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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
RICHARD VANDER WEERD ADDS 40-LAP SALUTE TO INDY TO WIN LIST
By Lance Jennings
PERRIS, CA – MAY 26, 2015... Continuing to ride a wave of success, Richard Vander Weerd of Visalia raced to Saturday’s Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car win at Perris Auto Speedway. For Vander Weerd, the $3,000 “Salute to Indy” victory was his fourth of the year and fifth overall. Matt Mitchell, Austin Williams, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams and fast qualifier Jake Swanson rounded out the top-five drivers.
Looking for his first win of the season, Mitchell powered from the fourth starting spot to lead the first two circuits. Vander Weerd had other plans from third and soon took command. Once out front, the Ventura All Coast Challenge winner began to inch away from the competition. While the leader had clear sailing, the battle for positions 2-8 became an all-out war. At times racing three abreast on the speedway, some drivers battled their way forward, only to fall back a few laps later. Despite several cautions and a red for a flip by Jeremy Ellertson, Vander Weerd was not to be denied on this night.
Now in a tie with Garrett Hansen for seventeenth on the USAC/CRA win list, Richard Vander Weerd qualified fifth out of the twenty-four racers. Piloting the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Richard also scored third in his 10-lap heat race. Leaving Perris ranked fourth in points, the 2011 USAC West Coast Sprint Champion has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, five top-10 finishes and 109 feature laps led to his credit.
After leading the first two laps, Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda battled hard to claim second in the “Salute to Indy.” Driving his #37 Campbell Bros. Storage / Pit Boss Jacks Maxim, Mitchell was third fast in time trials and placed fourth in his heat race. Climbing to second in points, the defending USAC West Coast Champion has two heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, seven top-10 finishes, and 13 feature laps led.
Yorba Linda’s Austin Williams charged from ninth to score third in the 40-lap main event. Racing Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams qualified ninth overall and won the Saldana Racing Products / Circle Track Performance Heat Race #3. Heading to Perris on June 13th, the former Rookie of the Year is fifth in the standings with one heat race victory and five top-10 finishes on the season.
“The Cadillac” Cody Williams of Corona took fourth at the checkered flags. Piloting Jack Jory’s #44 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams was seventh quick in time trials and ran second to Chad Boespflug in his heat race. Currently placed eighth in points, “The Cadillac” has earned one heat race victory and three top-10 finishes in the campaign.
Anaheim’s Jake Swanson claimed fifth in the Memorial Day Classic. Racing Tom & Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Ram-Bull Racing Victory, Swanson has tied David Cardey, Bryan Clauson, and Danny Sheridan by earning his fifth career Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award. Taking third in his heat race, the 2012 Rookie of the Year is sixth in the point standings with six top-10 finishes on the season.
Making his first start in Dwight Cheney’s #42 Sander Engineering / Shaver Engines Maxim, “The Hanford Hornet” Chad Boespflug of Plainfield, Indiana earned the night’s DMI / Keizer Wheels “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors. Scoring and eighth place run from sixteenth, the former SCRA 360 Champion qualified sixteenth overall and won the Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1. At press time, Boespflug sits thirty-fifth in the championship points.
Temecula’s Mike Spencer raced to victory in the 10-lap DJ Safety Heat Race #2. Driving Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer was second fast in time trials and took seventh at the checkered flags. The point leader will return to Perris with a 25-point advantage on the strength of three heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 17 feature laps led to his credit.
On Saturday, June 13th, the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will return to Don Kazarian’s Perris Auto Speedway. Located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds in Perris, California, more event information can be found at www.perrisautospeedway.com or calling 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 Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, visit www.usacracing.com and follow the series on Facebook or Twitter. Mike Truex's Loudpedal Productions has DVDs available for purchase that feature the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series. For more information, call (805) 407-7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com.
