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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
13TH USAC/CRA SPRINT CAMPAIGN OPENS SATURDAY AT PERRIS “SOKOLA SHOOTOUT”
By Lance Jennings
MARCH 1, 2016... This Saturday, March 5th, the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will open their thirteenth season at Perris Auto Speedway. Promoted by Don Kazarian, the annual “Sokola Shootout" will also feature the PAS Senior Sprints and the PAS Young Gun Sprints. The event is also a "Power of Purple Night" Benefiting the City of Perris Relay For Life and The American Cancer Society. The spectator gates will open at 5:00pm and racing at "America's Premier Dirt Track" will start at 7:00pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
The "Sokola Shootout" has been a popular event on the West Coast since March 17, 2001 when "The Cowboy" Tony Jones won the inaugural race at Manzanita Speedway. Originally called the "Sokola Classic" to honor past CRA President and USAC Sprint Supervisor Gary Sokola, the race has grown to also recognize his family and their contributions to racing. Last year, Richard Vander Weerd earned his first of four USAC/CRA wins after taking the lead from Mike Spencer on the eighth lap. “The Demon” Damion Gardner, Spencer, Ryan Bernal, and Austin Williams rounded out the top-five drivers.
After claiming eight wins last year, “The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, California) earned his fourth series championship. Racing Mark Alexander's #4 Scott Sales Company / Weld Racing Spike, Gardner also posted two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, nine heat race victories, nineteen top-10 finishes, and 192 feature laps led. “The Demon” will be looking to win his third “Sokola Shootout” and sixty-sixth USAC/CRA feature in honor of sponsor Ken Goecke, who recently passed away.
Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, California) had his best year with USAC/CRA and finished second in the point chase. Driving the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Richard had four main event wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, seven heat race victories, one dash win, one hard charger award, twenty top-10 finishes, and 139 feature laps led. This Saturday, Vander Weerd will have his sights on defending his “Sokola Shootout” win and earning his sixth USAC/CRA victory.
Mike Spencer (Temecula, California) ran third in the Amsoil USAC/CRA point standings. Piloting Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer had two main event wins, six Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, nine heat race victories, two semi-main wins, two hard charger awards, eighteen top-10 finishes, and 28 feature laps led to his credit. The five-time champion will be looking for his thirty-eighth victory and honor car owner Ron Chaffin, who recently passed away.
Jake Swanson (Anaheim, California) had a solid year and ran fourth in the championship points. Racing Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Victory Race Cars entry, Swanson posted four Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, two heat race victories, two hard charger awards, sixteen top-10 finishes, and 12 feature laps led. The 2012 Rookie of the Year will have his sights on his first series win and honor team sponsor John Carroll, who recently passed away.
Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, California) scored fifth in last year’s chase for the championship. Driving Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams had one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, four heat race victories, one hard charger award, sixteen top-10 finishes, and 28 feature laps led on the season. The 2009 Rookie of the Year will be looking to make Saturday’s “Sokola Shootout” his fourth USAC/CRA triumph.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Brody Roa, Matt Mitchell, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Logan Williams, “The Flying Peanut” Parker Colston, Jace Vander Weerd, Chris Gansen, A.J. Bender, Jeremy Ellertson, “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland, Josh Hodges, Bryan Clauson, and 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 (65 and over) are $20, Active Military (with ID), 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.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Circle Track Performance, DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Rod End Supply, 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 USAC/CRA, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC/CRA Facebook and Twitter pages. Loudpedal Productions has DVDs available for purchase that feature the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars and for more information, call 805.407.7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com.
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AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS:
2004-Rip Williams, 2005-Damion Gardner, 2006-Cory Kruseman, 2007-Tony Jones, 2008-Mike Spencer, 2009-Mike Spencer, 2010-Mike Spencer, 2011-Mike Spencer, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Damion Gardner, 2014-Damion Gardner, 2015-Damion Gardner.
SOKOLA CLASSIC / SHOOTOUT WINNERS:
2001-Tony Jones; 2002-Jeremy Sherman; 2003-Jeremy Sherman; 2004-Cory Kruseman; 2005-Mike Kirby; 2006-Mike Kirby; 2007-Not Held; 2008-Not Held; 2009-Rickie Gaunt; 2010-Damion Gardner; 2011-Mike Spencer; 2012-Nic Faas; 2013-Bryan Clauson; 2014-Damion Gardner, 2015-Richard Vander Weerd.
PERRIS AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS:
37-Damion Gardner, 24-Mike Spencer, 19-Tony Jones, 17-Cory Kruseman, 9-Nic Faas, 8-David Cardey, 7-Rip Williams, 6-Mike Kirby, 5-Bryan Clauson, 5-Rickie Gaunt, 5-Matt Mitchell, 5-Danny Sheridan, 4-Robert Ballou, 4-Richard Vander Weerd, 3-Dave Darland, 3-Garrett Hansen, 2-Darren Hagen, 2-Jesse Hockett, 2-Levi Jones, 2-Blake Miller, 2-Chris Windom, 1-Greg Bragg, 1-Daron Clayton, 1-Charles Davis Jr., 1-Josh Ford, 1-R.J. Johnson, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Adam Mitchell, 1-Johnny Rodriguez, 1-Scotty Weir, 1-Jason York.
2016 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
March 5: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Sokola Shootout)
April 16: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (So-Cal Showdown)
May 7: Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA
May 28: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Salute to Indy)
June 11: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
July 1: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA
July 2: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Firecracker 30)
July 30: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
August 27: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (California Racers Hall of Fame Night)
September 3: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 4: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 5: Petaluma Speedway - Petaluma CA (California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 8: Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions / California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 9: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA (California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 10: Keller Auto Speedway - Hanford, CA (California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 24: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
September 30: Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
October 1: Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
October 15: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
November 4: *Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 5: *Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 10: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
November 11: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
November 12: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with Amsoil USAC National Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
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