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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
USAC/CRA SPRINTS RETURN TO PERRIS FOR “CALIFORNIA RACERS HALL OF FAME NIGHT”
By Lance Jennings
AUGUST 12, 2015... After a break in the schedule, the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars are back in action this Saturday, August 15th, at Perris Auto Speedway. Promoted by Don Kazarian, the "California Racers Hall of Fame Night" will also feature the PAS Senior Sprints, PAS Young Gun Sprints, and the California Lightning Sprints. In addition, the WRA Vintage Cars will be on display for fans to check out as the spectator gates open at 5:00pm. Racing at "America's Premier Dirt Track" will start at 7:00pm and for more event information, visit the track’s website at www.perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
The "California Racers Hall of Fame Night" continues the rich tradition of honoring those that have contributed to Sprint Car Racing in Southern California. The highly anticipated event began in 1996 as the popular “Jack Kindoll Classic” and when the gates open at 5:00pm, there will be a special autograph session at the PAS Sports Bar. At press time, legends Stan Atherton, Rick Goudy, Jeff Heywood, Bob Hogle, Rickey Hood, Brad Noffsinger, Jimmy Oskie, Mike Sweeney, Don Thomas, and Eddie Wirth have confirmed that they will be in attendance. There are rumors of more surprise guests for fans to meet and greet at the autograph session.
Saturday’s 30-lap USAC/CRA main event will be dedicated to the memory of Bruce Bromme Jr., a National Sprint Car Hall of Fame crew chief and mechanic. Bromme won many races with CRA, SCRA, and USAC/CRA wrenching on cars owned by his father and Ron Chaffin. He is perhaps best known for winning championships with drivers Dean Thompson, “The Tempe Tornado” Lealand McSpadden, “The Gasman” Richard Griffin, “The Demon” Damion Gardner, and Mike Spencer.
Led by Perris and Ascot infield announcer Chris Holt, additional prize money has been raised for Saturday’s “California Racers Hall of Fame Night.” To date, Holt has raised over $7,000 and could possibly reach $10,000 by race time. Thanks to the Wilkerson Family and the Woodland Auto Display, Saturday’s Fast Qualifier will earn $600. For the fastest four qualifiers, Junior Kurtz and Bill Simpson are sponsoring a 4-lap $2,000 Winner-Takes-All “Randy Scofield Trophy Dash.” The Agajanian Family and ascotmotorsports.com have contributed a $500 “mystery award.” If there are four heat races, each winner will get $250 courtesy of Mark Atchison and AMA Plastics. If the program has three heat races, then the winners will take home $300. In addition, the main event will pay an extra $4,000 in lap money.
Saturday’s event will be the 177th Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car race at Perris Auto Speedway. Dating back to March 6, 2004, the “Southern California Home of Major League Sprint Car Racing” has been the “home track” for the series. This year, Richard Vander Weerd and “The Demon” Damion Gardner have three victories at Perris and Gardner leads all USAC/CRA drivers with 35 “home track” wins. As this writing goes to press, 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.
Entering the tenth point race, Mike Spencer of Temecula, California has a narrow 3-point advantage. Piloting Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer earned his 61st career Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, won his fifth heat race of the year, and scored fourth in the Perris “Firecracker 40” on July 4th. To date, the five-time champion has four fast time awards, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, nine top-10 finishes, and 17 feature laps led to his credit. Tied with “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman for second on the USAC/CRA win list, Mike will be looking to extend his point lead by earning his 36th feature win.
After winning the “Firecracker 40” at Perris Auto Speedway, Concord, California’s “The Demon” Damion Gardner has climbed to second in the point chase. Racing Mark Alexander's #4 Scott Sales Company / Weld Racing Spike, Gardner has four feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, four heat race victories, nine top-10 finishes, and 89 feature laps led on the season. “The World’s Fastest Sprint Car Driver” will have his sights on a nice payday and claiming his series leading 62nd main event.
Richard Vander Weerd of Visalia, California has risen to third in the chase for the championship. Driving the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd led eleven laps of the July 4th feature before finishing second at the checkered flags. Returning to Perris, the 2011 USAC West Coast Sprint Champion has four feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, four heat race victories, one DMI / Keizer Wheels “Hard Charger” Award, eight top-10 finishes, and 120 feature laps led on the year. Currently tied with Garrett Hansen for 17th on the win list, Richard will be looking for his sixth USAC/CRA victory.
