USAC, UMARA Partnership Strengthens Through Additional Focus Campaign

USAC, UMARA Partnership Strengthens Through Additional Focus Campaign

Indianapolis
Mar 16, 2007

USAC and UMARA have strengthened their partnership with the addition of a developmental Ford Focus Midget Car Series for the 2007 season.

The two series, which will co-sanction several Regional Midget Car Series races this year after a successful 2006 campaign, will launch the USAC/UMARA Ford Focus Midget Car Series program beginning June 2 at Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Ill.

Ford Focus Midgets will compete in the same program with the UMARA Sportsman Series, which features older Midgets and similar specifications. The two series will compete in separate heat races, but will compete in the same feature, similar to sports car racing and therefore producing two winners in the race – one from the Sportsman Series class, and the other from the Focus class.

Once the Ford Focus car count grows to a dozen cars, the cars will compete in a separate feature in addition to possibly running in the Sportsman class, thus giving drivers two races to compete in on a given evening.

A USAC/UMARA Ford Focus Midget Car Series champion will also be crowned at the end of the season.

“We are excited about our Ford Focus Series partnership with UMARA, ” said Ford Focus Midget National Coordinator Eric Bunn. “Not only is it good for the Focus series, but it gives UMARA its own development series, helping them continue the UMARA tradition of Midget racing that began in 1945. ”

Added Steve Thinnes, UMARA President:

“Midget racing has proven to be a stepping stone into many different forms of professional racing, and this program adds steps for competitors to be involved in racing successfully. UMARA is committed to the enhancement of driver excellence and sportsmanship, and looks forward to the ever-growing partnership with USAC and more specifically, in this case, to the Ford Focus program. ”

Added Rollie Helmling, USAC President/CEO:

“UMARA and its fine cars and drivers have been great to partner with. They always supported our races at Milwaukee and the Regional Midget Car Series. This is a great example of the continued effort USAC and all Midget sanctioning bodies are putting forth in order to build and grow the sport of Midget racing. ”