USAC/CRA SPRINTS RESUME APRIL 16 AT PERRIS; CLAUSON WINS “SOKOLA SHOOTOUT”
The USAC/CRA AMSOIL Sprint Car Series resumes with the “So-Cal Showdown” April 16 at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.
Damion Gardner and Mike Spencer, winners of the past eight USAC/CRA titles, will continue their all-time battle for victories and feature laps led when the series returns to the half-mile dirt oval. It’ll mark the 181st appearance of the USAC/CRA series at The PAS. Gardner owns 37 wins and Spencer 25. Gardner won five Perris races last year and has led 49 career races there. Spencer, who has led 45 races there, has not won at Perris since 2013.
Neither driver had the best of luck in last Saturday night’s “Sokola Classic” 2016 USAC/CRA opener won by Bryan Clauson at Perris. Spencer managed a fifth-place finish while Gardner, who was unable to post a qualifying time, took 23rd and last place in the feature.
Clauson, of Noblesville, Ind., completed a “sweep” of USAC Sprint car victories last week, also winning Friday night’s FVP “Sin City Showdown” at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway. Wheeling the Mike Martin-owned Cancer Treatment Centers of America/Jonathan Byrd’s Racing machine, Clauson passed Richard Vander Weerd on lap 13 and proceeded to lead the final 18 laps to beat Vander Weerd, Brody Roa, Josh Hodges and Spencer.
With the win, Clauson also set a new USAC record by earning his 6th USAC feature victory through the first 10 USAC-sanctioned races of the season. In fact, he broke his own record of winning five of the first 10 USAC-sanctioned races in 2013. Only two other drivers have even won four of the first 10 USAC races in a season: Damion Gardner in 2010 and Gary Bettenhausen in 1972. Clauson currently sits atop the USAC/CRA standings entering the April 16 race at Perris.
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USAC/CRA AMSOIL SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS: March 5, 2016 – Perris, California – Perris Auto Speedway – “Sokola Shootout”
QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Bryan Clauson, 16B, Martin-16.529; 2. Austin Williams, 2, Jory-16.607; 3. Jake Swanson, 92, Sertich-16.730; 4. Mike Spencer, 50 Chaffin-16.749; 5. Josh Hodges, 74X, Hodges-16.865; 6. Brody Roa, 91R, BR-16.914; 7. Trent Williams, 52, Williams-16.920; 8. Cody Williams, 44, Jory-16.957; 9. Matt Rossi, 02, Rossi-16.994; 10. Max Adams, 5M, Adams-17.002; 11. Richard Vander Weerd, 10, Vander Weerd-17.038; 12. Danny Faria Jr., 17V, Faria-17.049; 13. Matt Mitchell, 9, McDonald-17.049; 14. Parker Colston, 64, Gore-17.082; 15. R.J. Johnson, 51, Martin-17.102; 16. Tommy Malcolm, 5X, Napier-17.185; 17. A.J. Bender, 21, Bender-17.299; 18. Chris Gansen, 4G, Gansen-17.310; 19. Jace Vander Weerd, 88, Vander Weerd-17.349; 20. Verne Sweeney, 98V, Tracy-17.391; 21. Jeremy Ellertson, 98, Ellertson-17.864; 22. Eddie Tafoya, 51T, Tafoya-17.967; 23. Matt Stewart, 84, Stewart-18.070; 24. Mikey Lovas, 36, Lovas-18.111; 25. Tony Everhart, 55, Everhart-18.429; 26. Logan Williams, 5, Jory-NT; 27. Andrew Sweeney, 98JR, Tracy-NT; 28. Damion Gardner, 4, Alexander-NT; 29. Dave Darland, 42, Cheney-NT.
FIRST HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Malcolm, 2. Spencer, 3. Clauson, 4. T.Williams, 5. Adams, 6. J.Vander Weerd, 7. Everhart, 8. Mitchell, 9. Tafoya. 2:49.47
SECOND HEAT: (10 laps) 1. R.Vander Weerd, 2. Colston, 3. Bender, 4. Hodges, 5. C.Williams, 6. L.Williams, 7. V.Sweeney, 8. Stewart, 9. A.Williams. NT
THIRD HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Johnson, 2. Rossi, 3. Faria, 4. Roa, 5. Swanson, 6. Gansen, 7. Ellertson, 8. Lovas. 2:24.01
SEMI: (12 laps) 1. Swanson, 2. A.Williams, 3. Adams, 4. C.Williams, 5. Mitchell, 6. Gansen, 7. L.Williams, 8. V.Sweeney, 9. J.Vander Weerd, 10. Ellertson, 11. Tafoya, 12. Lovas, 13. Stewart. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Bryan Clauson, 2. Richard Vander Weerd, 3. Brody Roa, 4. Josh Hodges, 5. Mike Spencer, 6. Jake Swanson, 7. Danny Faria Jr., 8. Cody Williams, 9. R.J. Johnson, 10. Max Adams, 11. Parker Colston, 12. A.J. Bender, 13. Jace Vander Weerd, 14. Logan Williams, 15. Jeremy Ellertson, 16. Chris Gansen, 17. Austin Williams, 18. Trent Williams, 19. Tommy Malcolm, 20. Matt Mitchell, 21. Verne Sweeney, 22. Matt Rossi, 23. Damion Gardner. NT
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**A.Sweeney flipped during qualifications. A.Williams flipped during second heat.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-12 R.Vander Weerd, Laps 13-30 Clauson.
