|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
RICHARD VANDER WEERD SPRINTS TO PERRIS VICTORY
By Lance Jennings
JUNE 14, 2016... Taking command at the green flag, Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, California) led all 30 laps to claim Saturday’s Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car feature at Perris Auto Speedway. Becoming the fifth different winner in five races, Vander Weerd earned $2,500 for his efforts and the sixth triumph of his career. Jake Swanson, fast qualifier Stevie Sussex, Brody Roa, and “The Demon” Damion Gardner rounded out the top-five drivers.
Driving the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Richard Vander Weerd has moved into a tie for thirteenth on the series win list with Robert Ballou, Ryan Bernal, Levi Jones, Bud Kaeding, Blake Miller, and Matt Mitchell. The former USAC West Coast Sprint Car Champion began his night by qualifying sixth out of twenty-six racers and taking fourth in his heat race. Also posting two heat race victories, five top-10 finishes, and 51 feature laps led, Richard is second in the standings, just two points behind Brody Roa.
Jake Swanson (Anaheim, California) had a solid night with a second place run at Perris Auto Speedway. Piloting Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Clackamas Rigging & Transfer Victory, Swanson was fifth quick in time trials and scored third in his heat race. The 2012 Rookie of the Year heads to Santa Maria’s “Doug Fort Memorial” ranked third in points with one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, one Brown & Miller Racing Solutions Semi-Main win, and five top-10 finishes.
Making his first start of the season with USAC/CRA, Stevie Sussex (Tempe, Arizona) claimed third at Perris after starting sixth. Racing Mike Burkhart’s #21AZ Stratis Construction / Westin Diversified RSS, Sussex earned the Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and placed fourth in his heat race. The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car regular left USAC/CRA’s “home track” ranked twenty-fifth in the point chase.
Brody Roa (Garden Grove, California) claimed fourth at the checkered flags. Driving the BR Performance owned #91R HD Industries / Lee & Norma Leonard Maxim, Roa qualified third overall and ran second to Logan Williams in his heat race. The point leader heads to Santa Maria with one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and five top-10 finishes to his credit.
“The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, California) scored fifth in the 30-lap main event. Piloting Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / Weld Racing Spike, Gardner was fourth fast in time trials and won the 10-lap Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1. The four-time champion sits fifth in points with two heat race victories, four top-10 finishes and 20 feature laps led on the year.
Verne Sweeney (Lomita, California) earned the night’s BR Motorsports / King Racing Products “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a twelfth place run from twenty-second. Racing Ken Tracy’s #98V Omega Catalytic Converter Recycling Company / Wesco Tubing & Exhaust DRC, Sweeney qualified twenty-fifth overall and ran seventh in his heat race. The former Manzanita CRA feature winner left Perris ranked fifteenth in the point standings.
“The Bear” Jeremy Ellertson (Lawndale, California) raced to victory in the 10-lap DJ Safety Heat Race #2. Driving the family owned #98 Inland Rigging / SC Grafix Racecrafter, Ellertson was fifteenth fast in time trials and scored eighth in the main event. Heading to Santa Maria, Jeremy has climbed to eighth in the championship points.
Debuting a brand new car, Logan Williams (Yorba Linda, California) won the 10-lap Circle Track Performance / Keizer Wheels Heat Race #3. Piloting Jack Jory’s #5 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams qualified sixteenth overall and scored sixteenth in the main event. The 2014 Rookie of the Year sits eleventh in points with one BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Award on the season.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprints will take a break in the schedule before returning to action with a special doubleheader. On Friday, July 1st, the traditional 410 sprints will travel to Mike Kappmeyer’s Santa Maria Raceway in Nipomo, California. The “Doug Fort Memorial” will also feature the Santa Maria 360 Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Sport Mods, and Mini Stocks. For more information, visit www.santamariaraceway.com or call 805.922.2232.
The following night, Saturday July 2nd, the USAC/CRA Sprints will battle at Don Kazarian’s Perris Auto Speedway for the “Firecracker 30.” Also showcasing the popular “Sky Concert,” the event will showcase the PAS Senior Sprints, PAS Young Gun Sprints, and California Lightning Sprints at the "Power of Purple Night" Benefiting the City of Perris Relay For Life and The American Cancer Society. Located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds in Perris, California, more event information can be found at www.perrisautospeedway.com or calling 951.940.0134.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, All Coast Construction, BR Motorsports, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Incorporated, DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Stand 21 Racer Goes Safer Foundation, surfnsprint.com, Ultra Shield Race Products, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, email PR Director Lance Jennings at [email protected].
For more information on USAC/CRA, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC/CRA Facebook and Twitter pages.
