THE DEMON’s SORCERY LIKELY TO CONTINUE AT THE “COPPER ON DIRT”

After ending the 2009 season with a west coast reign of fire, The “Demon” Damion Gardner will start his 2010 rampage of the Sprint Car world as he aims for USA Raceway’s 4th Annual “Copper on Dirt”.


 


The Concord, Calif. native will again head west with the same Pace Lighting/Eagle Chassis/Shaver powered ride that took him to his 2009 Oval Nationals triumph along with several top five finishes in the fall of last year.  Seemingly on a hot streak, The “Demon” is optimistic on his return to the west coast and will very likely be a force to contend with in 2010.


 


With more than 60 career victories to his credit, Gardner and his relentless driving style is always a threat.  After dominating the west coast USAC/CRA Series, Gardner moved east to take on the best in and around Indiana and across the United States racking up notable victories at several venues including the 2008 Chili Bowl and the 2009 Oval Nationals.  Gardner comes into the 4th Annual “Copper on Dirt” with some experience at USA Raceway as he captured a USAC/CRA win in 2006 and has finished 5 out 6 races in the top five at the Tucson facility.


 


“I am looking forward to getting the 2010 season going,” commented Gardner.  “I always look forward to coming out west and racing and hopefully we carry on the success that we ended with in 2010.”


 


The 4th Annual “Copper on Dirt” featuring USAC Silver Crown, USAC National/CRA Sprint Cars and USAC National/Western States Midgets all taking part in a sensational racing spectacle at Tucson’s USA Raceway’s for two nights on February 19th and 20th marking USA Raceway as one of only two dirt track venues to host USAC’s Triple Crown all in one event.


 


As the 2010 racing season goes into full swing, USAC championship hopefuls will make their way west to start the year off at one of the premier events of the season.  More than a hundred of the nations top open wheel teams are anticipated to take part in the 4th Annual “Copper on Dirt” making this a must see event of 2010. 


 


Ticket pricing, seating charts and purchasing information can be found online at http://www.usaraceway.net/Uploads/CopperOnDirtTicketForm.pdf or by calling the USA Raceway office at 520-574-8515.


 


Hotel Information can be found at www.usaraceway.net/lodging.php or by calling the Tucson Airport Courtyard by Marriott at 520-573-0000.


 


USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 265, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales.  For more information, please contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at http://www.usaraceway.net


 


Mississippi’s Ricky Stenhouse became the first and only driver to win multiple “Copper on Dirt” features in a single year.  Stenhouse set the bar high at the inaugural “Copper on Dirt” by winning back to back races in the 40-lap sprint car feature and finishing off the night by capturing the 50-lap USAC Silver Crown Feature.


 


California native, Darren Hagen, is the only other driver to win in two divisions with a midget victory in 2008 and a sprint car win in 2009.  Hagen will lead the USAC trio into Tucson as the defending “Copper on Dirt” Sprint Car Champion while Brad Sweet and Bud Kaeding will likely set out to defend the USAC Midget and Silver Crown titles respectively.  Hagen also leads the “Copper on Dirt” stats with 8 of 9 feature starts (Did not participate in 2007 Silver Crown portion) and an average finish of 5th in 8 total events.


 


Past Copper on Dirt Winners:


 


2007 USAC Midgets - Cory Kruseman
2007 USAC Sprint Cars - Ricky Stenhouse
2007 USAC Silver Crown - Ricky Stenhouse
2008 USAC Midgets – Darren Hagen
2008 USAC Sprint Cars – Shane Cottle
2008 USAC Silver Crown – Jerry Coons Jr.
2009 USAC Midgets – Brad Sweet
2009 USAC Sprint Cars – Darren Hagen
2009 USAC Silver Crown – Bud Kaeding