|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
PAS Podium. (L-R) Austin Williams (3rd), Damion Gardner (1st), Kevin Thomas Jr. (2nd) – Photo by Doug Allen.
DAMION GARDNER WINS PERRIS “CALIFORNIA RACERS HALL OF FAME NIGHT”
By Lance Jennings
PERRIS, CA – AUGUST 17, 2014... Concord’s “The Demon” Damion Gardner continued his winning ways by claiming his 53rd lifetime Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car triumph at Perris Auto Speedway. For Gardner, Saturday’s $2,500 “California Racers Hall of Fame Night” victory was his seventh win of the campaign. Kevin Thomas Jr., Austin Williams, Matt Mitchell, and Jake Swanson chased “The Demon” to the checkered flags.
Spearheaded by longtime Perris and Ascot infield announcer Chris Holt, the annual “California Racers Hall of Fame Night” was a success. Thanks to the support the racing family, Holt raised an additional $4,000 for the night’s festivities. Starting with a tribute to Bruce Bromme Jr., racing heroes Jimmy Oskie, Richard Griffin, Rick Goudy, Mike Sweeney, John Redican, Tony Simon, Don Thomas, Steve Howard, Stan Atherton, Sonny Nutter, and Eddie Wirth were on hand for the celebration.
Racing Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / J&D Performance Spike, Damion Gardner qualified third out of the twenty-three racers in attendance and won his series leading tenth 10-lap heat race. Starting fourth in the main event, Gardner took command from Austin Williams and stormed to this 31st “home track” win with USAC/CRA. Heading to the annual Louie Vermeil Classic at Calistoga, “The World’s Fastest Sprint Car Driver” has a 155-point advantage with four Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, eleven top-10 finishes, and 154 feature laps led.
Making his first start in Keith Ford’s #73X Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Cullman, Alabama’s Kevin Thomas Jr. took second at Perris Auto Speedway. The regular with the USAC National Sprints was fifth quick in time trials and scored third in his heat race.
After leading twelve laps, Austin Williams of Yorba Linda fought hard to score third in the “California Racers Hall of Fame Night.” Piloting Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams qualified fourth overall and placed third in his heat race. The 2009 Rookie of the Year left Perris ranked fifth in points with one feature win, one heat race victory, six top-10 finishes, and 48 feature laps led on the season.
Yorba Linda’s Matt Mitchell battled to claim third in the 30-lap main event. Driving his #37 Campbell Bros. Storage / Pit Boss Maxim, Mitchell was second fast in time trials and placed fourth in his heat race. The recent USAC 360 Watsonville winner sits fourth in the USAC/CRA standings with one feature win, two heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 35 feature laps led in the campaign.
Jake Swanson of Anaheim charged from eighth to score fifth in the “California Racers Hall of Fame Night.” Racing Tom & Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Circle Track Performance Victory, Swanson qualified eighth overall and won the 10-lap DJ Safety Heat Race #2. To date, the 2012 Rookie of the Year is ninth in points with one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, one Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, six top-10 finishes, and 28 feature laps led to his credit.
Manhattan Beach’s Garrett Hansen earned the night’s Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics "Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a sixth eleventh place finish from eighteenth. Piloting Mark Priestley’s #7 Roy Miller Freight Lines / Sander Engineering / Bullet, Hansen returned to USAC/CRA action after a three-year absence and was eighteenth quick in time trials and placed sixth in his heat race.
With a heavy heart, Mike Spencer of Temecula earned his 57th Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and earned an extra $500 in memory of Billy Wilkerson. Driving Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer ran second to Brody Roa in his heat race and scored nineteenth in the feature after an early exit. Currently second in the standings, the five-time USAC/CRA champion has one feature win, two heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, one Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, nine top-10 finishes, and 51 feature laps led on the season.
Huntington Beach’s Brody Roa won the night’s Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1. Racing the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Burris Racing Maxim, Roa was seventh fast in time trials and rebounded from an early tangle to place seventh in the feature. To date, the former Wagsdash Champion is sixth in points with five heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, one Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, and seven top-10 finishes on the year.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will battle at the famed Calistoga Speedway on August 30th and 31st for the “7th Annual Louie Vermeil Classic.” Located at the Napa County Fairgrounds, each night will also showcase the Honda USAC Western Midgets. For more event information, visit www.louievermeilclassic.net, www.calistogaspeedway.org or call (916) 773-7225. To catch all of the action of the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, Loudpedal Productions has DVD videos available for purchase. For more information, call (805) 407-7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Engler Machine & Tool, Extreme Mufflers, Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, Saldana Racing Products, Weld Racing, 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 or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/USAC-CRA-Sprint-Car-Series/167535183297971) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/USAC_CRA).
