“FIRECRACKER 30” THURSDAY AT THE PAS

One of the season’s most appealing events, the “Firecracker 30,” unfolds Thursday, saluting the July 4 holiday at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.

The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will tackle the half-mile dirt oval for the fifth time this year and Damion Gardner will enter the race with a 51-point lead over Nic Faas in the latest standings.

The two Alexander Racing drivers have fared well in the first four Perris races. Gardner has a win and three seconds, while Faas has a win, two thirds and a fifth.

Matt Mitchell accounts for the remaining Perris win this year, taking the “Salute to Indy” feature in May. The win was Mitchell’s only “top-10” Perris finish in four starts.

Gardner continues to lead the all-time USAC/CRA and Perris victory lists. He has 46 CRA wins and this year’s Perris win was his 27th.