Lewis has fast start to 2010

Laguna Beach’s Michael Lewis sped into the 2010 race season by setting quick time at Tucson Raceway Park’s 3/8-mile paved oval Jan. 1 for the track’s special USAC Ford Focus event. Lewis and his Western Speed Ford Focus team started off strong as he and teammate Cody Gerhardt qualified first and second, respectively.

USAC officials and the track promoter agreed to change the original program from a 30-lap feature event to two 20-lap features. In the first 20-lap feature, Lewis started sixth and got to the front quickly, winning the event.

“This is a fast track and it was fun for me to be able to put the car anywhere I wanted and it kept going faster,” Lewis said in a release. “Kevin gave me a perfect car that handled great all through the 20-lap feature.”

For the second 20-lap feature, Lewis again started sixth and after a frantic first few laps the field settled down and he fell in behind teammate Gerhardt in third place.

The next few weeks will be busy for Lewis as he will move to Europe in preparation to race full-time in the Formula BMW Europe series.

“The Formula BMW Europe Collective Team Tests start the first week of March, where we will be able to test two days at every track we will be visiting during the season,” Lewis said. “I am excited about this opportunity to race in Europe, not only for myself but for the sponsor team that will be coming on board.”

Lewis will stay busy both on and off the track as he will continue his freshman year collegiate education in an online program with California State University, Fullerton. At the conclusion of the Formula BMW Europe season in early September, Lewis will return home to Laguna Beach and finish up the 2010 season participating in the remaining races on the USAC California Pavement Ford Focus schedule.

“” From Staff Reports