FF: Nationals finals set for Irwindale

HENRY FORD SWEEPSTAKES TROPHY GOES TO NOVEMBER 27 IRWINDALE FORD FOCUS WINNER

The Henry Ford Sweepstakes Trophy, emblematic of USAC's Ford Focus National Championship, will be presented to the driver who wins the November 27 Ford Focus race in Irwindale, Calif., part of this year's "Turkey Night Grand Prix" festivities.

The event concludes the 2008 calendar of events encompassing 70 races across America. A 30-lap race concludes the Ford Focus program at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, where the USAC National/Western Midgets and Western Sprint cars will also compete.

James Robertson won last year's National Ford Focus title, while Michael Faccinto won the 2006 championship and Robbie Ray won the inaugural crown in 2005.

Point leaders in USAC's 2007 Ford Focus series at present are Alex Bowman of Tucson, Ariz. (California Paved), Walt Johnson of Burbank, Calif. (Californa Dirt), Kyle Hamilton of Danville, Ind. (Midwest and Indiana), Kipp Posey of Lehi, Utah (Utah Developmental), Branden Allen of Yorkville, Ill. (USAC/UMARA) and Bradley Riethmeyer of Hutto, Texas (Carolina).

A total of 455 USAC Ford Focus races have been held across America since the debut in 2002, including 29 at Irwindale. Bowman has won the last two at Irwindale, May 10 and August 2, while Brendan Langlois won at Irwindale in March.

Nic Faas of Huntington Beach, Calif. won last year's "Turkey Night" Ford Focus feature and last week scored his initial USAC/CRA Sprint Car feature victory at Santa Maria, Calif.

The November 27 National Ford Focus Championship race is open to all USAC-licensed Ford Focus participants.

-credit: usac