-----------------------------------------------
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT RACE RESULTS:
August 16, 2014 – Perris, California – Perris Auto Speedway – “California Racers Hall of Fame Night”
WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY TIME TRIALS:
1. Mike Spencer, 50, Chaffin-16.512; 2. Matt Mitchell, 37, Mitchell-16.710; 3. Damion Gardner, 4, Alexander-16.776; 4. Austin Williams, 2, Jory-16.794; 5. Kevin Thomas Jr., 73X, Ford-16.798; 6. Nic Faas, 73, Ford-16.815; 7. Brody Roa, 91R, BR-17.037; 8. Jake Swanson, 92, Sertich-17.081; 9. David Bezio, 37X, Bezio-17.180; 10. Cody Williams, 44, Jory-17.369; 11. Ronnie Gardner, 93, Gardner-17.420; 12. Logan Williams, 5, Jory-17.608; 13. Kenny Perkins, OK, Perkins-17.710; 14. Corey Ballard, 34, Ballard-17.752; 15. Chris Gansen, 4G, Gansen-17.756; 16. Jeremy Ellertson, 98X, Ellertson-17.825; 17. A.J. Bender, 21, Bender-17.875; 18. Garrett Hansen, 7, Priestley-18.121; 19. Cal Smith, 39, Smith-18.200; 20. Jon Kairot, 81, Watt- 19.104; 21. Cody Swanson, 36, Springstead-NT, 22. Austin Smith, 36J, Springstead-NT, 23. Greg Alexander, 72, Tyler-NT.
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE #1: (10 laps)
1. Brody Roa, 2. Mike Spencer, 3. Austin Williams, 4. Cody Williams, 5. Jeremy Ellertson, 6. Kenny Perkins, 7. Cal Smith. 2:57.13
DJ SAFETY HEAT RACE #2: (10 laps)
1. Jake Swanson, 2. A.J. Bender, 3. Kevin Thomas Jr., 4. Matt Mitchell, 5. Ronnie Gardner, 6. Corey Ballard, 7. Jon Kairot. 3:01.87
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS / CIRCLE TRACK PERFORMANCE HEAT RACE #3: (10 laps)
1. Damion Gardner, 2. Nic Faas, 3. David Bezio, 4. Logan Williams, 5. Garrett Hansen, 6. Chris Gansen, 7. Austin Smith. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Damion Gardner (4th), 2. Kevin Thomas Jr. (2nd), 3. Austin Williams (3rd), 4. Matt Mitchell (5th), 5. Jake Swanson (8th), 6. Garrett Hansen (18th), 7. Brody Roa (7th), 8. Ronnie Gardner (11th), 9. A.J. Bender (17th), 10. Corey Ballard (14th), 11. Chris Gansen (15th), 12. Austin Smith (21st), 13. Jeremy Ellertson (16th), 14. Jon Kairot (20th), 15. Kenny Perkins (13th), 16. Logan Williams (12th), 17. Cody Williams (10th), 18. Nic Faas (1st), 19. Mike Spencer (6th), 20. David Bezio (9th), 21. Cal Smith (19th). NT
---------------------------
**Cody Swanson flipped during qualifications.
**David Bezio & Cody Williams flipped during the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1 Nic Faas, Laps 2-13 Austin Williams, Laps 14-30 Damion Gardner.
KEIZER WHEELS / RACING OPTICS HARD CHARGER: Garrett Hansen (18th to 6th)
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1-Damion Gardner-786, 2-Mike Spencer-631, 3-Nic Faas-628, 4-Matt Mitchell-517, 5-Austin Williams-507, 6-Brody Roa-496, 7-Cody Williams-483, 8-Richard Vander Weerd-471, 9-Jake Swanson-460, 10-Cory Kruseman-381.
2014 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE:
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
August 30: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week)
August 31: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week)
September 4: Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions / California Sprint Week / $2,750-to-Win / $350-to-start)
September 5: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA (California Sprint Week / $2,750-to-Win / $350-to-start)
September 6: Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA (California Sprint Week / $2,750-to-Win / $350-to-start)
September 13: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
November 7: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
November 8: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Oval Nationals / $20,000-to-Win)
November 14: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
November 15: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
-----------------------------------------------
* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC National Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
|
