FF: CP: 2005 first pavement race preview

California Focuses Debut at Blythe Saturday

The USAC California Ford Focus Midget Car Series enters a new era Saturday at Blythe, Calif., the first of 11 races comprising the new 2005 "pavement" series. The California focuses will compete for pavement and dirt track titles as opposed to the north-south split of 2004.

Saturday's race is the first for USAC at the 1/3-mile Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway and will kick off the 2005 California Focus campaign. A 30-lap feature is on tap.

Bradley Galedrige of Los Altos, Calif. won last year's North title and finished second in the South standings, while Chris Rahe of Placentia, Calif. won the 2004 South title and finished second in the north points. Rahe notched feature wins, while Galedrige won four times, including the prestigious National race at the Belleville (Kans.) High Banks.

Other drivers who posted California Ford Focus victories in 2004 included Josh Lakatos of Pasadena, Calif., Bobby McGowan of San Diego, Calif., Greg Bragg of Visalia, Calif., Bobby Michnowicz of Harbor City, Calif. and lady drivers Audra Sasselli of Fresno, Calif. and Ashley Swanson of Wildomar, Calif.

Practice is scheduled from 1-3 pm, followed by qualifying at 3:30. An autograph session follows at 5:15 pm and racing starts at 6.

The 2005 USAC California Ford Focus dirt-track series opens Marsh 12 at Bakersfield, Calif.

--USAC--