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AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS:
May 23, 2015 – Perris, California – Perris Auto Speedway – “Salute to Indy”
WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY TIME TRIALS:
1. Jake Swanson, 92, Sertich-16.354; 2. Mike Spencer, 50, Chaffin-16.500; 3. Matt Mitchell, 37, Mitchell-16.516; 4. Rickie Gaunt, 9, McDonald-16.584; 5. Richard Vander Weerd, 10, Vander Weerd-16.645; 6. Damion Gardner, 4, Alexander-16.743; 7. Cody Williams, 44, Jory-16.756; 8. Brody Roa, 91R, BR-16.820; 9. Austin Williams, 2, Jory-16.827; 10. Jace Vander Weerd, 88, Vander Weerd-16.901; 11. Trent Williams, 52, Williams-16.920; 12. Cody Swanson, 93, Gardner-17.050; 13. A.J. Bender, 21, Bender-17.062; 14. Parker Colston, 64, Gore-17.146; 15. Logan Williams, 5, Jory-17.208; 16. Chad Boespflug, 42, Cheney-17.324; 17. Jeremy Ellertson, 98, Ellertson-17.555; 18. Verne Sweeney, 98V, Tracy-17.591; 19. Chris Gansen, 4G, Gansen-17.641; 20. Tommy Malcolm, 5X, Napier-17.700; 21. Austin Smith, 33, Smith-17.798; 22. Jesse Denome, 6, Denome-17.834; 23. Anthony Lopiccolo, 36, Springstead-18.343; 24. Tobey Sampson, 12B, Blair-18.404.
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE #1: (10 laps)
1. Boespflug, 2. C.Williams, 3. J.Swanson, 4. Bender, 5. Gaunt, 6. J.Vander Weerd, 7. Gansen, 8. Denome. 2:51.77
DJ SAFETY HEAT RACE #2: (10 laps)
1. Spencer, 2. Roa, 3. R.Vander Weerd, 4. T.Williams, 5. Ellertson, 6. Malcolm, 7. Lopiccolo, 8. Colston. NT
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS / CIRCLE TRACK PERFORMANCE HEAT RACE #3: (10 laps)
1. A.Williams, 2. L.Williams, 3. Gardner, 4. Mitchell, 5. Sweeney, 6. C.Swanson, 7. Smith, 8. Sampson. 2:53.25
FEATURE: (40 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Richard Vander Weerd (3rd), 2. Matt Mitchell (4th), 3. Austin Williams (9th), 4. Cody Williams (1st), 5. Jake Swanson (6th), 6. Brody Roa (8th), 7. Mike Spencer (5th), 8. Chad Boespflug (16th), 9. A.J. Bender (13th), 10. Jace Vander Weerd (10th), 11. Cody Swanson (12th), 12. Logan Williams (15th), 13. Austin Smith (21st), 14. Tommy Malcolm (20th), 15. Chris Gansen (19th), 16. Anthony Lopiccolo (23rd), 17. Tobey Sampson (24th), 18. Rickie Gaunt (7th), 19. Damion Gardner (2nd), 20. Jeremy Ellertson (17th), 21. Trent Williams (11th), 22. Parker Colston (14th), 23. Verne Sweeney (18th), 24. Jesse Denome (22nd). NT
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**Ellertson flipped during the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-2 Mitchell, Laps 3-40 R.Vander Weerd
DMI / KEIZER WHEELS HARD CHARGER: Chad Boespflug (16th to 8th)
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Mike Spencer-426, 2. Matt Mitchell-401, 3. Damion Gardner-387, 4. Richard Vander Weerd-365, 5. Austin Williams-355, 6. Jake Swanson-332, 7. Brody Roa-260, 8. Cody Williams-237, 9. Logan Williams-184, 10. Jace Vander Weerd-174, 11. Brady Bacon-136, 12. Ronnie Gardner-135, 13. Parker Colston-129, 14. Rickie Gaunt-117, 15. R.J. Johnson-115, ---. David Bezio-115, 17. Dave Darland-110, 18. Chris Gansen-101, 19. A.J. Bender-100, 20. Mike Martin-92.
2015 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE:
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
June 13: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
July 3: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (Doug Fort Memorial)
July 4: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Firecracker 40)
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)
September 6: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week)
September 7: Petaluma Speedway - Petaluma, CA (California Sprint Week)
September 10: Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions / California Sprint Week)
September 11: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds - Hanford, CA (Jim Turner Memorial / California Sprint Week)
September 12: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (California Sprint Week)
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)
November 13: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals)
November 14: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals)
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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