FF: National Championship summary

FACCINTO, SCELZI EARN NATIONAL TITLE, PLACE ON HENRY FORD SWEEPSTAKES TROPHY

Michael Faccinto of Hanford, Calif. and the Gary Scelzi Motorsports racing team are the 2006 USAC National Ford Focus racing champions and their names will be engraved on the Henry Ford Sweepstakes Trophy. They will also be honored during ceremonies at the USAC "Night of Champions" Jan. 19 in Indianapolis. The 2006 National Championship was presented by BDP International.

Faccinto won Thursday night's 50-lap National Championship finale at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway in the Scelzi Enterprises/Village Tire Beast. Coupled with his fourth-place finish behind winner Nic Faas Nov. 18 at Ventura, Calif., the victory left him with 16 more points than runner-up Nick Wean and 17 more than Florida and Northeast champion Ryan Smith.

Smith finished second at Irwindale and was followed by Levi Roberts, California pavement titlist Tim Skoglund and Alison MacLeod. Roberts led the first 43 laps and Faccinto, who was also the fastest qualifier, led the final seven.

<pre> FINAL USAC NATIONAL FORD FOCUS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (Presented by BDP International)

1.  Michael Faccinto    97
2.  Nick Wean           81
3.  Ryan Smith          80
4.  Nic Faas            75
5.  Tim Skoglund        72
6.  James Robertson     55
7.  Bobby Michnowicz    52
8.  Levi Roberts        52
9.  Ginny Quinones      49
10. Brett Engstrom      43
10. Alison MacLeod      43

-credit: usac