DAVENPORT, IOWA'S RAY TAKES NATIONAL FOCUS TITLE WITH VICTORY

RAY TAKES NATIONAL FOCUS TITLE WITH VICTORY; CAROLINA/VIRGINIA SWEEPS
WEEKEND WITH SCOTT’S LIMA WIN

INDIANAPOLIS – Robbie Ray of Davenport, Iowa, who now resides in Hickory,
N.C., emerged Sunday as the inaugural USAC Ford Focus National champion
following a hard-fought 50-lap victory at the Anderson (Ind.) Speedway, the
finale of the two race swing.

Driving the No. 11 Calico Coatings Beast owned by Tracy Trotter, Ray passed
Brandon Wagner on Lap 43 and was never challenged again to score the victory
and earn a four-point cushion over Californian Chris Veach for the title. It
was the second title for Ray, who topped the 2003 Midwest Ford Focus points
standings.

“We’ve been with USAC for a long time, when my grandfather Ralph was racing
50 years ago,” Ray said. “This victory and championship mean so much to our
family. Words can’t describe what this means to me. I just have to thank
USAC and Ford Racing for putting this together.”

Wagner – who led the opening 42 laps – finished second, ahead of a strong
Northeast contingent, headed by series leader Michael Sboro. Trailing in
fourth and fifth were Ryan Smith and polesitter Stephanie Stevens.

Ray earned a break when four of the Top 5 in points heading into Sunday’s
event failed to make the feature. National and Carolina/Virginia points
leader and Saturday’s winner Chase Scott, Oklahoma regional champion Jasiel
Randolph and California Dirt points leader Chase Barber could not get
through the pack to earn a feature spot, while Derek Fisher scratched after
an accident in his heat race. Scott was the evening’s fast qualifier.

Scott earned the points lead after his victory Saturday at Limaland
Motorsports Park in Lima, Ohio. Piloting the No. 4 Real Race Cars Beast, the
Concord, N.C. native led the final 17 laps to beat Fisher, Veach, Randolph
and Barber. Ray finished 10th.

Scott’s victory was his first career on dirt and launched him ahead of Tate
Martz for most career Ford Focus victories with 16. Martz set Saturday’s
fast time.

Veach’s 106 points in the two-race swing put him four points behind Ray,
while Stephanie Mockler of Westfield, Ind. sat four points in arrears of
Veach. Sboro and Jordan Noblitt rounded out the Top 5 in points.

Overall, 11 drivers competed in both races.

NATIONAL FORD FOCUS MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.	Robbie Ray		110
2.	Chris Veach		106
3.	Stephanie Mockler	102
4.	Michael Sboro	92
5.	Jordan Noblitt	84
6.	Chase Scott		79
7.	Adam Kramer		78
8.	Virginia Quinones	77
9.	Alex Harris		74
10.	Tate Martz		67