“GLENN HOWARD CLASSIC” AT THE PAS SATURDAY;

“THE DEMON” SWEEPS CALIFORNIA SPRINT WEEK RACES & TITLE

Saturday’s “Glenn Howard Classic” unfolds at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway. It’s a chance for AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car point leader Damion Gardner to pad his point lead, not that he needs to do so.

Gardner has spurted to a very comfortable 242 point lead over five-time series champion Mike Spencer as a result of last week’s three-race “California Sprint Week” sweep in the Golden State. Gardner earned the “California Sprint Week” title, outpointing Brody Roa by 85 points after the five-race swing.

Gardner opened last week’s action with a resounding 30-lap victory in Thursday night’s “Gold Cup Race of Champions” 30-lapper at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico. He passed Spencer on lap 16 and led the rest of the way to beat Bud Kaeding, Colby Copeland, Brody Roa and Kevin Thomas Jr. Jake Swanson led lap one and Spencer the next 14 before Gardner, the fastest qualifier in his Scott Sales Company/J & D Performance Spike, went to the front.

Friday night he captured the 30-lapper at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville. He led the final 16 laps after passing early leader Ryan Bernal, who finished second. Thomas was third followed by Richard Vander Weerd and Spencer.

In Saturday night’s 30-lap finale at Santa Maria Speedway, he passed Cody Williams on lap 25 and led the final six laps to beat Williams, Geoff Ensign, fast qualifier Roa and Spencer.

In seven Perris outings this year, Gardner has won five times and added a second and a seventh.