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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
#4 “The Demon” Damion Gardner – Salute To Indy Winner. Photo by Doug Allen.
DAMION GARDNER STAYS HOT AT PERRIS “SALUTE TO INDY”
By Lance Jennings
PERRIS, CA – MAY 26, 2014... Concord’s “The Demon” Damion Gardner continued his winning ways last Saturday by claiming his third “Salute To Indy” at Perris Auto Speedway. Earning an additional $500 from AMA Plastics, the $3,500 triumph was Gardner’s series leading 51st Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car victory and his fifth win over the last six events. Fast qualifier Mike Spencer, Cody Williams, Ryan Bernal, and Brody Roa followed the point leader to the checkered flags.
Officially taking the lead from Spencer on lap seventeen, Gardner looked to run away from the field. After a late spin by Corey Ballard erased the advantage, the second running Spencer was poised for a three lap dash. Sticking close to Damion on the restart, the veteran drivers raced side by side for the top spot. Looking for his first win of the campaign, Spencer’s hopes were dashed in the south turns as the five-time champion bicycled his machine off the cushion. Mike saved his mount, but the bobble gave Gardner some needed breathing room. Coming for the checkered flags, “The Demon” avoided disaster after bouncing his ride off the turn four cushion to claim his third “Memorial Day Classic.”
Racing Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / J&D Performance Spike, Damion Gardner qualified second out of the twenty-one cars in attendance and won the 10-lap DJ Safety Heat Race #2.
“The World’s Fastest Sprint Car Driver” left Perris with an 88-point advantage with five feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, five heat race victories, and 99 feature laps led to his credit.
Mike Spencer of Temecula gave a valiant effort but had to settle for second in the “Salute To Indy.” Piloting Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer raced around “The Demon” and polesitter Ronnie Gardner to grab the lead on lap seven. Earlier in the program, the 2012 Oval Nationals Champion earned his third Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and placed second in his heat race. Currently third in points, Mike has two heat race victories, four top-10 finishes, and 21 feature laps led.
Corona’s “The Cadillac” Cody Williams raced to third in the 40-lap feature after starting seventh. Driving Jack Jory’s #44 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams was fifth quick in time trials and scored fifth in his heat race. Sitting seventh in the point chase, “The Cadillac” has one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, one Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, three top-10 finishes, and 3 feature laps led on the season.
Ryan Bernal of Hollister charged to fourth in the “Salute To Indy” from thirteenth. Racing Bob Ferro’s #91X SC Grafix / RC Performance Ellis, Bernal qualified thirteenth overall and took fifth in his heat race. In limited starts with USAC/CRA, the defending USAC Western Classic Sprint Champion has two top-10 finishes on the year.
Huntington Beach’s Brody Roa placed fifth in the Perris main event after starting eighth. Piloting the BR Performance #91 HD Industries / Burris Racing Maxim, Roa was eighth fast in time trials and took third in his heat race. The young driver is currently fourth in the standings with one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, one Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, and four top-10 finishes in 2014.
Cal Smith of Phelan earned the night’s Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics "Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with an eleventh place finish after starting twenty-first. Driving his Cal-Sun Racing #39 Straight Time Stirrups / Darien Racing Stinger, Smith qualified twenty-first and claimed sixth in his heat race. Running on a limited budget, the veteran driver is a regular competitor at Perris Auto Speedway.
Huntington Beach’s Nic Faas raced to victory in the 10-lap Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1. Racing Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Faas was fourth fast in time trials and scored twenty-first in the main event after an early exit. The 2008 Rookie of the Year is currently second in points with two heat race victories and five top-10 finishes on the season.
Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda won the program’s Saldana Racing Products / Circle Track Performance Heat Race #3. Piloting his #37 MPD Racing / ART Enterprises Maxim, Mitchell qualified sixth overall and placed nineteenth in the feature after an early exit. The hard charging driver sits fifth in the standings with three top-10 finishes and three feature laps led in 2014.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will return to action on Saturday, June 14th, at Perris Auto Speedway. Located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds, more event information can be found at www.perrisautospeedway.com or calling (951) 940-0134. To catch all of the action of the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, Loudpedal Productions has DVD videos available for purchase. For more information, call (805) 407-7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Engler Machine & Tool, Extreme Mufflers, Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, Saldana Racing Products, Weld Racing, 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 the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, visit www.usacracing.com or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/USAC-CRA-Sprint-Car-Series/167535183297971) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/USAC_CRA).
