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Lucas Oil USAC/CRA 410 Sprints & Western States Modifieds on tap for Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway this Saturday night May 30
By Gary Thomas
Tulare, CA – May 26, 2009…An exciting night of racing action is on deck this Saturday evening when the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway plays host to the Wingless 410 Sprint Cars of the USAC/CRA Series for just the second time ever. The event will also be only the second time since 2004 that wingless 410's have competed at the Tulare County Fairgrounds facility and will mark the seventh race of the season for the west's top non-winged sprint car tour.
The Lucas Oil USAC/CRA Series was formed in 2004 and often produces some of the most exciting competition anywhere, with the traditional wingless "back it in" style of racing that fans have loved for years. The series first competed at the Thunderbowl Raceway on Memorial Day weekend in '07, but last year's scheduled event was cancelled due to rain making this weekend's race extremely anticipated by a lot of people.
Saturday night will also mark the only tune-up prior to the running of the recently announced Pacific Coast Nationals, featuring the USAC National Sprint Car Series & USAC/CRA Series on November 14 & 15. "We're very happy to host the Pacific Coast Nationals at the Thunderbowl and this weekend should be a good warm-up for November," said promoter Steve Faria. "We were really disappointed after last year's rainout and are certainly looking forward to having non wing 410's back at our track this Saturday."
Defending USAC/CRA champion Mike Spencer of Temecula comes into the Thunderbowl Raceway sitting atop the points in his Ron Chaffin Motorsports, Arizona Race Mart No. 50. Spencer is now in his third season of driving the "Little Red Sucker," which has seen drivers such as Damion Gardner, Richard Griffin and Lealand McSpadden at the helm in the past. The former Oval Nationals prelim night winner has captured one main event victory this year and this weekend will look to improve upon his 20th place finish from the USAC/CRA event at Tulare in 2007.
Veteran driver Cory Kruseman of Ventura will look to defend his Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA victory from two years ago on Saturday night. The talented competitor captured the series title in 2006 and has won the Oval Nationals twice in his career and has also claimed victory at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals on two separate occasions, in addition to a number of other incredible accomplishments he has amassed over the years. Kruseman has won four main events in his Thunderbowl career and will look to make it five this weekend behind the wheel of his Kruseman Motorsports No. 21k.
"Dynamite" David Cardey finished sixth in the USAC/CRA points last season and has come back this year looking as strong as ever to place himself second in the current standings, just eight digits out of the lead. The Riverside racer picked up victory during the second night of the Oval Nationals last year aboard his ITI Performance No. 38 and began this season driving for Alexander Racing, but soon after stepped back into the Crossno Racing sprinter and has put himself in position to pick up his first career USAC/CRA title.
Thunderbowl Raceway track record holder Blake Miller of Yorba Linda comes into the weekend fresh off his victory last Saturday in Perris and currently sits third in the standings. The driver of the Gardner Motorsports No. 93 finished runner-up in USAC/CRA points last season and finds himself near the front of the pack once again this year. Miller finished fifth in May of '07 at the Thunderbowl and his lap of 15.679 in qualifying set the wingless 410 track record during the event.
"Showtime" Danny Sheridan currently ranks fourth in points and goes into this weekend following a pair of strong runs during Bandit 360 Series competition at the Thunderbowl Raceway. The driver of the Kittle Motorsports No. 18 claimed victory at the 1/3 mile clay oval on April 11 and backed it up with a runner-up finish on May 16. The Santa Maria racer finished third in USAC/CRA points last year and picked up a strong third place finish when the series competed at Tulare in '07.
Other possibilities at the Thunderbowl Raceway this weekend will include Norco's Tony Jones & Tyler Brown, Clovis, CA's Peter Murphy, Visalia's Gregg Bragg & "Hollywood" Danny Faria Jr., Manhattan Beach's Garrett Hansen, Torrance's Ricky Gaunt, Kerman's Davey Pombo, Roseville's Colby Copeland and more.
Note- The non-wing 360's will not be running as a separate class, but many are expected to be in competition Saturday night to make for a solid field of race cars.
The Western States Modifieds will share the bill for the evening as they compete in their third point race of the season. Leading the charge into the night will be the winners from the first two races of the season at the 1/3 mile clay oval, with those being Brad Pounds and Alex Stanford. Several contenders will be looking to knock them off however, and pick up the $1,200 top prize including Bobby Hogge IV, Paul Stone, Garrett Steitz, Ryan Mcdaniel, Greg Mancebo and many more.
The front gate will open up at 5 pm this Saturday evening with Reserved Grandstand tickets costing $18 and General Admission bleacher tickets costing just $15. To purchase tickets call (559) 688-0909. First race is scheduled for approximately 7pm. For a seating chart, directions, a list of hotels and more log onto http://www.tularethunderbowl.com
The Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds on the corner of Bardsley and K Streets in Tulare.
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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