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Wednesday, 25 March 2009

HISTORIC TAMPA WEEKEND

PRODUCED USAC’S YOUNGEST-EVER FEATURE WINNERS!

 


Last weekend’s racing action at the Ambassador Racing School circuit near Tampa, Fla. ushered in a new era of United States Auto Club racing and the historic weekend produced the youngest feature winners in the 53-year history of the organization!



The Easern District Championships organized by USAC and the Tampa Bay Quarter Midget Racing Association were streamed live to a world-wide audience through USAC’s website and class race winners received their distinctive championship medals from one of USAC’s greatest drivers ever – Tampa’s own Dave Steele, who served as the event’s Grand Marshal.



In retrospect, the weekend offered many “firsts” but foremost were the victories scored by the youngsters, including seven-year-old Danny Sams of North Port, Fla. (Junior Honda) and seven-year-old Braden Nash of Wimauma, Fla. (Junior Rookie). Other class champions were 10-year-old Cooper Clouse of Ohio City, Ohio (Light 160), 12-year-old Ross Rankine of Willard, Ohio (World Formula Light, AA Light and Senior Honda), 14-year-old Josh Daugherty of Pendleton, Ind. (World Formula Heavy), 14-year-old Cheyne Hammond of Apollo Beach, Fla. (Heavy 160) and 14-year-old Emmy Gray of Plainfield, Ind. (AA Heavy and Heavy Honda).



“I think the weekend proved beneficial to all involved as USAC took its initial steps into the world of .25 Midget racing,” says USAC Developmental Racing Director James Spink. “The racing was great, the kids and their parents thoroughly enjoyed the experience and appreciated Dave Steele’s presence and influence. It was a win-win weekend for sure and we look forward to our continued involvement in this very rewarding arena.”



USAC’s .25 Midget operations now focus on the April 4-5 weekend at the Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway. The .25 Midgets compete on Saturday morning prior to that night’s Jegs Crown USAC Mopar National Midget and Ford Focus races, then resume action on Sunday at 10:30 am at the CMS facility, which plays host to the Buckeye Quarter Midget Club.