WS: WM: FF: Western schedules released

Western Schedules Encompass More Than 120 Events!

More than 120 events are listed on the preliminary 2005 USAC Western racing schedules announced today.

In addition to the already-released Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Car slate, schedules now have been formulated for the Valvoline Western Sprint Cars, Western Midgets, California Ford Focus Midgets and Rocky Mountain Sprint Cars.

Changes this season will include splitting the California Ford Focus series into Dirt and Paved championships as opposed to the North and South regions employed in 2004.

The "Copper World Classic" at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway opens the 2005 Midget calendar January 29-30, with points awarded to both National and Western participants.

The Western Sprint Cars debut March 5 with the first of three appearances at the Altamont Motorsports Park in Tracy, Calif., while the Rocky Mountain Sprints open with a Western/Rocky Mountain combo at Meridian Speedway near Boise, Idaho April 15-16.

The California Ford Focuses kick off the 2005 season on February 5 with their inaugural event at the paved I-10 Speedway in Blythe, Calif. The 2005 dirt slate opens May 12 at Bakersfield Speedway.

In 2005 Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif. returns to the USAC calendar, hosting the Sprint cars March 26, while tracks in Roseburg, Oregon and Eureka, Calif. host the Sprint cars for the first time and the Wenatchee Valley Super Oval in East Wenatchee, Wash. returns after a year's hiatus.

The Midgets return to Tracy's Altamont Motorsports Park after a long hiatus March 5 and Oct. 22, and visit the brand-new USA Race Park in Tucson, Ariz. June 25 and Oct. 29. Once again, Phoenix, Fountain, Colo., Lincoln, Neb., Belleville, Kans. and year-end events will award both National and Western Midget points.

The Focuses, in addition to the track at Blythe, will make debut appearances at Altamont and Santa Maria, which hosts three races in June and August.

Four of the dozen Rocky Mountain Sprint races, including two at Boise, Ida. and two at Salt Lake City, Utah, will carry additional Western Sprint sanctions.

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