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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
#2 Austin Williams. Photo by Doug Allen.
USAC/CRA "KINDOLL CLASSIC" SATURDAY AT PERRIS
By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – JULY 27, 2011… The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will return to action this Saturday, July 30th, at Don Kazarian's Perris Auto Speedway for the annual "Kindoll Classic." Joining the showcase will be the popular winged California Lightning Sprints and 360 Senior Sprints. The spectator gates will open at 5:00pm, with racing set begin at "America's Premier Dirt Track" at 7:00pm.
With a longstanding tradition in the West Coast Sprint Car Scene, the "Kindoll Classic" honors CRA Sprint Car Owner Jack Kindoll and his wife Wilda. Originally a driver with the California Roadster Association during the 1950s, Jack eventually retired and became a car owner with the California Racing Association Sprints. His famed JFK Company machine won 47 CRA features and is perhaps best known with Hall of Fame Driver Jimmy Oskie behind the wheel. The combination won three CRA Championships, coming in 1976, 1977, and 1979. Other notable drivers to race for Kindoll were Clark Templeman, Rich Vogler, Sheldon Kinser, Doug Wolfgang, Stan McElrath, and Mike Sweeney. The Kindolls continued to support Sprint Car racing for many years until their passing; Jack in 1996 and Wilda joined her husband last November. They are greatly missed by the racing community.
In addition to the regular USAC/CRA program, Saturday's event will have extra bonuses. Spearheaded by PAS Infield Announcer Chris Holt and a list of contributors, there is extra prize money up for grabs. First, the "Billy Wilkerson Fast Time Award," which honors the 1967 and 1970 CRA Champion Driver. At least $500 cash will be awarded to the driver that turns the fastest lap in qualifications.
The "Walt James Last Man Standing Trophy Dash" honors the longtime racer and former CRA President. The format for the special event is simple. The top 4 qualifiers that wish to participate will compete in a 4 car / 4-lap dash. Once completed, the last place finisher is eliminated and the 3 remaining cars will battle in a 3-lap shootout. After the third place car is retired, there will be a one minute stop for the crews to make tire pressure adjustments. One of the car owners will draw for the starting spots and the two remaining drivers will compete in a 2-lap sprint. The winner will claim over $1000 in cash.
Other cash bonuses will also be awarded to the winner of the Semi-Main, Main Event Hard Charger, and Lap Leader for certain laps of the feature, including lap 21 which will pay $300 in memory of Jeff, Paul, and Helen Bagley. If you would like to donate to Saturday's bonuses, please email Chris Holt at [email protected].
Three time defending champion Mike Spencer of Temecula holds a slim ten point advantage heading into the Kindoll Classic and will be looking to extend his lead with a 30-lap feature win. Piloting Ron Chaffin's famed #50 Madera Produce / Grubstake Mini Storage Maxim, Spencer leads all drivers with four main event wins, including July 2nd's "Firecracker 30" at Perris. As this writing goes to press, Mike has driven the Bruce Bromme Jr. wrenched car to three Sander Engineering Fast Time Awards, two heat race victories, one semi-main win, five top-10 finishes, and led eighty-seven feature laps on the year.
Yorba Linda's Matt Mitchell is second in the championship points and claimed the "Salute to Indy" at Perris on May 28th. Driving the J.W. Mitchell Motorsports' #37 Mancha Realtors / Sierra Springs Maxim, the USAC Western Midget Series graduate was eighth at the "Firecracker 30." To date, Mitchell has two heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and led twenty-six laps of main event competition. Matt will be looking to add the "Kindoll Classic" to his resume on Saturday.
Sitting third in the point chase is Nic Faas of Huntington Beach. The pilot of Mark Alexander's #4 Scott Sales Company / VP Racing Fuels Spike scored a third place finish in the "Firecracker 30" and is just twenty-two points behind Spencer. The former USAC Western States Midget Champion has one Sander Engineering Fast Time Award, four heat race victories, one Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Award, and six top-10 finishes on the year. This Saturday, Faas will have his eyes set on his first main event victory of the season.
Visalia's Greg Bragg is fourth in the standings. Driving Tom and Laurie Sertich's #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Pacific Business Machine Buckley, Bragg was eleventh at the Perris "Firecracker 30." In 2011, the 3-Time California Lightning Sprint Champion has one heat race victory, two Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Awards, six top-10 finishes, and led two main event laps. Greg will be looking to break through for his first feature win on Saturday.
Sitting fifth in the championship points is Austin Williams of Yorba Linda. Piloting Jack Jory's #2 Viper backed by the John Jory Corporation and AMA Plastics, Williams finished sixth in the annual "Firecracker 30." To date, the 2009 Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory, one Keizer Wheel Hard Charger Award, and five top-10 finishes to his credit. The young driver will be looking to surprise the field with his first series win on Saturday.
Campbell's Bud Kaeding and Cory Kruseman of Ventura have also scored feature wins on the season. Kaeding won at Hanford on May 7th, while Kruseman scored back-to-back victories at Watsonville (June 17th) and Santa Maria (June 18th). Saturday’s card marks the fifth of eleven scheduled events at USAC/CRA's home track, including the three-day Budweiser Oval Nationals starting on November 3rd.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are Torrance's "Super" Rickie Gaunt, Riverside's "Dynamite" David Cardey, Yorba Linda's Cody and "The Ripper" Rip Williams, Norco's Ronnie Gardner, "Showtime" Danny Sheridan of Santa Maria, and many more. Concord's "The Demon" Damion Gardner will be on hand in Dwight Cheney's #42 entry to battle for the "Kindoll Classic" victory.
Local 360 iron-block powered Sprint Cars are welcome to race with USAC/CRA. The 360s can run their local approved tires (all four corners must be Hoosier), but must meet series tech standards and race track muffler rules. The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series does not have an entry fee or charge for transponders, but drivers must have one-way radios. In addition, the series is offering a bonus to the highest finishing 360 team. To be eligible for the $200 cash award from USAC and 20 gallons of methanol from So-Cal Performance, the owner or driver must have a current USAC membership.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds in Perris, California. Adult tickets are $20, Senior tickets are $15, and $5 for Active Military and Children. For more information, please visit www.perrisautospeedway.com or call (951) 940-0134.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series would like to thank Hoosier Tire, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Donovan Engineering, Electro Tech Powder Coating, Extreme Mufflers, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror, Keizer Wheels, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Sander Engineering, and So-Cal Performance for their support. For more information, visit usacracing.com/cra or follow the series on facebook.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT POINTS:
1. Mike Spencer 433; 2. Matt Mitchell 423; 3. Nic Faas 411; 4. Greg Bragg 341; 5. Austin Williams 330; 6. Rickie Gaunt 304; 7. David Cardey 293; 8. Cody Williams 281; 9. Blake Miller 277; 10. Rip Williams 272; 11. Cory Kruseman 246; 12. Richard VanderWeerd 225; 13. Ronnie Gardner 220; 14. Jace VanderWeerd 210; 15. Danny Sheridan 209; 16. David Bezio 151; 17. Greg Alexander 136; 18. Rodney Argo 119; 19. Danny Faria Jr. 110; 20. Marty Hawkins 77.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT SCHEDULE:
July 30: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
August 13: Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA
August 20: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
September 3: **Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA
September 4: **Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA
September 8: **Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA
September 24: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
October 8: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
October 28: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ
October 29: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ
November 3: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
November 4: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
November 5: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
November 12: *Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC National Sprints.
** = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC Western Classic Racing Series.
This schedule is subject to change.
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