DENAIR, California — 17 year-old USAC Ford Focus Western Pavement Midget championship hopeful Bobby Runyan, Jr. positioned himself to not only compete for the Western Pavement title but also the regional USAC SoCal title by finishing second at Orange Show Speedway on Saturday night.
Having already won two races this season, the sophomore member of the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle program was making his 13th start of the busy 2010 campaign aboard the Raging Bull Motorsports / RRC Ford Focus Midget.
After running strong throughout all the practice sessions, Runyan and crew made a change for qualifying that made the race car too tight, leading to only a fifth place qualifying spot.
Starting on the outside front row in the 40 lap feature, it took Runyan just five laps to take over the lead. Runyan accumulated a large lead over the 14 car field before the caution came out on lap 11.
On the restart, Runyan drove away from the field again. USAC Focus Series veteran Michael Lewis, with several wins in 2009, stalked Runyan for most of the race, passing Runyan on lap 29.
Despite losing the lead, Runyan was one of only two cars to run in the 12 second range all race, setting the fast lap of the race at 12.84 on lap 11. Runyan hung tough and kept it close for second position at the finish.
“The car was definitely getting tight, but after speaking with Ron, now I think I could have gotten a little more out of the car and maybe brought home the win,” Runyan said. “But until you are in the situation, you just don't know exactly how to overcome the particular problems you’re presented with. Now I see it, and I'll do better for my team next time!”
Runyan’s finish moved him ahead of Western Pavement rival Cody Gerhardt in the USAC SoCal Ford Focus Midget standings. Runyan is now ranked second in the USAC Western, USAC Western Pavement and USAC SoCal Ford Focus Midget divisions.
“Runs like these are getting us closer and closer to the Western Pavement championship,” driver coach Ron Sutton said. “It’s awesome that Bobby is in the hunt for the championship as a rookie!”
Bobby Runyan, Jr. and the USAC Western Ford Focus Midget series return to action on August 21 at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. The race also pays points for the NorCal division.
Bobby Runyan Racing and Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle thank partners: Raging Bull Motorsports, Sunoco Fuel, Runyan & Runyan Construction, Sparco, Brown Shop Support, Inventory Sales Company, K&N Filters, Scribner Plastics, Allstar Performance, Sunoco Race Fuels and Star Racing Supply.
Race fans can learn more about Bobby Runyan, Jr. Racing at his brand-new website at www.bobbyrunyan.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.
