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Ford Focus Champ Rankine Seeks Full House At Ace Speedway USAC Event |
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Brownsburg, Indiana (March 20, 2012) — 2011 USAC Midwest Focus Midget Pavement Champion Ross Rankine seeks to continue his winning streak from last season as he kicks off the 2012 USAC Focus Midget Pavement season in less than two weeks at the 4/10-mile Ace Speedway, in Altamahaw, North Carolina, March 30–31.
Earning three main event wins and a total of eight podiums in the 12-race USAC Midwest Focus Midget Pavement Series last year, including the Focus Midget portion of the prestigious Turkey Night Grand Prix event at Irwindale Speedway, Ross will again compete in the #9 Focus Midget of Nine Racing, which is the same car that he drove to the 2011 championship.
"I am looking forward to getting back in my Ford Focus Midget to race in North Carolina and start the season off strong,” said Ross Rankine. “My crew chief Glenn Martin has been working very hard getting my car ready for this first race and I look forward to the challenge of racing with the North Carolina drivers."
"We are very pleased to have Ross Rankine back with our Nine Racing team for the 2012 season,” added Steve Lewis, Nine Racing team owner. “The USAC Ford Focus Series is an ideal place for young drivers to showcase their talents. It is good to see that USAC has scheduled many of the Ford Focus events with the National USAC pavement events.”
Ross has committed to a full season of Ford Focus racing with the Nine Racing team that begins with the two-day show occurring at Ace Speedway at the end of March.
Ross Rankine’s sponsor lineup for 2012 includes National Pride Equipment, Eibach Springs, MPD, Bell Helmets, Colors by Barr, and 4 Paws Pet Wash.
Nine Racing’s 2012 sponsor lineup includes K&N Engineering, Eibach Springs, Weld Racing, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Penske Racing Shocks, Performance Friction Brakes, ASE, Earl’s Performance Plumbing, SSi Decals, PJ1, and Hoosier Racing Tire. |
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ROSS RANKINE WINS FORD FOCUS MIDGET FEATURE AT PRESTIGIOUS TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX |
Irwindale, California (November 25, 2011) — Ross Rankine capped off a stellar season by earning the much coveted rite of claiming a feature win at the 71st running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix.
Ross took the checkered flag driving the #9 Nine Racing Ford Focus Midget in the 40-lap USAC Western Pavement Ford Focus feature at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, in Southern California, on Thursday, November 24.
Ross qualified third fastest for the night, which put him on the outside of the second row to start the race due to an inverted start of the top-six qualifiers. Before the race began, Ross was very confident and willing to be patient to work up to the lead, which didn’t take him very long after the wave of the green flag.
On lap 2 Ross passed for third place and by lap 8 he got inside of car #24 driven by Paul Graham to move into second position. Although only 14 years of age, Ross drove like an established racing veteran by being patient to get the lead.
Ross’s patience paid off when on lap 16 he passed Brodie Kostecki in the #40 Ford Focus Midget to take the lead, however, a caution came out on that lap, which put Ross back to second place. After crossing the start/finish line on lap 19, Ross again got by Brodie, but this time he kept the lead and didn’t give it up, even with several more caution flags during the race. Ross went on to win the race by a straightaway over second-place finisher Nick Drake.
Both Ross and Nick Drake battled for the overall USAC National Ford Focus Series Championship this season, but because Nick finished the race in second, he was able to clinch the championship, with Ross finishing only 12 point behind him in second.
Ross had an amazing race season by claiming a total of five wins, three of them on pavement driving the #9 Ford Focus Midget of Nine Racing, and earning the USAC Midwest Ford Focus Pavement Series title with Nine Racing.
Ross would like to thank his sponsors for their support to help him compete in 2011, which includes National Pride Equipment, Colors by Barr, and 4 Paws Pet Wash.
