Ross Rankine Continues Hot Streak With Another Second Place Finish
Brownsburg, Indiana (August 8, 2011) — Ross Rankine, of New London, Ohio, continued his hot streak of earning podium finishes while driving the National Pride Equipment – 4 Paws Pet Wash sponsored Nine Racing #9 Ford Focus Midget at Indiana’s Plymouth Speedway on Friday night, August 5, by earning another second-place finish.
Ross used the two practice sessions to get dialed in for the USAC Midwest Ford Focus Midget event and then he immediately went to work during the qualifying session and posted the fastest time of the night with 13.168 seconds, which featured a full field of 12 Ford Focus drivers.
“Krieg Polland and Billy Wease gave me a really good car tonight so I felt confident about the opportunity to qualify up front,” said Ross Rankine. “I was pleased for my sponsors to be able to record the fast time of the night.”
By setting fast time, Ross lined up for the 100-lap feature in sixth position, as the top six cars are inverted. Immediately after the wave of the green flag, Ross methodically passed cars. As the race progressed, he had a firm grasp on second place and tried valiantly to make a pass to win the race. However, when the checkered flag waved at the end of the 100 laps, Ross again recorded another second-place finish, which added to his points total.
“I was fast all night long and I felt that I had a chance for the win but running second tonight was as far as I could go,” added Ross. “I am pleased with the result and especially excited that I am in the hunt for the National Ford Focus Championship.”
Ross Rankine now leads the USAC Midwest Ford Focus championship with a points total of 742 points, and a 107-point lead over second-place driver James Robertson. Ross Rankine stands second in the National Ford Focus Championship points as he is only 18 points behind current leader Nick Drake.
Ross Rankine’s next race in his National Pride Equipment – 4 Paws Pet Wash Nine Racing #9 Ford Focus Midget will be on Saturday, August 20, at Kalamazoo Speedway in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
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.
Ross Rankine is seen on the left while standing on the podium after earning a second-place finish in the USAC Midwest Ford Focus event at Plymouth Speedway in Plymouth, Indiana, on Friday, August 5. (Photo courtesy of Debi Supan of Coast 2 Coast Racing News.)
