STOCKTON, California — Nik Romano remains the driver everyone is chasing in the USAC California Pavement Ford Focus Car Series, following Round 16 at Stockton 99 Speedway. The Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle race pilot captured the pole position and finished on the podium at the ¼-mile, extending his championship lead to 50 points.
"Nik took to this track like a duck to a new pond."— Ron Sutton
Despite Romano having never previously visited the Stockton 99 Speedway oval in California, the talented teenager wasted little time getting up to speed. Piloting the No. 42 Dr. Glass Reactor Repair/Romold Precision Molding/Romano Cosmetic Surgery/Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle USAC Ford Focus Midget, Romano was among the drivers to watch in practice, regularly posting times under the lap record. That trend continued during his three-lap qualifying run, with Romano capturing the pole position via a new lap record of 13.533.
With the field inverted from qualifying, the RSWC driver started his lone Heat race from the rear of the field. Romano got a superb launch when the green flag waved, executed a bold three-wide pass through turns one and two to take the lead. Unfortunately, series officials felt it was not a clean start, thus re-setting the field for another start. When the flag waved for a second time, the Atherton, Calif., driver did not get the jump he desired, getting caught up in traffic. Running a clean race, Romano eventually crossed the stripe in third place. The subsequent four-lap Trophy Dash race featured a similar outcome, with Romano once again battling traffic en route to a third place finish.
Romano returned to the driver’s seat of his USAC Ford Focus midget car a short time later, ready to challenge for top honors in the 40-lap Feature race. Romano got away cleanly when the green flag waved, quickly working his way into the top-five. Continuing to advance up the scoring charts, the California teenager was in fourth when the rear panhard bar snapped on his car. While the mechanical failure hampered the car’s handling, Romano was able to continue racing, remaining in fourth place. The order however soon changed when Romano’s Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle teammate Bobby Runyan was involved in an incident while battling for second place. Fortunate to avoid the two-car collision, Romano found himself in second place entering the closing stages of the race. Continuing to battle an ill-handling car from the incident, Romano attempted several passes for the lead, but was unable to make any pass for position stick. Just prior to the checkered flag waving, the RSWC development driver relinquished second place, crossing the stripe in third place.
“Nik took to this track like a duck to a new pond,” stated Ron Sutton. “He broke the track record by almost two tenths in qualifying. He has a strong lead on the championship right now.”
Romano and the Ron Sutton Winner’s Circle USAC Ford Focus Midget team continue their pursuit of the USAC California Pavement Ford Focus Car Series title with return visit to the newly repaved Stockton 99 Speedway on October 24th. Romano enters the Round 17 event with a sizeable 50 point lead (858-808) in the championship fight.
For direct contact, please email Nik Romano at nromano210@aol.com
