MARTZ CLOSES MIDWEST FOCUS TITLE BID WHILE RAY TAKES ANOTHER ANDERSON VICTORY

INDIANAPOLIS – Tate Martz of Rushville, Ind. defended his USAC Midwest Ford
Focus Midget Car Series championship Sunday at the Anderson (Ind.) Speedway,
finishing second in the final series points race for the 2005 season.

Martz, who claimed last year’s title by a slim 40-point margin, won six
times this season and finished 222 points ahead of series runner-up
Stephanie Mockler. Overall, Martz never finished outside the Top 5 in any of
the 18 contested Midwest features.

The champion shared the afternoon with a former and current champion –
Robbie Ray of Davenport, Iowa. Three weeks after wrapping up the National
Ford Focus championship with a victory at the quarter-mile, Ray won his
second straight race at Anderson and third overall, taking the 40-lap
feature. The Iowan swiped the lead from Casey Riggs on Lap 7 and led the
remainder of the way in his All-American Driver’s Challenge/Calico Coatings
Beast, beating Martz, James Robertson, Riggs and Mockler. Ray is the only
other Midwest titlist, taking the championship in 2003.

Riggs, as well as Jon Randall and Kyle Robbins, were victorious in Saturday’
s preliminary heat races. Robertson set fast time in Saturday’s
qualifications.

Trailing Martz and Mockler in the final series point standings were
Robertson, Robbins and Jimmy Light.


MIDWEST FORD FOCUS MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.	Tate Martz		1,164
2.	Stephanie Mockler	942
3.	James Robertson	861
4.	Kyle Robbins	809
5.	Jimmy Light		749
6.	Josh Clemons	674
7.	Brandon Wagner	603
8.	Adam Kramer		582
9.	Derek Fisher	537
10.	Ronnie Wuerdeman	515