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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
DAMION GARDNER CLAIMS 60TH USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR VICTORY
By Lance Jennings
PERRIS, CA – JUNE 14, 2015... Leading all 30-laps, Concord’s “The Demon” Damion Gardner earned his third Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car win of the season. For Gardner, the $2,500 triumph at Perris Auto Speedway was his series leading 60th career victory. Fast qualifier Mike Spencer, Austin Williams, Matt Mitchell, and Jake Swanson rounded out the top-five drivers.
Starting fourth, Gardner sliced his way past front row starters Chris Gansen and A.J. Bender to claim the top spot. Once in command, the 3-time champion began to run away from the field. With furious racing behind the leader, Swanson and Spencer managed to break free from the pack. As the leader reached slower traffic, Swanson and Spencer began to close the gap. Looking for his first win of the campaign, Spencer took over second and set his sights on Gardner. The leaders set a torrid pace on the speedway and Mike inched closer. However, the night belonged to “The Demon,” who gave car owner Mark Alexander his 55th USAC/CRA win.
Piloting Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / Weld Racing Spike, Damion Gardner qualified third out of twenty-three racers and ran third in his heat race. “The World’s Fastest Sprint Car Driver” left Perris ranked third in points with three heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 65 feature laps led.
Mike Spencer of Temecula finished second in the 30-lap main event. Driving Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer earned his 60th career USAC/CRA Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and won the Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1. The five-time champion and current point leader heads to Santa Maria with three fast time awards, four heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and 17 feature laps led on the year.
Yorba Linda’s Austin Williams scored third at Perris Auto Speedway after starting fifth. Racing Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams was second fast in time trials and placed fourth in his heat race. Heading to the Santa Maria-Perris doubleheader, the former Rookie of the Year sits fourth in the standings with one heat race victory and six top-10 finishes to his credit.
Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda raced from ninth to claim fourth in the Saturday night feature. Driving his #37 Campbell Bros. Storage / Pit Boss Jacks Maxim, Mitchell qualified ninth overall and ran second to Richard Vander Weerd in his heat race. The defending USAC West Coast Sprint Champion is second in the point chase with two heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, eight top-10 finishes, and 13 feature laps led.
Anaheim’s Jake Swanson raced hard and took fifth at the checkered flags. Racing Tom & Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Ram-Bull Racing Victory, Swanson was fifth quick in time trials and placed third in his heat race. The 2012 Rookie of the Year is sixth in the point standings with three Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, one DMI / Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Award, and seven top-10 finishes on the season.
Richard Vander Weerd of Visalia earned the night’s DMI / Keizer Wheels “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a sixth place run from fifteenth. Piloting the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Richard qualified fifteenth overall and won the Saldana Racing Products / Circle Track Performance Heat Race #3. Heading to Santa Maria, Vander Weerd is fifth in points with four feature wins, three heat race victories, six top-10 finishes, and 109 feature laps led.
Richard’s twin brother Jace Vander Weerd claimed victory in the 10-lap DJ Safety Heat Race #2. Driving the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Jace was eleventh fast in time trials and scored eleventh in the feature. To date, the former Rookie of the Year sits tenth in points with three top-10 finishes on the season.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprints will take a break in the schedule before returning to action with a special doubleheader. On Friday, July 3rd, the traditional 410 sprints will travel to Mike Kappmeyer’s Santa Maria Raceway in Nipomo for the “Doug Fort Memorial” with the Honda USAC Western Midgets, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks, and American Stocks. For more information, visit www.santamariaraceway.com or call 805.922.2232.
The following night, Saturday July 4th, USAC/CRA will battle at Don Kazarian’s Perris Auto Speedway for the “Firecracker 40.” Also showcasing the popular “Sky Concert,” the event will feature the PAS Senior Sprints, Young Gun Sprints, and California Sprints at the "Power of Purple Night" Benefiting the City of Perris Relay For Life and The American Cancer Society.
