USAC
FF: Nik Romano 2009 season wrap-up
ROMANO WRAPS UP SEASON WITH 2009 USAC CALIFORNIA PAVEMENT FORD FOCUS CAR SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle standout won twice and finished second in eight races SACRAMENTO, CALIF. (December 10, 2009) -- When Nik Romano first ...
Edited: Dec 21, 2009, 5:39 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
ROMANO WRAPS UP SEASON WITH 2009 USAC CALIFORNIA PAVEMENT FORD FOCUS CAR SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP
Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle standout won twice and finished second in eight races
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. (December 10, 2009) -- When Nik Romano first got behind the wheel of his USAC Ford Focus Midget at the start of the 2009 season he had two objectives, win races and capture the USAC California Pavement Ford Focus Car Series title. The Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle development driver showcased why he is one of the rising stars in oval racing doing just that, ending his rookie season of Ford Focus Midget competition as the series champion and a two-time feature race winner.
Romano, having enjoyed a highly successful inaugural season in the Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle program -- winning both the 2008 SCCA San Francisco Region Formula Ford Rookie of the Year and Championship titles -- returned to the prestigious driver development program in 2009 racing a USAC Ford Focus Midget for the first time. The transition from road racing to oval track racing proved a relatively easy affair for Romano, as the Atherton, Calif., native immediately showed good speed and skill, finishing fourth and leading several laps in his USAC California Pavement Ford Focus Car Series debut at Havasu 95 Speedway. This proved to be just the start of what ultimately would be yet another championship-winning season for the 19 year-old race driver. By the end of the month of May, Romano had established himself as a leading candidate for the series title, thanks to three runner-up finishes in the first six Feature races and a Heat race win.
Gaining confidence and learning every time he got behind the wheel of the No. 42 Dr. Glass Reactor Repair/Romold Precision Molding/Romano Cosmetic Surgery/Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle USAC Ford Focus Midget, the former Micro Sprints winner and Quarter Midget champion continued his championship charge throughout the months of June, July and August with top finishes. Romano, racing on a variety of 1/3-mile, 1/4-mile and 3/8-mile ovals, finished second an impressive six times in a row, eight times total, in 10 races, adding a Heat race win, Dash race win and two quick times in qualifying for good measure.
Romano kept the momentum going in the final three races of 2009 campaign, with a pair of superb performances, winning at Stockton 99 Speedway and Madera Speedway. Propelling himself to the championship title, the second-year RSWC driver won both races in California, leading 53 of 70 laps. Romano was officially confirmed as the USAC California Pavement Ford Focus Car Series one race later, when he crossed the stripe in fourth place at the prestigious Turkey Night Grand Prix.
Setting the stage for what many believe will be a career in NASCAR, Romano ended the 2009 season with two Feature race wins, two Heat race wins, one Dash race win, nine runner-up finishes, three top qualifiers and having led four races for 70 laps.
"Nik Romano is a champion short and simple," declared Ron Sutton. 'He is always up front, regardless of what he races. We are proud he won his second championship in a row in our development program. We are very excited about racing Nik in NASCAR Grand American Modifieds in 2010. This is no bold prediction when I say look for him in Victory Lane and contending for the Championship. That is what Nik Romano does."
With the 2009 race season now complete, Romano and the Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle squad will take a short break before commencing preparations for the 2010 race season.
-credit: nrPR
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article RACE: SCCA announces Runoffs qualification changes
Next article Andy Belmont Racing signs Nick Igdalsky
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
Latest news
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
2 h
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
2 h
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 2 h
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
Daniel Suarez will return to Spire Motorsports for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
3 h
Daniel Suarez will return to Spire Motorsports for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe