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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
#10 Richard Vander Weerd. Photo by Doug Allen.
SPENCER LEADS USAC/CRA TO "CALIFORNIA RACERS HALL OF FAME NIGHT"
By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – JULY 25, 2012… The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will return to Don Kazarian's Perris Auto Speedway this Saturday, July 28th. The "California Racers Hall of Fame Night" will also showcase the PAS Senior 360 Sprint Cars and the winged California Lightning Sprints. The spectator gates will open at 5:00pm and racing at "America's Premier Dirt Track" will begin at 7:00pm.
The "California Racers Hall of Fame Night" continues the tradition of honoring former racers that have contributed to the Southern California Sprint Car scene. Going back to the legendary Ascot Park, special events have paid tribute to names like Don Peabody, Dave Sanborn, Jack & Wilda Kindoll, the Bagleys (Jeff, Paul, and Helen), and Glenn Howard. Led by the efforts of Perris and Ascot infield announcer Chris Holt, over $5,000 has been raised to add spice to an already exciting program.
Starting with the "Billy Wilkerson Fast Time Award," a minimum of $500 will be awarded to the driver that sets fast time in qualifications. The "Walt James Last Man Standing Trophy Dash" brings back a popular format that will pay $1,000 to the winner. One of the drivers will take home the "Aggie Award," a special bonus in honor of J.C. Agajanian. The Hard Charger of the 30-lap main event will earn $100 for their efforts and more potential awards available. Interested parties can email Chris Holt at [email protected].
Entering the tenth race of the campaign, Temecula's Mike Spencer has a seventy-four point lead and five main event wins. The pilot of Ron Chaffin's #50 Madera Produce / Grubstake Mini Storage Maxim claimed the July 4th "Firecracker 30" and can make USAC/CRA history with his fifth straight win at Perris. To date, Spencer has five Sander Engineering / Rod End Supply Fast Time Awards, one heat race victory, one Ringers Gloves / Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Award, nine top-5 finishes, and 100 feature laps led on the season. The 4-time series champion will be looking to score the "California Racers Hall of Fame Night" victory on his way to another crown.
Nic Faas of Huntington Beach is currently second in the point chase. The driver of Mark Alexander's #4 Scott Sales Company / Competition Suspension Inc. Spike earned the July 4th "Hard Charger / Best Passing Job" honors with a second place run from twenty-second. In 2012, the former USAC Western Midgets Series Champion has one feature win, two Sander Engineering / Rod End Supply Fast Time Awards, four heat race victories, two Ringers Gloves / Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Awards, six top-5 finishes, and twenty-six feature laps led. Faas will have his sights on winning Saturday's main event and gaining valuable points on Spencer.
Yorba Linda's Austin Williams sits third in championship hunt. The pilot of Jack Jory's #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike raced to fifth in the "Firecracker 30" after starting fifteenth. The 2009 Rookie of the Year won at Santa Maria on June 16th and has four heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Diversified Machine Inc. Semi-Main win, one Ringers Gloves / Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Award, six top-5 finishes, and twenty-nine feature laps led. Williams will be looking to add Saturday's "California Racers Hall of Fame Night" to his resume.
Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda is fourth in the point standings. Piloting the J.W. Mitchell Motorsports' #37 J.M. Mancha Realtors / Sierra Springs Water Maxim, Mitchell placed sixth at Perris after restarting at the back. As this writing goes to press, the former USAC Western Midget Series Rookie of the Year has two heat race victories and five top-5 finishes on the year. Mitchell has had a tough year and will be looking to rebound with a "California Racers Hall of Fame Night" victory.
Ryan Bernal of Hollister is fifth in the championship points. Driving Keith Ford's #73 King Racing Products / A&A Precision Machine Spike, the Santa Maria Track Champion claimed fourth at Perris after starting sixth. To date, Bernal has two heat race victories, one Ringers Gloves / Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Award, five top-5 finishes, and forty-nine feature laps led. Last year's USAC West Coast Rookie of the Year will be looking for his first career USAC/CRA feature win at Perris.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are Buena Park's Brody Roa, "The Kruser" Cory Kruseman of Ventura, Yorba Linda's "The Ripper" Rip Williams, Seth Wilson of Las Vegas, Yorba Linda's "Cadillac" Cody Williams, Visalia's Richard and Jace Vander Weerd, "Dynamite" David Cardey of Riverside, "Super" Rickie Gaunt of Torrance, and many 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 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.
To catch all of the action of the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series at Perris Auto Speedway, Mike Truex's Loudpedal Productions has DVD videos available for purchase. For more information, call (805) 407-7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com. In addition, Perris Auto Speedway offers a pay per view feed of every event at www.circletracknetwork.com.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series would like to thank Hoosier Tire, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Integra Racing Shocks, Keizer Wheels, LRB Inc. Race Products, Ringers Gloves, Rod End Supply, SBI Fuel Systems, Saldana Racing Products, and Sander Engineering for their support.
For more information on the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, visit www.usacracing.com/cra 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 POINTS:
1. Mike Spencer 609; 2. Nic Faas 535; 3. Austin Williams 480; 4. Matt Mitchell 461; 5. Ryan Bernal 458; 6. Brody Roa 419; 7. Cory Kruseman 375; -. Rip Williams 375; 9. Seth Wilson 313; 10. Cody Williams 308; 11. Richard Vander Weerd 221; 12. David Bezio 213; 13. David Cardey 210; 14. Jace Vander Weerd 180; 15. Greg Alexander 142; 16. Jake Swanson 117; 17. Josh Ford 99; 18. Tony Everhart 68; 19. Josh Pelkey 51; 20. Billy Blinn 31.
2012 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
July 28: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (California Racers Hall of Fame Night)
August 10: **Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA
August 11: **Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA
August 18: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
August 19: Route 66 Motorplex - Victorville, CA
September 1: **Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 2: **Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 5: **Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA (Non-Points)
September 15: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
October 6: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Southern California Fair)
October 26: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
October 27: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
November 2: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals)
November 3: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals)
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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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