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AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT RACE RESULTS:
May 24, 2014 – Perris, California – Perris Auto Speedway – “Salute To Indy”
WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY TIME TRIALS:
1. Mike Spencer, 50, Chaffin-16.535; 2. Damion Gardner, 4, Alexander-16.537; 3. Austin Williams, 2, Jory-16.738; 4. Nic Faas, 73, Ford-16.752; 5. Cody Williams, 44, Jory-16.758; 6. Matt Mitchell, 37, Mitchell-16.804; 7. Ronnie Gardner, 93, Gardner- 16.804; 8. Brody Roa, 91R, BR-16.812; 9. Jake Swanson, 92, Sertich-16.881; 10. Richard Vander Weerd, 10, Vander Weerd-16.884; 11. Jace Vander Weerd, 88, Vander Weerd-16.988; 12. Rickie Gaunt, 9, McDonald-17.144; 13. Ryan Bernal, 91X, Ferro-17.259; 14. A.J. Bender, 21, Bender-17.321; 15. Austin Smith, 36, Springstead-17.482; 16. Logan Williams, 5, Jory-17.518; 17. Tony Everhart, 55, Everhart-17.620; 18. Jesse Denome, 6, Denome-17.638; 19. Corey Ballard, 34, Ballard-17.713; 20. Chris Gansen, 4G, Gansen-17.866; 21. Cal Smith, 39, Cal-Sun-17.896.
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE #1: (10 laps)
1. Nic Faas, 2. Mike Spencer, 3. Ronnie Gardner, 4. Richard Vander Weerd, 5. Ryan Bernal, 6. Logan Williams, 7. Corey Ballard. 2:52.21
DJ SAFETY HEAT RACE #2: (10 laps)
1. Damion Gardner, 2. A.J. Bender, 3. Brody Roa, 4. Jace Vander Weerd, 5. Cody Williams, 6. Tony Everhart, 7. Chris Gansen. 2:49.99
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS / CIRCLE TRACK PERFORMANCE HEAT RACE #3: (10 laps)
1. Matt Mitchell, 2. Jake Swanson, 3. Austin Williams, 4. Jesse Denome, 5. Austin Smith, 6. Cal Smith, 7. Rickie Gaunt. 2:52.63
FEATURE: (40 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Damion Gardner (5th), 2. Mike Spencer (6th), 3. Cody Williams (7th), 4. Ryan Bernal (13th), 5. Brody Roa (8th), 6. Richard Vander Weerd (10th), 7. A.J. Bender (14th), 8. Logan Williams (16th), 9. Jesse Denome (18th), 10. Corey Ballard (19th), 11. Cal Smith (21st), 12. Chris Gansen (20th), 13. Austin Smith (15th), 14. Ronnie Gardner (1st), 15. Austin Williams (4th), 16. Jace Vander Weerd (11th), 17. Rickie Gaunt (12th), 18. Tony Everhart (17th), 19. Matt Mitchell (2nd), 20. Jake Swanson (9th), 21. Nic Faas (3rd). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-6 Ronnie Gardner, Laps 7-16 Mike Spencer, Laps 17-40 Damion Gardner
KEIZER WHEELS / RACING OPTICS HARD CHARGER: Cal Smith (21st to 11th)
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1-Damion Gardner-427, 2-Nic Faas-339, 3-Mike Spencer-301, 4-Brody Roa-246, 5-Matt Mitchell-238, 6-Jake Swanson-228, 7-Cody Williams-217, 8-Richard VanderWeerd-207, 9-Cory Kruseman-206, 10-Austin Williams-176.
2014 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE:
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
June 14: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
June 27: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA ($2,750-to-Win)
June 28: Petaluma Speedway - Petaluma, CA ($2,750-to-Win)
July 4: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Firecracker 40 / $3,000-to-Win)
July 5: Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA ($2,750-to-Win)
August 16: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (California Racers Hall of Fame Night)
August 30: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week)
August 31: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week)
September 4: Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions / California Sprint Week / $2,750-to-Win)
September 5: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA (California Sprint Week / $2,750-to-Win)
September 6: Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA (California Sprint Week / $2,750-to-Win)
September 13: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
October 11: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA (Cotton Classic / $2,750-to-Win)
November 7: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
November 8: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Oval Nationals / $20,000-to-Win)
November 14: *Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
November 15: *Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC National Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
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