CRA’s “GLENN HOWARD CLASSIC” AT PERRIS SATURDAY;

6 PODIUMS BOOST BERNAL TO CALIFORNIA SPRINT WEEK TITLE;

GARDNER #1 AT HANFORD, BERNAL WINS AT CHICO & SANTA MARIA

The “Glenn Howard Classic” unfolds Saturday at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway and Mike Spencer hopes to take another step toward a record sixth AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car title. If he is successful, he would become the first driver in USAC Sprint Car history to reach that lofty goal. He enters Saturday’s race with a 42-point lead over defending champion Damion Gardner.

Ryan Bernal of Hollister, Calif. posted six podium finishes in six starts to capture the “California Sprint Week” title, winning races last week at Chico and Santa Maria, Calif.

Gardner, of Concord, Calif., won Friday night’s 30-lap “Jim Turner Memorial” at Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford, Calif. He led the final 24 laps in his Mark Alexander Scott Sales Company/J & D Performance Spike after taking the lead from Richard Vander Weerd on lap seven. Ryan Bernal took second at the checkered flag ahead of Spencer, Brody Roa and Jake Swanson.

Bernal recorded a rare “clean sweep” Thursday night at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, winning the 30-lap “Gold Cup” Race of Champions after previously capturing the 30-lap Honda USAC Western Midget race. Wheeling the Phulps Racing entry, he led all 30 laps to beat fast qualifier Andy Forsberg, Kevin Thomas Jr., Austin Liggett and Jake Swanson.

Bernal polished off his spectacular six-race swing with Saturday night’s 30-lap Sprint win at Santa Maria Raceway. Wheeling the Keith Ford Berry Pack/King Racing Products TCR/Esslinger, Bernal led all 30 laps to beat Spencer, Austin Williams, fast qualifier Gardner and Brody Roa.