FF: CP/CD: Irwindale Pavement wrapup, Dirt preview

HARRIS LOOKS FOR DIRT MAGIC AFTER FOURTH STRAIGHT CALIFORNIA PAVEMENT FOCUS WIN

Alex Harris of Simi Valley, Calif. looks to bump his 2005 winning percentage to over .500 this weekend -- only this time on dirt -- as the California Ford Focus cars return to the mudslinging surfaces. Harris will look for his third straight Focus win after he won yet again Saturday in California Ford Focus Midget Car Series competition, winning for the third time at the Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway.

Harris, driving the No. 54 West Valley Grinding/Quality Community Homes TCR/Ford Focus, led all 35 laps in Saturday's victory at Irwindale after setting fifth quick time. He led series points leader Sasselli, Bobby Owens, Benny Moon and fast qualifier Jace Meier across the stripe.

Sasselli's second-place finish, however, helped her in maintaining a 32-point lead in the pavement standings over last year's Rookie of the Year, Chase Barber. She leads the dirt campaign by 24 points over Todd Carroll.

Back-to-back events Friday at Watsonville (Calif.) Speedway and Saturday at Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif. are next on the schedule. Harris is one of five drivers who have notched victories on the California Ford Focus Dirt series this season. Other drivers include 2004 South champ Chris Rahe, Bobby Michnowicz, Rob Kershaw and Sasselli. <pre> CALIFORNIA FORD FOCUS DIRT MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS 1. Audra Sasselli 268 2. Todd Carroll 244 3. Robbie Whitchurch 240 4. Jet Davison 227 5. Chase Barber 226 6. Cal Smith 226 7. Alex Harris 219 8. Chris Veach 216 9. Keith Janca 188 10. Bret Engstrom 179

CALIFORNIA FORD FOCUS PAVEMENT MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS 1. Audra Sasselli 296 2. Chase Barber 264 3. Alex Harris 262 4. Robbie Whitchurch 233 5. Benny Moon 209 6. Steve Davis 201 7. Matt Triplett 190 8. Darrell Herzog 174 9. J.R. Williams 172 10. Jace Meier 170

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