Nine Racing 2011 Season Set to Kick-Off
Laguna Beach, California (May 23, 2011) — In the days leading up to the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, the Nine Racing, Inc. drivers will also be busy participating in a variety of USAC-sanctioned events in and around Indianapolis.
On Wednesday evening, May 25, 14-year-old Ross Rankine, of New London, Ohio, will make his USAC Midwest Ford Focus Pavement Series debut at the Bryant Heating & Cooling Indianapolis Speedrome while driving the #9 Ford Focus Midget.
“Ross tested well recently at the Speedrome in between rain showers and it did not take him long to begin running competitive lap times,” said Nine Racing Team Owner Steve Lewis. “We are very much looking forward to working with Ross this season as he has made the commitment to run each and every Midwest Ford Focus Pavement event.”
Joining Ross at the Speedrome on Wednesday evening will be Ireland’s Ali Jackson, who will make his USAC D1 Midget Series (Regional Midget Series) debut in the #9 Midget. Ali has acquired much high-level racing experience in a short period of time since his karting championship days, including the Formula 3 Pacific and Europe series and Firestone Indy Lights Series. “Ali is an experienced open wheel road race driver and he, too, tested well at the Speedrome and is eager to start the season on Wednesday evening,” added Steve Lewis.
Two more drivers will make their 2011 Nine Racing debuts at the prestigious Night Before the 500 event at Lucas Oil Raceway on Saturday night, May 28. Kyle Hamilton and Levi Roberts have been signed to run in USAC National Midget Pavement Series events this season for Nine Racing, Inc.
Kyle Hamilton, of Danville, Indiana, will be behind the wheel of the #9 midget. Kyle has vast open wheel Ford Focus, Regional Midget and National Midget experience as well as earning championships in Regional Ford Focus Midget and Regional Midget series. Kyle ran for the first time with the Nine Racing team at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale at the 2010 Turkey Night Grand Prix where he qualified on the front row and finished an admirable fourth.
“We are very much looking forward to working with Kyle this season as he has signed on to compete in all the USAC National Midget Pavement Series events with our Nine Racing team,” said Steve Lewis.
Joining Kyle for the Night Before The 500 Midget race is Levi Roberts, of Broomfield, Colorado, who is an experienced USAC driver with plenty of national racing experience. Levi is currently ranked 9th in USAC National Midget Series points.
“Levi has demonstrated in the past three years that he has the ability to run up front with a number of excellent finishes in USAC National events both on dirt and pavement,” commented Steve Lewis. “We are very pleased to have Levi on board for a number of USAC National Pavement Series events for 2011.”
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.
AliJackson
Ireland’s Ali Jackson will make his first Nine Racing midget appearance on Wednesday, May 25, at the Bryant Heating & Cooling Indianapolis Speedrome in the USAC D1 Midget Series.
Kyle Hamilton
After earning a commendable fourth-place finish at the 2010 Turkey Night Grand Prix in the #9 midget of Nine Racing, Kyle Hamilton returns to the team to drive 10 events in the USAC National Midget Pavement Series, beginning with the Night Before the 500 event on Saturday, May 28.
RossRankine
After earning many honors and wins in quarter midget racing, 14-year-old Ross Rankine moves up the ladder in his racing career to drive the #9 Ford Focus Midget for Nine Racing this season, beginning with the first race of the season in the USAC Midwest Ford Focus Pavement Series at the Bryant Heating & Cooling Indianapolis Speedrome on Wednesday, May 25.
Levi Roberts
Levi Roberts joins the Nine Racing stable to participate in several USAC National Midget Pavement Series events in 2011. Levi is already in 9th place in the 2011 USAC National Midget Series points standings..
