#4p - Josh Lakatos (Pasadena, CA)

First Chili Bowl Appearance

While 2004 will be Josh Lakatos' first official Chili Bowl outing, Lakatos got a taste of the Chili Bowl Nationals in the 2003 Ford Focus exhibition races and Midget Race of Champions at the Chili Bowl.

Lakatos won the Thursday feature and finished fourth in Friday's event to earn the tenth and final starting position in the Midget Race of Champions, in which he finished third against some of the sport's biggest names.

Lakatos had a strong 2003 season in the USAC Ford Focus Midgets on the West Coast, winning the Ford Focus South championship and placing third in Ford Focus North points.

Lakatos picked up a handful of Ford Focus feature wins along the way, including victories at Perris, Stockton, Bakersfield, Irwindale and Madera.

Lakatos, a former Olympic medallist in sharp-shooting, has teamed with the Pace Brothers for his first run at the O'Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.

Car Owner:  Dan & Scott Pace

Chassis:  Beast

Engine:  Pink Ford

Sponsors:  Pace Brothers Construction, Pace Brothers Self Storage, Mid-State Painting

Photo:  Josh Lakatos won the 2003 USAC Ford Focus South championship in California.  (Photo courtesy of Palmer Berger II)