TYLER NUCKLES CARRIES COLUMBUS BANNER INTO NATIONAL FORD FOCUS FINALS AT CMS


Tyler Nuckles will uphold the Columbus, Ohio banner Saturday when he competes for the 2009 USAC National Ford Focus Pavement championship at his family’s Columbus Motor Speedway. The race is part of the track’s JEGS Crown Midget Super Nationals, which also features USAC Mopar National Midget and USAC .25 Midget racing.


 


Nuckles, the son of former USAC racer Jeff Nuckles and nephew of former USAC racer Jerry Nuckles, both principals in the operation of Columbus Motor Speedway, is a freshman at The Ohio State University and a two-time Quarter Midget National Champion. He has competed in legend cars, modifieds and The Super Cup Stock Car Series and he has won six of the nine SCSCS races he’s started in 2009! A week ago he was crowned the SCSCS Champion after a victory at Lonesome Pine Speedway in Virginia.


 


Growing up in the Nuckles family helped Tyler see first hand what it takes to own and operate a speedway as well as race teams and cars. This unique perspective has afforded him a well-rounded and profound understanding of the motorsports industry.


 


Tyler will challenge the best Ford Focus racers in America, including 2009 USAC Midwest and UMARA Champion Joe Liguori of Tampa, Fla. and 2009 USAC Carolina Focus point leader Jeremy Frankoski of Huntersville, N.C.


 


Nuckles hopes to follow in the footsteps of USAC’s previous National Ford Focus Champions, Alex Bowman (2008), James Robertson (2007), Michael Faccinto (2006) and Robbie Ray (2005). A victory Saturday would get his name emblazoned on the permanent Henry Ford Sweepstakes Trophy.


 


A graduate of quarter midget racing, Tyler will pilot a Stealth car fielded by Eric Rankine of Willard, Ohio, who will also compete in a team car. Tyler’s racing hero is Ryan Newman, who himself competed at CMS last year and Tyler’s car number Saturday will be #39.