USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS HEADLINE 200TH PERRIS RACE AT SATURDAY’S “10TH ANNUAL GLENN HOWARD CLASSIC”
By Lance Jennings
SEPTEMBER 20, 2017... After an intense “California Sprint Week,” the cars and stars of the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series are back in action this Saturday, September 23rd, at Perris Auto Speedway. Promoted by Don Kazarian, the "10th Annual Glenn Howard Classic” marks the 200th “home track” event for the traditional 410 series. The PAS Senior Sprint Cars and PAS Young Gun Sprint Cars will also share the spotlight at "America's Premier Dirt Track." The spectator gates will open at 5:00pm and racing is scheduled for 7:00pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
NOTICE TO USAC/CRA COMPETITORS: The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is the ONLY legal right rear tire and all four corners must be Hoosier tires. The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is also the current legal tire with the USAC West Coast, USAC SouthWest, and VRA Sprint Cars. Cars must pass a tech inspection and one-way radios are mandatory for drivers. USAC/CRA charges a $25 entry fee to all competitors and the series rule book can be found online at www.usacracing.com. USAC MEMBERSHIPS ARE MANDATORY AT RACER’S FIRST EVENT and can be purchased at the track or online at https://usacracing.redpodium.com/2017-usac-sprint-midget-sc.
Since March 6, 2004, the Lake Perris Fairgrounds has held 199 USAC/CRA Sprint Car events and 34 different drivers have claimed victory. “The Demon” Damion Gardner leads all drivers with 42 wins and Nic Faas set the 1-lap qualifying record of 15.833 on February 25, 2012. This season, R.J. Johnson has won the last three Perris shows while Gardner has two wins and Richard Vander Weerd claimed the March 4th season opener. A complete Perris series win list is at the end of this release.
Saturday's event honors Glenn Howard who is considered by many in the industry as a "racer's racer." Throughout his involvement in racing, Glenn had served as a crew member, driver, car owner, sponsor, official, and business man. Howard's So-Cal Performance was recognized as a major parts supplier to racers across the globe for many years. In 1993, Glenn became the first president of the Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) and helped to build the foundation of the nationally respected club. After his term was over, Howard remained active in motorsports until his passing in September 2007. Kazarian, Perris Auto Speedway, and the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series are proud to honor Glenn's memory with the annual event and the winner’s list is at the end of the release.
Entering the seventeenth point race, “The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, California) has a 73-point lead over the competition. Racing Mark Alexander's #4 S.P. Beagle Plumbing / Weld Racing Spike, Gardner ran second to Kevin Thomas Jr. at Hanford on September 9th and clinched his third “California Sprint Week” title in four years. To date, “The Demon” has four feature wins, five Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, nine heat race victories, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 121 feature laps led on the year. The five-time champion leads all drivers with 74 career USAC/CRA victories and will be looking to claim his third “Glenn Howard Classic.”
Brody Roa (Garden Grove, California) ranks second in the chase for the championship. Piloting the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Burris Racing Maxim, Roa placed sixth at Hanford and finished sixth in the “California Sprint Week” standings. At press time, last year’s USAC West Coast Sprint Car Champion has one feature win, three heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Incorporated Semi-Main win, one Saldana Racing Products / Rod End Supply Hard Charger Award, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 57 feature laps led to his credit. Brody has two career USAC/CRA triumphs and will have his sights on his first win at Perris Auto Speedway.
Jake Swanson (Anaheim, California) is third in the USAC/CRA point standings. Driving Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Clackamas Rigging and Transfer Triple X, Swanson finished ninth at Hanford and ran fourth in the “California Sprint Week” points. To date, the 2012 Rookie of the Year has four Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, four heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Incorporated Semi-Main win, one Saldana Racing Products / Rod End Supply Hard Charger Award, fourteen top-10 finishes, and 13 feature laps led on the season. Jake has one career USAC/CRA victory and will be looking to add the “Glenn Howard Classic” to his resume.