Loudpedal Productions has Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
-----------------------------------------------
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS:
June 11, 2016 – Perris, California – Perris Auto Speedway
WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Stevie Sussex, 21AZ, Burkhart-16.781; 2. Trent Williams, 52, Williams-16.850; 3. Brody Roa, 91R, BR-16.944; 4. Damion Gardner, 4, Alexander-16.969; 5. Jake Swanson, 92, Sertich-16.969; 6. Richard Vander Weerd, 10, Vander Weerd-16.981; 7. Max Adams, 5M, Adams-17.121; 8. Jace Vander Weerd, 88, Vander Weerd-17.129; 9. Tommy Malcolm, 5X, Napier-17.186; 10. Mike Spencer, 4S, Gansen-17.253; 11. Austin Williams, 2, Jory-17.271; 12. Ronnie Gardner, 92M, Sertich-17.409; 13. Chris Gansen, 4G, Gansen-17.410; 14. Cody Williams, 44, Jory-17.518; 15. Jeremy Ellertson, 98, Ellertson-17.539; 16. Logan Williams, 5, Jory-17.585; 17. A.J. Bender, 21, Bender-17.595; 18. Andrew Sweeney, 98JR, Tracy-17.885; 19. Anthony Lopiccolo, 36, Springstead-17.959; 20. Tom Hendricks, 14, Hendricks-17.966; 21. Corey Ballard, 20, Ballard-17.979; 22. Eddie Tafoya, 0K, Tafoya-18.099; 23. Tony Everhart, 55, Everhart-18.178; 24. Jeff Dyer, 39, Cal-Sun-18.304; 25. Verne Sweeney, 98V, Tracy-NT; 26. Kyle Edwards, 39E, Edwards-NT.
EXTREME MUFFLERS FIRST HEAT: (10 laps)
1. D.Gardner, 2. Bender, 3. Spencer, 4. Sussex, 5. C.Williams, 6. Hendricks, 7. Everhart, 8. Adams. NT
DJ SAFETY SECOND HEAT: (10 laps)
1. Ellertson, 2. T.Williams, 3. Swanson, 4. R.Gardner, 5. A.Sweeney, 6. Ballard, 7. Dyer, 8. J.Vander Weerd. NT
CIRCLE TRACK PERFORMANCE / KEIZER ALUMINUM WHEELS THIRD HEAT: (10 laps)
1. L.Williams, 2. Roa, 3. Malcolm, 4. R.Vander Weerd, 5. Gansen, 6. Lopiccolo, 7. V.Sweeney. 2:51.49
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Richard Vander Weerd (1st), 2. Jake Swanson (2nd), 3. Stevie Sussex (6th), 4. Brody Roa (4th), 5. Damion Gardner (3rd), 6. Mike Spencer (9th), 7. Chris Gansen (11th), 8. Jeremy Ellertson (13th), 9. Corey Ballard (18th), 10. Andrew Sweeney (15th), 11. Tom Hendricks (17th), 12. Verne Sweeney (22nd), 13. Anthony Lopiccolo (16th), 14. Jeff Dyer (21st), 15. Trent Williams (5th), 16. Logan Williams (14th), 17. Tommy Malcolm (8th), 18. Cody Williams (12th), 19. Jace Vander Weerd (7th), 20. Tony Everhart (20th), 21. Ronnie Gardner (10th), 22. Eddie Tafoya (19th). NT
------------------------------------
**A.Williams flipped during qualifications.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-30 R.Vander Weerd.
BR MOTORSPORTS / KING RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Verne Sweeney (22nd to 12th)
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Brody Roa-352, 2. Richard Vander Weerd-350, 3. Jake Swanson-333, 4. Mike Spencer-318, 5. Damion Gardner-308, 6. Austin Williams-255, 7. Max Adams-214, 8. Jeremy Ellertson-212, 9. Cody Williams-208, 10. Chris Gansen-198, 11. Logan Williams-192, 12. Trent Williams-183, 13. Jace Vander Weerd-171, ... A.J. Bender-171, 15. Tommy Malcolm-170, 16. Verne Sweeney-163, 17. Josh Hodges-146, 18. R.J. Johnson-122, 19. Parker Colston-119, 20. Anthony Lopiccolo-117.
2016 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
July 1: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (Doug Fort Memorial)
July 2: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Firecracker 30)
July 30: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
August 27: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (California Racers Hall of Fame Night)
September 3: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 4: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 5: Petaluma Speedway - Petaluma CA (California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 8: Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions / California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 9: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA (California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 10: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds - Hanford, CA (California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 24: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
September 30: Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
October 1: Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
October 15: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
November 4: *Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 5: *Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 10: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
November 11: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
November 12: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
-----------------------------------------------
* = Co-Sanctioned Event with Amsoil USAC National Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
|
