USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS RETURN TO PERRIS FOR “12TH ANNUAL GLENN HOWARD CLASSIC”
By Lance Jennings
SEPTEMBER 17, 2019... This Saturday, September 21st, the chase for the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car championship returns to Perris Auto Speedway. Promoted by Don Kazarian, the "12th Annual Glenn Howard Classic” will also feature the PAS Senior Sprints, PAS Young Gun Sprints, and the Western Racing Association Vintage Cars. Located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds in Perris, California, the spectator gates at "America's Premier Dirt Track" will open at 5:00pm and racing is scheduled for 7:00pm. At intermission, there will be a candy giveaway for kids and a meet and greet with the fans on the front straightaway. For more event information, visit the track’s website at perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
NOTICE TO RACERS:
- 2019 APPROVED/LEGAL MUFFLERS: EXTREME: 6014-3535, 3615-3535, BILLY BOAT: FRAC-0375S, COAST FABRICATION: 350x625x17-2S, FLOWMASTER: 53545-10, 13516100, 13516101, SCHOENFELD: 14272535, 14272735-78, SPINTECH: 1545P SUPER STOCK. *Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
- FRONT AXLE TETHER SYSTEMS (2-Chassis, 1-King Pin to King Pin) ARE MANDATORY.
- FULL CONTAINMENT SEATS ARE MANDATORY.
- Hoosier Tires are required on all four corners with the 105/16 Medium, 105/18 Hard, and 105/18 F85A as the only approved right rear tires. The “Medium” is also legal with the USAC National, USAC SouthWest, USAC West Coast, and VRA Sprint Cars.
- COCKPIT ADJUSTABLE SHOCKS ARE ALLOWED.
- USAC/CRA charges a $25 entry fee to all competitors and the series rule book can be found online at usacracing.com.
- USAC MEMBERSHIPS can be purchased at the track or online at usaclicense.com.
- USAC BONUS / Any racer who enters every event for both the AMSOIL USAC/CRA and Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Car schedules will have their entry fees reimbursed at the end of the year.
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 businessman. 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.
To date, there have been 219 USAC/CRA events at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds. Since March 6, 2004, 40 different drivers claimed victory at Perris, led by “The Demon” Damion Gardner with 46 victories and Nic Faas set the 1-lap track record of 15.833 on February 25, 2012. During the last six visits, Richard Vander Weerd has two triumphs with other wins scored by Gardner, Brody Roa, Hunter Schuerenberg, and Jake Swanson. The series win list at Perris is at the end of this release.
Entering the seventeenth point race, there have been ten different winners. “The Demon” Damion Gardner has three victories, while Roa, Schuerenberg, Swanson, and Vander Weerd are tied with two wins. Josh Hodges, Chase Johnson, Austin Liggett, Troy Rutherford, and Austin Williams have one triumph on the season.
After winning at Santa Maria on September 7th and claiming the “California Sprint Week” crown by 1-point, “The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, CA) has a 62-point lead. Racing Mark Alexander’s #4 Trench Shoring / All Coast Construction Spike, Gardner has three feature wins, eight Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, six heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Pyrotect Racing Cells Semi-Main Win, one Wilwood Disc Brakes Lucky 13 Award, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 70 feature laps led on the year. The seven-time champion leads all drivers with 83 USAC/CRA wins and will be looking for his fifth “Glenn Howard Classic” victory.
After running second to Gardner during “California Sprint Week” and at Santa Maria, “The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, CA) has climbed to second in the USAC/CRA point standings. Piloting Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Lucas Oil DRC, Williams has one feature win, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, one Specialty Fasteners Hard Charger Award, fourteen top-10 finishes, and 18 feature laps led in the campaign. The 2009 Co-Rookie of the Year is tied with Dave Darland, Rickie Gaunt, Brody Roa, and Danny Sheridan with eight series wins and will have his sights on his second “Glenn Howard Classic” triumph.
Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA) ranks third in the chase for the USAC/CRA championship. Driving the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Burris Racing Maxim, Roa was third in “California Sprint Week” points and finished sixteenth at Santa Maria. The 2016 USAC West Coast champion has two feature wins, three heat race victories, twelve top-10 finishes, and 104 feature laps led to his credit. It was recently announced that the #91R car was parked and Brody raced to last Saturday’s Peoria USAC SouthWest Sprint Car win in Tanner Grau’s #34 Maxim. Currently tied with Dave Darland, Rickie Gaunt, Danny Sheridan, and Austin Williams with eight USAC/CRA wins, Roa is a threat to win his first “Glenn Howard Classic.”
