Sonoma, CA - Fernando Ribeiro, the brother of Brazilian Formula One star Alex Ribeiro, picked up two wins during Round One of the USAC Formula Russell Championship at Sears Point Raceway. Starting third, Riberio was able to move into the lead and was never challenged in the first race after pole sitter Tyler McQuarrie's car was side lined with a mechanical problem. In his second race, Ribeiro took over the lead from polesitter Jury Swanson on the first lap and maintained at least a three second cushion for the entire race.

The USAC Formula Russell Championship is a "spec series" featuring the Formula Russell race car. It consists of nine race weekends with multiple heat races on Saturday and Sunday, run one weekend each month starting in February and continuing until October. The top three drivers in the series will represent the United States team of the Russell organization at the Jim Russell World Scholarship in November at England's historic Donington Park. The winner of the scholarship receives a fully funded season of racing in the 1999 Formula Vauxhall Junior Series in England. Along with a free trip to Indianapolis to the USAC awards banquet to receive a national title, the series champion receives sponsorship in the 1999 Russell/USAC Triple Crown Pro-Series.