LIGUORI DOUBLES, COTTONGIM, RAMOS & HUNTER ALSO WIN


USAC Ford Focus racing is slated this week in Indiana, Utah and North Carolina as competition for 2009 championships heats up. The Midwest Series will compete at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway Wednesday night, while the Carolina Series is at Hickory Motor Speedway Saturday and the Utah series is at Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City Saturday. Wednesday night’s Anderson race will feature a racing appearance by Indy Racing League driver Sarah Fisher.


 


Tyler Cottongim of Avon, Ind. emerged the winner of Friday night’s 30-lap USAC Midwest Ford Focus race at Kil-Kare Speedway in Xenia, Ohio, leading the last 28 laps after passing Michael May on lap three. Trailing Cottongim’s O’Kelly’s Restaurant/Detro Trailer Sales Stealth were Jimmy Simpson, Shannon McIntosh, Kyle Ogara and Chris Lamb. Series point leader Joe Liguori was the fastest qualifier but finished 10th in the feature.


 


USAC/UMARA Ford Focus Series point leader Liguori, of Tampa, Fla., led all 20 laps to win Saturday night’s feature event at Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Ill. in his C & R Racing Beast. Fast qualifier Cottongim finished second ahead of Simpson, Tanner Whitten and Tyler Trainor. The next USAC/UMARA Focus race is August 1 at Morris.


 


Luis Ramos III of Clovis, Calif. sped to victory in Saturday night’s 25-lap “Pombo Classic” USAC California Pavement Ford Focus feature at the Madera (Calif.) Speedway. Ramos and his Western Speed Racing entry led the final 16 laps after passing Mindy McCord on lap 10. Cody Gerhardt finished second ahead of Zach Stout, Jeff Oleen and McCord. Series point leader Nick Romano was seventh, while fast qualifier Garrett Peterson wound up sixth. The California Pavement series resumes August 15 at Madera.


 


Liguori also won Tuesday night’s 15-lap Midwest feature event at Twin Cities Raceway Park in North Vernon, Ind. Liguori trailed Cottongim for the first four laps, then led the final 11 laps in his C & R Racing Beast. Ronnie Wuerdeman finished second ahead of Simpson, Cottongim and Kent Kriegbaum.


 


Scott Hunter of Milford, Mich. led all but one lap to win Wednesday night’s USAC Carolina Ford Focus feature at Concord Motorsports Park in North Carolina. Steven Intravaia finished second and was trailed by Eric Coomes, Chris Lamb and Rick Fedrizzi. Coomes was the fastest qualifier. Frankoski continues to lead the series standings with a return to Concord slated July 29. Hunter led laps 1-6, Fedrizzi led lap 7 and Hunter then led the rest of the way for the win.