ATHERTON, California — 19 year-old NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified rookie Nik Romano took home his first career main event win after an electric finish on Saturday night at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif.
The standout driver races for Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle driver development team based in nearby Sacramento, Calif. The recent addition of veteran NASCAR Nationwide Series crew chief Scott Rodgers to the team has paid off with two back to back wins.
Romano slipped past the spinning leader coming out of turn four and crossed the line in second place, but was credited with the feature win after a rough driving penalty was awarded to the winner.
In qualifying, Romano timed in seventh fastest with a 14.352 second lap around the one-third mile asphalt oval. After finishing fourth in his 10 lap heat race, the stage was set with Romano starting sixth for the 40 lap feature.
Romano moved into fifth by lap four, and fourth on lap 13. The 2009 Ford Focus Midget Series champion ran comfortably in fourth until lap 30 when he began to reel in the leaders.
On a restart with eight to go, the top-two cars tangled to bring out the yellow and move Romano into second.
Romano was shuffled back to third with two to go, as the leaders raced hard ahead of him. When the leaders made contact, the entire crowd of nearly 1500 fans was brought to their feet.
By giving himself a comfortable separation, Romano had room to dive underneath the spinning lead car coming through turns three and four. Romano’s win is the 14th in 2010 for the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle racing team.
The win also boosted Romano to sixth in the All American Speedway Modified points.
“We are all very proud of Nik for getting his first Modified win,” driver coach Ron Sutton said. “Nik has won races and championships in a variety of series with our program. He kept his cool under wild circumstances and showed that he has what it takes to win many more races in his path to a NASCAR career!”
Nik Romano Racing and Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle thank partners: Dr. John Romano Cosmetic Surgery, ROMOLD, MTFX Graphics, Dr. Glass, Bretco Trucking, K&N Filters, Scribner Plastics, Allstar Performance, Sunoco Race Fuels and Star Racing Supply.
Nik Romano Racing is online at www.nikromano.com
For more information on Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle, log on to www.winners-circle-racing.com
About Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle:
Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle is an established talent scout and development program, providing long term, comprehensive racing and career development for up and coming drivers focused on NASCAR careers. RSWC drivers are raced, coached, groomed, trained and molded, within a professional racing environment, into what top NASCAR teams look for when hiring drivers. Drivers involved in the program race in a variety of cars, including USAC Young Guns Focus Midgets, USAC Ford Focus Midgets, NASCAR Grand American Modifieds, NASCAR Late Model stock cars and NASCAR Grand National stock cars.