Nine Racing’s 2011 sponsor lineup includes K&N Engineering, Eibach Springs, Weld Racing, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Penske Racing Shocks, Performance Friction Brakes, ASE, Earl’s Performance Plumbing, SSi Decals, PJ1, and Hoosier Racing Tire. |
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Ross Rankine Grabs Another Second-Place Finish At Indianapolis Speedrome |
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Brownsburg, Indiana (July 7, 2011)
After winning the USAC Midwest Ford Focus Midget feature event at Grundy County Speedway last Saturday night, Ross Rankine arrived at the Bryant Heating & Cooling Indianapolis Speedrome on Wednesday, July 6, with momentum as he sought his first Speedrome Ford Focus Feature win driving the National Pride Equipment sponsored Nine Racing, Inc #9 Ford Focus Midget.
The evening began perfectly for Ross as he started on the front row in his 10-lap heat race and drove away for the win. Ross, who is the current USAC Midwest Ford Focus Series points leader, had to start the 50-lap main event in sixth position because the Speedrome race format requires the current points leader to start the feature in sixth. As the race progressed Ross began passing cars as he moved to the front. With just five laps to go Ross moved into second place and began to run down leader Nick Drake but ran out of time to mount a challenge for the win and earned another second-place finish.
“The car is getting better each week and I am learning how to pass and run quick at the Speedrome,” said Ross Rankine. “It was fun tonight and I want to thank my sponsor National Pride Equipment, which affords me the opportunity to race here at the Speedrome on a weekly basis.”
With another strong showing at the Speedrome, Ross Rankine continues to add to his points lead in the USAC Midwest Ford Focus Midget Series. He now leads James Robertson, who is second in series points, by 139 points. Ross will return to the Speedrome next Tuesday night, July 12, for another run on the tight, 1/5-mile paved oval.
Nine Racing’s 2011 sponsor lineup includes K&N Engineering, Eibach Springs, Weld Racing, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Penske Racing Shocks, Performance Friction Brakes, ASE, Earl’s Performance Plumbing, SSi Decals, PJ1, and Hoosier Racing Tire. |
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Ross Rankine Captures First USAC Midwest Ford Focus Win |
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Brownsburg, Indiana (July 5, 2011)
After consecutive second-place finishes while driving the #9 Ford Focus Midget of Nine Racing, Ross Rankine was able to break through to earn that important first win in the USAC Midwest Ford Focus Pavement Series event on Saturday, July 2, at Grundy County Speedway, in Morris, Illinois.
The New London, Ohio, native "swept" the event by setting quick time in his National Pride Nine Racing #9 Ford Focus Midget tuned by Glenn Martin, winning the heat race and then capturing his first USAC Midwest Ford Focus feature event to cap off the evening. Ross was quick in practice and transferred his speed to qualifying where he topped the charts with a blistering lap time of 15.339 seconds. Ross started his heat race in third and quickly moved to the front to win.
Because USAC inverts the top qualifiers, Ross started the 25-lap Ford Focus main event in third and quickly moved to the front. He took the lead for good on lap five.
"Glenn Martin had the car perfect so it was up to me to get the job done," said Ross Rankine. "I just had to be patient, and as the race progressed, I could see that I had a real advantage. By the fifth lap I was in front. It feels great to get my first USAC Midwest Ford Focus win in my National Pride #9 midget."
"We all knew that Ross would get a win soon as he has been knocking on the door for quite some time," said Nine Racing Team Owner Steve Lewis. "He did a great job at Grundy and used his speed to get by cars to capture his first USAC Midwest Ford Focus feature win. He has really worked hard all season long and has offered very helpful feedback to Glenn Martin, who made all the right adjustments to the race car."
Because of three consecutive top-two finishes, including Saturday's win at Grundy County Speedway, Ross Rankine has taken a commanding lead in the USAC Midwest Ford Focus Pavement Series Championship and now has a 109 point lead over second-place driver James Robertson. Ross returns to the Bryant Heating & Cooling Indianapolis Speedrome on Wednesday, July 6, to continue his run for the 2011 USAC Midwest Ford Focus Pavement Championship.
Nine Racing’s 2011 sponsor lineup includes K&N Engineering, Eibach Springs, Weld Racing, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Penske Racing Shocks, Performance Friction Brakes, ASE, Earl’s Performance Plumbing, SSi Decals, PJ1, and Hoosier Racing Tire.
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