FF: MW: Schedule for 2006 released

THIRTEEN POINT RACES HIGHLIGHT MIDWEST FORD FOCUS PAVEMENT SCHEDULE

INDIANAPOLIS -- Thirteen point-paying features will make up the 2006 USAC Midwest Ford Focus Pavement Schedule, released today.

The schedule will see races in six states, including Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa. Four of the 11 tracks hosting points-paying races will host their first Ford Focus race.

Columbus Motor Speedway will entertain the series' season-opener May 20. The quarter-mile tracks in Anderson, Ind. and Cedar Rapids, Iowa will be the series' only duplicate visits, as both host two races on the schedule. Anderson's Oct. 8 date will close the season for the series.

Tracks hosting their first races include Madison International Speedway (Oregon, Wis.), Lorain Speedway (South Amherst, Ohio), Galesburg Speedway (Galesburg, Mich.) and Dixie Motor Speedway (Birch Run, Mich.).

South Bend (Ind.) Motor Speedway makes its first Midwest schedule appearance since 2003 on June 14, while the cars return July 8 to Kentucky Speedway in a combined effort with the Carolina/Virginia series.

Two special-event, non-points races are scheduled for Dec. 29-30 at the Ft. Wayne (Ind.) Memorial Coliseum.

"We couldn't be more pleased with our first all Pavement Midwest Focus schedule," said National Coordinator Eric Bunn. "These are some of the best paved short tracks in the country. We're looking forward to racing at the same quality of racing facilities when we release our dirt series schedule."

Tate Martz of Rushville, Ind. is the series' two-time defending champion.

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