Mike Spencer (Temecula, California) is fourth in the championship point chase. Racing the Gansen Engineering Motorsports’ #4S Trench Shoring / Ram-Bull Racing Maxim, Spencer claimed seventh at Hanford and ran eleventh in the “California Sprint Week” points. At press time, the five-time champion has one feature win, four heat race victories, eleven top-10 finishes, and 45 feature laps led on the year. Mike ranks second with 38 career USAC/CRA wins and will have his sights on his second “Howard Classic” victory.
“The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, California) sits fifth in the point standings. Piloting Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams was tenth at Hanford and ranked thirteenth in the “California Sprint Week.” To date, the 2009 Rookie of the Year has four heat race victories, two Saldana Racing Products / Rod End Supply Hard Charger Awards, and ten top-10 finishes in the campaign. Austin is tied with Garrett Hansen for twentieth on the USAC/CRA win list with five victories and will be looking to earn his second straight “Howard Classic” triumph.
Currently tenth in points, Matt McCarthy (Riverside, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Kyle Edwards (Fountain Valley, California) is also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Logan Williams, Max Adams, Chris Gansen, “The Bear” Jeremy Ellertson, Richard Vander Weerd, Ronnie Gardner, Jace Vander Weerd, “Thunder” Tommy Malcolm, R.J. Johnson, A.J. Bender, Verne Sweeney, 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, All Coast Construction, BR Motorsports, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, surfNsprint.com, Ultra Shield Race Products, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, contact PR Director Lance Jennings at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat pages.
Loudpedal Productions has USAC/CRA DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
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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, 2016-Damion Gardner.
GLENN HOWARD CLASSIC/MEMORIAL WINNERS: 2008-Tony Jones, 2009-Bryan Clauson, 2010-Cory Kruseman, 2011-Nic Faas, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Nic Faas, 2014-Damion Gardner, 2015-Damion Gardner, 2016-Austin Williams.
2017 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 4-Damion Gardner, 3-R.J. Johnson, 3-Kevin Thomas Jr., 1-Rico Abreu, 1-Max Adams, 1-Tyler Courtney, 1-Brody Roa, 1-Mike Spencer, 1-Richard Vander Weerd.
PERRIS AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 42-Damion Gardner, 24-Mike Spencer, 19-Tony Jones, 17-Cory Kruseman, 9-Nic Faas, 8-David Cardey, 7-Rip Williams, 6-Bryan Clauson, 6-Mike Kirby, 6-Matt Mitchell, 6-Danny Sheridan, 6-Richard Vander Weerd, 5-Rickie Gaunt, 4-Robert Ballou, 4-Dave Darland, 4-R.J. Johnson, 3-Garrett Hansen, 2-Darren Hagen, 2-Jesse Hockett, 2-Levi Jones, 2-Blake Miller, 2- Austin Williams, 2-Chris Windom, 1-Chad Boespflug, 1-Greg Bragg, 1-Daron Clayton, 1-Charles Davis Jr., 1-Josh Ford, 1-Josh Hodges, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Adam Mitchell, 1-Johnny Rodriguez, 1-Scotty Weir, 1-Jason York.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Damion Gardner-1135, 2. Brody Roa-1062, 3. Jake Swanson-1049, 4. Mike Spencer-869, 5. Austin Williams-801, 6. Cody Williams-731, 7. Logan Williams-675, 8. Max Adams-623, 9. Chris Gansen-611, 10. Matt McCarthy-524, 11. Jeremy Ellertson-501, 12. Richard Vander Weerd-495, 13. Kevin Thomas Jr.-415, 14. Chase Johnson-391, 15. Ronnie Gardner-386, 16. Geoff Ensign-381, 17. Tyler Courtney-370, 18. Jace Vander Weerd-364, 19. Austin Liggett-336, 20. Danny Faria Jr.-321.
2017 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
September 23: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
October 21: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
November 3: *Arizona Speedway - San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 4: *Arizona Speedway - San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 9: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
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)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with AMSOIL USAC National Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