Jake Swanson (Anaheim, CA) is fourth in the championship point chase. Piloting John Grau & Mike Burkhart’s #34AZ Stratis Construction / KSE Custom Drywall DRC, Swanson scored third at Santa Maria and placed fifth in “California Sprint Week” standings. To date, the Louie Vermeil Classic winner has two feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, one dash win, four heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Pyrotect Racing Cells Semi-Main win, ten top-10 finishes, and 43 feature laps led to his credit. Jake is tied with Darren Hagen, Kevin Swindell, and Chris Windom with four series wins and will be looking to add the “Glenn Howard Classic” to his resume.
Chris Gansen (Verdemont Heights, CA) has climbed to fifth in the USAC/CRA point chase. Racing the family owned #4G Trench Shoring / Circle Track Performance Maxim, Gansen ran ninth at Santa Maria and placed tenth in the “California Sprint Week” standings. At press time, Chris has posted two Wilwood Disc Brakes Lucky 13 Awards, six top-10 finishes, and 15 feature laps led in the campaign. This Saturday night, Gansen will have his sights on his first USAC/CRA triumph at Perris Auto Speedway.
Currently ranked eleventh in points, Eddie Tafoya Jr. (Chino Hills, CA) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Steve Hix (Ventura, CA), and Jeff Dyer (Bermuda Dunes, CA) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “Thunder” Tommy Malcolm, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr., Matt McCarthy, Richard Vander Weerd, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, R.J. Johnson, Austin Liggett, Jace Vander Weerd, Stevie Sussex, Verne Sweeney, Joel Rayborne, Trent Williams, 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 perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks All Coast Construction, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Five Star Grafix, Flowdynamics, Hoosier Racing Tire, Loudpedal Productions, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Saldana Racing Products, Specialty Fasteners, surfNsprint.com, Sway-A-Way Racing Technology, Ultra Shield Race Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes, 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 the series, visit usacracing.com and the social media for USAC Racing. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC/CRA Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
FloSports has USAC/CRA Sprint Car live videos and on demand coverage available for purchase at floracing.com. A 250-mile blackout from Perris Auto Speedway will be in effect.
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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, 2017-Damion Gardner, 2018-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-Damion Gardner, 2018-Damion Gardner.
2019 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 3-Damion Gardner, 2-Brody Roa, 2-Hunter Schuerenberg, 2-Jake Swanson, 2-Richard Vander Weerd, 1-Josh Hodges, 1-Chase Johnson, 1-Austin Liggett, 1-Troy Rutherford, 1-Austin Williams.
PERRIS AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 46-Damion Gardner, 24-Mike Spencer, 19-Tony Jones, 17-Cory Kruseman, 9-Nic Faas, 8-David Cardey, 8-Richard Vander Weerd, 7-Rip Williams, 6-Bryan Clauson, 6-Mike Kirby, 6-Matt Mitchell, 6-Danny Sheridan, 5-Rickie Gaunt, 5-Justin Grant, 4-Robert Ballou, 4-Dave Darland, 4-R.J. Johnson, 4-Austin Williams, 3-Garrett Hansen, 2-Darren Hagen, 2-Jesse Hockett, 2-Levi Jones, 2-Blake Miller, 2-Brody Roa, 2-Kevin Thomas Jr., 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-Hunter Schuerenberg, 1-Chase Stockon, 1-Jake Swanson, 1-Scotty Weir, 1-Jason York.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Damion Gardner-1064, 2. Austin Williams-1006, 3. Brody Roa-996, 4. Jake Swanson-895, 5. Chris Gansen-699, 6. Tommy Malcolm-598, 7. Charles Davis Jr.-592, 8. Danny Faria Jr.-583, 9. Matt McCarthy-565, 10. Richard Vander Weerd-508, 11. Eddie Tafoya Jr. ®-500, 12. Mike Martin-477, 13. Steve Hix ®-469, 14. Cody Williams-461, 15. R.J. Johnson-458, 16. Austin Liggett-453, 17. Jace Vander Weerd-351, 18. Stevie Sussex-350, 19. Verne Sweeney-348, 20. A.J. Bender-307.
2019 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
March 8: #Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Winner: Josh Hodges)
March 9: #Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Winner: Hunter Schuerenberg)
March 30: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Brody Roa)
April 13: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Richard Vander Weerd)
May 4: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Winner: Troy Rutherford)
May 11: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA (Winner: Damion Gardner)
May 25: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Hunter Schuerenberg)
June 29: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Richard Vander Weerd)
July 6: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Winner: Brody Roa)
July 13: #Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Damion Gardner)
August 17: #Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Jake Swanson)
August 31: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Winner: Austin Williams)
September 1: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Winner: Jake Swanson)
September 2: Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA (Winner: Chase Johnson)
September 6: Merced Speedway – Merced, CA (Winner: Austin Liggett)
September 7: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Winner: Damion Gardner)
September 21: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
September 28: #Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
November 7: *#Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
November 8: *#Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
November 9: *#Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
November 15: *#Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 16: *#Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Cars.
# = Co-Sanctioned Event with Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars.
CSW = California Sprint Week.
This schedule is subject to change.