Yorba Linda, California’s Matt Mitchell sits fourth in the point standings. Piloting his #37 Campbell Bros. Storage / Pit Boss Jacks Maxim, Mitchell placed twenty-first in the “Firecracker 40” after an early flip. To date, the defending USAC West Coast Sprint Champion has two heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, nine top-10 finishes, and 13 feature laps led in the campaign. Currently tied with Levi Jones, Bud Kaeding, and Blake Miller for thirteenth on the series win list, Matt will have his sights on adding the “California Racers Hall of Fame Night” to his resume.
Quietly having a strong season, Austin Williams of Yorba Linda, California is fifth in the USAC/CRA point standings. Driving Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams scored third in the Perris 40-lap main event. At press time, the 2009 Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory and eight top-10 finishes to his credit. Austin is in a nine-way tie for twenty-first on the USAC/CRA win list and will be looking for his first “home track” feature win.
Currently thirteenth in the point standings, “The Flying Peanut” Parker Colston of Lake Elsinore, California leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. “Thunder” Tommy Malcolm, Anthony Lopiccolo, and Michael Curtis 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, A.J. Bender, Chris Gansen, David Bezio, Ronnie Gardner, “The Bear” Jeremy Ellertson, Jeff Dyer, and more.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California. Adult tickets are $25, Senior tickets (65 & older) 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 series, 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 DVDs available for purchase that feature the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars and for more information, call 805.407.7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com.
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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 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS:
35-Damion Gardner, 24-Mike Spencer, 19-Tony Jones, 17-Cory Kruseman, 9-Nic Faas, 8-David Cardey, 7-Rip Williams, 6-Mike Kirby, 5-Rickie Gaunt, 5-Matt Mitchell, 5-Danny Sheridan, 4-Bryan Clauson, 4-Richard Vander Weerd, 3-Dave Darland, 3-Garrett Hansen, 2-Robert Ballou, 2-Darren Hagen, 2-Jesse Hockett, 2-Levi Jones, 2-Blake Miller, 2-Chris Windom, 1-Greg Bragg, 1-Daron Clayton, 1-Charles Davis Jr., 1-Josh Ford, 1-R.J. Johnson, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Adam Mitchell, 1-Johnny Rodriguez, 1-Scotty Weir, 1-Jason York.
CALIFORNIA RACERS HALL OF FAME NIGHT / JACK KINDOLL CLASSIC WINNERS:
1996-Lee Brewer Jr., 1997-Rip Williams, 1998-Cory Kruseman, 1999-Richard Griffin, 2000-Cory Kruseman, 2001-Cory Kruseman, 2002-Steve Ostling, 2003-Lance Gremett, 2004-Rickie Gaunt, 2005-Cory Kruseman, 2006-Tony Jones, 2007-Cory Kruseman, 2008-Damion Gardner, 2009-Mike Spencer, 2010-Mike Spencer, 2011-Mike Spencer, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Cory Kruseman, 2014-Damion Gardner.
2015 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS:
4-Damion Gardner, 4-Richard Vander Weerd, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Rickie Gaunt.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Mike Spencer-594, 2. Damion Gardner-591, 3. Richard Vander Weerd-547, 4. Matt Mitchell-545, 5. Austin Williams-542, 6. Jake Swanson-484, 7. Brody Roa-401, 8. Cody Williams-348, 9. Logan Williams-290, 10. Jace Vander Weerd-266, 11. Rickie Gaunt-250, 12. A.J. Bender-207, 13. Parker Colston-199, 14. Chris Gansen-181, 15. Tommy Malcolm-170, 16. David Bezio-150, 17. R.J. Johnson-136, ---. Brady Bacon-136, 19. Ronnie Gardner-135, 20. Jeremy Ellertson-134.
2015 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE:
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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 $5,000-to-Win)
September 6: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week / $5,000-to-Win)
September 7: Petaluma Speedway - Petaluma, CA (California Sprint Week / $3,000-to-Win)
September 10: Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions / California Sprint Week / $3,000-to-Win)
September 11: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds - Hanford, CA (Jim Turner Memorial / California Sprint Week / $3,000-to-Win)
September 12: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (California Sprint Week / $3,000-to-Win)
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 / $5,000-to-Win)
November 13: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals / $5,000-to-Win)
November 14: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals / $25,000-to-Win)
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)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC National Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
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ATTACHED PHOTOS/IMAGES:
#50 Mike Spencer – USAC/CRA Point Leader. Photo by Steve Lafond / Tear-Off Heaven Fotos.
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