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:
June 13, 2015 – Perris, California – Perris Auto Speedway
WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY TIME TRIALS:
1. Mike Spencer, 50, Chaffin-16.521; 2. Austin Williams, 2, Jory-16.558; 3. Damion Gardner, 4, Alexander-16.640; 4. Cody Williams, 44, Jory-16.717; 5. Jake Swanson, 92, Sertich-16.723; 6. A.J. Bender, 21, Bender-16.746; 7. Chris Gansen, 4G, Gansen-16.755; 8. Brody Roa, 91R, BR-16.795; 9. Matt Mitchell, 37, Mitchell-16.798; 10. Rickie Gaunt, 9, McDonald-16.841; 11. Jace Vander Weerd, 88, Vander Weerd-16.916; 12. David Bezio, 37X, Bezio-17.189; 13. Logan Williams, 5, Jory-17.376; 14. Tommy Malcolm, 5X, Napier-17.385; 15. Richard Vander Weerd, 10, Vander Weerd-17.539; 16. Anthony Lopiccolo, 36, Springstead-17.610; 17. Jeremy Ellertson, 98, Ellertson-17.739; 18. Eddie Tafoya, 51, Tafoya-17.874; 19. Mike Collins, 04, Collins-18.113; 20. Tobey Sampson, 12B, Blair-18.627; 21. Parker Colston, 64, Gore-19.239; 22. Jon Kairot, 98J, Ellertson-19.281. 23. Cal Smith, 39, Cal-Sun-NT.
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE #1: (10 laps)
1. Spencer, 2. Gaunt, 3. L.Williams, 4. Gansen, 5. Collins, 6. Kairot, 7. C.Williams, 8. Lopiccolo. NT
DJ SAFETY HEAT RACE #2: (10 laps)
1. J.Vander Weerd, 2. Roa, 3. Swanson, 4. A.Williams, 5. Malcolm, 6. Ellertson, 7. Sampson, 8. Smith. 2:57.19
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS / CIRCLE TRACK PERFORMANCE HEAT RACE #3: (10 laps)
1. R.Vander Weerd, 2. Mitchell, 3. Gardner, 4. Bender, 5. Bezio, 6. Tafoya, 7. Colston. 2:53.91
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Damion Gardner (4th), 2. Mike Spencer (6th), 3. Austin Williams (5th), 4. Matt Mitchell (9th), 5. Jake Swanson (3rd), 6. Richard Vander Weerd (15th), 7. Brody Roa (8th), 8. Rickie Gaunt (10th), 9. A.J. Bender (2nd), 10. Cody Williams (7th), 11. Jace Vander Weerd (11th), 12. Logan Williams (13th), 13. Tommy Malcolm (14th), 14. Chris Gansen (1st), 15. Jeremy Ellertson (16th), 16. Jon Kairot (21st), 17. Eddie Tafoya (17th), 18. Mike Collins (18th), 19. Tobey Sampson (19th), 20. David Bezio (12th), 21. Cal Smith (22nd), 22. Parker Colston (20th). NT
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**Spencer flipped during the first heat. Smith flipped during the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-30 Gardner
DMI / KEIZER WHEELS HARD CHARGER: Richard Vander Weerd (15th to 6th)
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Mike Spencer-497, 2. Matt Mitchell-459, 3. Damion Gardner-457, 4. Austin Williams-419, 5. Richard Vander Weerd-418, 6. Jake Swanson-388, 7. Brody Roa-309, 8. Cody Williams-275, 9. Logan Williams-215, 10. Jace Vander Weerd-213, 11. Ronnie Gardner-169, 12. Rickie Gaunt-163, 13. Parker Colston-144, 14. A.J. Bender-142, 15. Brady Bacon-136, 16. David Bezio-132, 17. Chris Gansen-131, 18. R.J. Johnson-115, 19. Dave Darland-110, 20. Mike Martin-92.
2015 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE:
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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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