INDIANAPOLIS -- 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/Pit Stop Bar-B-Q & Grill 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.


USAC MIDWEST FORD FOCUS SERIES POINT STANDINGS

1-Joe Liguori-994, 2-Jimmy Simpson-933, 3-Tyler Cottongim-910, 4-Kent Kriegbaum-605, 5-Michael May-377, 6-Zach Kanizer-304, 7-Tyler Trainor-296, 8-Chris Lamb-258, 9-Tanner Whitten-240, 10-Adam Wilsdon-235.

USAC CALIFORNIA PAVEMENT FORD FOCUS SERIES POINT STANDINGS

1-Nick Romano-601, 2-Cody Gerhardt-576, 3-Jeff Oleen-541, 4-Zach Stout-465, 5-Michael J. Lewis-379, 6-Garrett Peterson-362, 7-Eric Gunderson-325, 8-J.R. Williams-316, 9-Luis Ramos III-251, 10-Connor Kassik-251.

USAC CALIFORNIA DIRT FORD FOCUS SERIES POINT STANDINGS

1-Brody Roa-528, 2-Sean-Mikael Dodenhoff-507, 3-Cody Swanson-456, 4-Jet Davison-454, 5-Nick Carlson-437, 6-Nick Rossi-418, 7-Kevin Michnowicz-378, 8-Eric Gunderson-320, 9-Connor Kassik-309, 10-Bobby Michnowicz-290.

USAC UTAH FORD FOCUS SERIES POINT STANDINGS

1-Kipp Posey-356, 2-Austin Luttmer-245 ,3-Chuck Groat-245, 4-Gregg Fuette-236, 5-Mike Daniels-227, 6-Cody Gerhardt-187, 7-Bob Brewer-182, 8-Eric Gunderson-179, 9-Michael J. Lewis-178, 10-J.R. Williams-170.

USAC CAROLINA FORD FOCUS SERIES POINT STANDINGS

1-Jeremy Frankoski-303, 2-Scott Hunter-286,3-Steven Intravaia-263, 4-Eric Coomes-261, 5-Shane MacMillan-243, 6-Chris Lamb-214, 7-Michael Sboro-212, 8-Bryce Burden-196, 9-Tim Craver-183, 10-Scott Gordon-166.

USAC/UMARA FORD FOCUS SERIES POINT STANDINGS

1-Joe Liguori-486, 2-Jimmy Simpson-462, 3-Tyler Cottongim-442, 4-Tyler Trainor-391, 5-Tanner Whitten-367, 6-Kent Kriegbaum-210, 7-Bob Adams-138, 8-Michael May-128, 9-Zach Kanizer-98, 10-Adam Wilsdon-59.

USAC JUNIOR FORD FOCUS SERIES POINT STANDINGS

1-Kyle Edwards-809, 2-Andrew Murray-728, 3-Taylor Ferns-475, 4-Dennis Simunovich-432, 5-Alex Jacobsen-355, 6-Ethan Quinn-346, 7-Tanner Kershaw-322, 8-Casey Martinez-269, 9-Winn Frazin-262, 10-Logan Williams-252.