, Calif. led all 25 laps to win Saturday night’s USAC California Pavement Ford race at Madera (Calif.) Speedway. Fast qualifier Cody Gerhardt finished second, followed by series point leader Romano, Eric Gunderson and Zach Stout.


 


USAC/UMARA Ford Focus point leader Liguori passed Tyler Cottongim on the white-flag lap and went on to win Saturday night’s 20-lap race at Grundy County Speedway in his C & R Racing Beast. Cottongim led the first 18 laps and finished second ahead of Jimmy Simpson, Michael May and Bob Adams. Liguori was also the fastest qualifier.


 


Liguori also led all but the first lap and won Friday night’s 15-lap USAC Midwest Ford Focus feature at Gas City I-69 Speedway. Joe passed Cottongim on lap two and led the rest of the way in his C & R Racing Beast to beat Simpson, Eric Rankine, Shannon McIntosh and Cottongim. Rankine, making his first series start, won the heat race.


 


Chuck Groat of Kearns, Utah earned his first USAC feature victory Saturday night at Rocky Mountain Raceways, leading the final nine laps of the Utah Ford Focus feature. Gregg Fuette, who led 15 laps before yielding to Groat, finished second ahead of series point leader and fast qualifier Kipp Posey, Mike Daniels and Austin Luttmer. Ron Duncombe led the opening lap before Fuette took over. The Utah series resumes September 5 at RMR.