|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS RETURN TO PERRIS FOR 40-LAP “SALUTE TO INDY”
By Lance Jennings
MAY 20, 2015... This Saturday, May 23rd, the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will battle at Don Kazarian’s Perris Auto Speedway for the annual “Salute to Indy.” “The Power of Purple Night” benefiting the City of Perris Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society will also showcase the PAS Senior Sprint Cars, PAS Young Gun Sprint Cars, and the California Lightning Sprints. Located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds in Perris, California, the spectator gates at "America's Premier Dirt Track" will open at 5:00pm and racing is scheduled for 7:00pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
The annual "Salute to Indy" has been a Southern California tradition going back to 1948 when Dempsey Wilson claimed the checkered flags with the original California Racing Association. When Perris Auto Speedway opened their doors in 1996, the Riverside County oval kept the tradition alive and current NASCAR competitor J.J. Yeley scored the victory. Last year, “The Demon” Damion Gardner won his third “Salute to Indy” on his way to his third USAC/CRA Championship.
On March 6, 2004, Perris Auto Speedway hosted the inaugural USAC/CRA Sprint Car event. Since then, the traditional 410 cubic-inch powered sprints have returned their “home track” 172 more times. Damion Gardner leads all drivers with 33 series wins at Perris and Nic Faas holds the 1-lap track record of 15.833, set on February 25, 2012.
NOTICE TO COMPETITORS: Per USAC/CRA rules, all fuel-injected 410 and 360 powered sprint cars must run the Hoosier 105/16 Medium Right Rear Tire and all four corners must be Hoosier. Cars must pass a tech inspection and one-way radios are mandatory for drivers. USAC/CRA charges a $25 entry fee to all competitors and the series rule book can be found online at www.usacracing.com.
After charging from seventeenth to claim seventh at Ventura’s “All Coast Challenge,” Mike Spencer of Temecula, California has regained the point lead. Driving Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer has two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, two heat race victories, six top-10 finishes, and 17 feature laps led to his credit. This Saturday, the five-time champion will be looking to extend his six-point advantage by claiming his 36th career USAC/CRA main event.
Heading to Saturday’s “Salute to Indy,” Concord, California’s “The Demon” Damion Gardner is second in the point chase. Piloting Mark Alexander's #4 Scott Sales Company / Weld Racing Spike, Gardner raced from twenty-third to score tenth in the May 9th feature at Ventura. To date, the defending champion has two main event wins, three heat race victories, six top-10 finishes, and 35 feature laps led on the season. At Perris, “The World’s Fastest Sprint Car Driver” will have his sights on his 60th career USAC/CRA victory.
Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda, California sits third in the chase for the championship. Racing his #37 Campbell Bros. Storage / Pit Boss Jacks Maxim, Mitchell finished a very close second to Richard Vander Weerd in the “All Coast Challenge.” Heading to Perris, the defending USAC West Coast Sprint Car Champion has two heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main, six top-10 finishes, and 11 feature laps led. Currently tied with Levi Jones, Bud Kaeding, and Blake Miller for thirteenth on USAC/CRA’s win list, Matt will be looking to win his third “Salute to Indy.”
After winning the $5,000 “All Coast Challenge,” Visalia, California’s Richard Vander Weerd has climbed to fourth in points. Driving the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Richard has three feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, four top-10 finishes, and 71 feature laps led. Currently tied with Darren Hagen and Kevin Swindell for 18th on USAC/CRA’s win list, Vander Weerd will have his sights on adding the “Salute to Indy” to his resume.
Austin Williams of Yorba Linda, California is currently fifth in the championship standings. Piloting Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams scored third at Ventura Raceway. Entering Saturday’s race at Perris, the 2009 Rookie of the Year has four top-10 finishes on the season. With three career USAC/CRA victories to his credit, Austin will be looking for his first “home track” victory.
Currently tied with R.J. Johnson and David Bezio for twelfth in points, “The Flying Peanut” Parker Colston of Lake Elsinore, California leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Michael Curtis, Anthony Lopiccolo, and Tommy Malcolm are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Jake Swanson, Brody Roa, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Logan Williams, Jace Vander Weerd, David Bezio, “Super” Rickie Gaunt, Chris Gansen, “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman, A.J. Bender, “The Hanford Hornet” Chad Boespflug, Cody Swanson, and more.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California. Adult tickets are $20, Senior tickets are $20, Active Military, Students (13-18), and Kids tickets (6-12) are $5. Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.perrisautospeedway.com or call (951) 940-0134.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, 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 the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, visit www.usacracing.com and follow the series on Facebook or Twitter. Mike Truex's Loudpedal Productions has DVDs available for purchase that feature the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series. For more information, call (805) 407-7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com.
-----------------------------------------------
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS:
2004-Rip Williams, 2005-Damion Gardner, 2006-Cory Kruseman, 2007-Tony Jones, 2008-Mike Spencer, 2009-Mike Spencer, 2010-Mike Spencer, 2011-Mike Spencer, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Damion Gardner, 2014-Damion Gardner.
PERRIS "SALUTE TO INDY" WINNERS:
1996-J.J. Yeley; 1997-Cory Kruseman; 1998-Mike Kirby; 1999-Troy Rutherford; 2000-Richard Griffin; 2001-Mike Kirby; 2002-Mike Kirby; 2003-Damion Gardner; 2004-Damion Gardner; 2005-Cory Kruseman; 2006-Tony Jones; 2007-Blake Miller; 2008-RAIN; 2009-Blake Miller; 2010-David Cardey; 2011-Matt Mitchell; 2012-Mike Spencer; 2013-Matt Mitchell, 2014-Damion Gardner.
2015 USAC/CRA FEATURE WINNERS:
3-Richard Vander Weerd, 2-Damion Gardner, 1-Brady Bacon.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Mike Spencer-371, 2. Damion Gardner-365, 3. Matt Mitchell-335, 4. Richard Vander Weerd-297, 5. Austin Williams-293, 6. Jake Swanson-272, 7. Brody Roa-208, 8. Cody Williams-179, 9. Logan Williams-148, 10. Jace Vander Weerd-138, 11. Brady Bacon-136, 12. R.J. Johnson-115, ---. Parker Colston-115, --.David Bezio-115, 16. Dave Darland-110, 17. Rickie Gaunt-93, 18. Mike Martin-92, 19. Charles Davis Jr.-88, 20. Josh Hodges-83.
2015 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE:
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
May 23: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Salute to Indy / 40 laps)
June 13: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
July 3: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (Doug Fort Memorial)
July 4: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Firecracker 40)
August 15: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (California Racers Hall of Fame Night)
September 5: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week)
September 6: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week)
September 7: Petaluma Speedway - Petaluma, CA (California Sprint Week)
September 10: Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions / California Sprint Week)
September 11: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds - Hanford, CA (Jim Turner Memorial / California Sprint Week)
September 12: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (California Sprint Week)
September 19: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
October 23: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
October 24: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
November 12: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals)
November 13: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals)
November 14: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals)
November 19: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 20: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 21: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships)
-----------------------------------------------
* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC National Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
|