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UPCOMING USAC/CRA AMSOIL SPRINT CAR EVENTS
DATE: Saturday, April 16, 2016
SERIES: AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
TRACK: Perris Auto Speedway (Perris, California) - 1/2 Mile, Semi-Banked Dirt Oval
EVENT: "So-Cal Showdown" featuring the USAC/CRA AMSOIL Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws, PAS Senior Sprints and PAS Young Guns. "Power of Purple Night" Benefiting the City of Perris Relay for Life and The American Cancer Society
TRACK ADDRESS: Perris Auto Speedway - 18700 Lake Perris Drive - Perris, CA 92571
TRACK PHONE: (951) 940-0134
TRACK WEBSITE: http://www.perrisautospeedway.com/
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2016 USAC/CRA AMSOIL SPRINT CAR DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10)
1. (82) Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, IN)
2. (75) Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, CA)
3. (70) Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA)
4. (68) Mike Spencer (Temecula, CA)
5. (68) Josh Hodges (Albuquerque, NM)
6. (63) Jake Swanson (Anaheim, CA)
7. (58) Danny Faria, Jr. (Tipton, CA)
8. (54) R.J. Johnson (Tempe, AZ)
9. (50) Cody Williams (Yorba Linda, CA)
10. (48) Parker Colston (Lake Elsinore, CA)
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2016 USAC/CRA AMSOIL SPRINT CAR OWNER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10)
1. (82) Mike Martin #16B
2. (79) BR Racing #91R
3. (75) Ron Vander Weerd #10
4. (68) Ron Chaffin #50
5. (68) Josh Hodges #74x
6. (63) Tom & Laurie Sertich #92
7. (58) Danny Faria, Jr. #17v
8. (54) Bobby Martin #51
9. (50) John Jory #44
10. (48) Gore Racing #64
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PAST “SOKOLA SHOOTOUT” WINNERS
2001: Tony Jones
2002: Jeremy Sherman
2003: Jeremy Sherman
2004: Cory Kruseman
2005: Mike Kirby
2006: Mike Kirby
2009: Rickie Gaunt
2010: Damion Gardner
2011: Mike Spencer
2012: Nic Faas
2013: Bryan Clauson
2014: Damion Gardner
2015: Richard Vander Weerd
2016: Bryan Clauson
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2016 USAC/CRA AMSOIL SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & RESULTS
Mar 5: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
WINNER: Bryan Clauson
Apr 16: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
May 7: Ventura, CA – Ventura Raceway
May 28: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
Jun 11: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
Jul 1: Santa Maria, CA – Santa Maria Raceway
Jul 2: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
Jul 30: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
Aug 27: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
Sep 3: Calistoga, CA – Calistoga Speedway
Sep 4: Calistoga, CA – Calistoga Speedway
Sep 5: Petaluma, CA – Petaluma Speedway
Sep 8: Chico, CA – Silver Dollar Speedway
Sep 9: Watsonville, CA – Ocean Speedway
Sep 10: Hanford, CA – Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds
Sep 24: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
Sep 30: Peoria, AZ – Canyon Speedway
Oct 1: Peoria, AZ – Canyon Speedway
Oct 15: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
Nov 4: Queen Creek, AZ – Arizona Speedway
Nov 5: Queen Creek, AZ – Arizona Speedway
Nov 10: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
Nov 11: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
Nov 12: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
-------------- KEY DEFINITIONS ---------------
Races noted with @@@ represent California Sprint Week
Races noted with ### represent a co-sanctioned event with the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship
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2016 USAC/CRA AMSOIL SPRINT CAR STATISTICS
FEATURE WINS:
1. (1) Bryan Clauson – (Perris Auto Speedway on March 5)
FEATURE LAPS LED:
1. (18) Bryan Clauson
2. (12) Richard Vander Weerd
TOP-FIVE FEATURE FINISHES:
1. (1) Bryan Clauson, Josh Hodges, Brody Roa, Mike Spencer and Richard Vander Weerd
TOP-TEN FEATURE FINISHES:
1. (1) Max Adams, Bryan Clauson, Danny Faria, Jr., Josh Hodges, R.J. Johnson, Brody Roa, Mike Spencer, Jake Swanson, Richard Vander Weerd and Cody Williams
PROSOURCE FAST QUALIFYING TIMES:
1. (1) Bryan Clauson
HEAT RACE WINS:
1. (1) R.J. Johnson, Tommy Malcolm and Richard Vander Weerd
SEMI WINS:
1. Jake Swanson
FEATURE STARTS:
1. (1) Max Adams, A.J. Bender, Bryan Clauson, Parker Colston, Jeremy Ellertson, Danny Faria Jr., Damion Gardner, Josh Hodges, R.J. Johnson, Tommy Malcolm, Matt Mitchell, Brody Roa, Matt Rossi, Mike Spencer, Jake Swanson, Verne Sweeney, Jace Vander Weerd, Richard Vander Weerd, Cody Williams, Logan Williams, Chris Gansen, Austin Williams and Trent Williams
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ALL-TIME USAC/CRA AMSOIL SPRINT CAR DRIVER FEATURE WINS
1. [65 wins] Damion Gardner
2. [37 wins] Mike Spencer
3. [35 wins] Cory Kruseman
4. [20 wins] Tony Jones
5. [12 wins] Bryan Clauson
6. [10 wins] Nic Faas, Mike Kirby & Rip Williams
9. [9 wins] David Cardey
10. [8 wins] Rickie Gaunt
11. [7 wins] Dave Darland & Danny Sheridan
13. [6 wins] Robert Ballou, Ryan Bernal, Levi Jones, Bud Kaeding, Blake Miller & Matt Mitchell
19. [5 wins] Garrett Hansen & Richard Vander Weerd
21. [4 wins] Darren Hagen & Kevin Swindell
23. [3 wins] Jerry Coons Jr., Charles Davis, Jr., Jesse Hockett, Jeremy Sherman, Scotty Weir, Austin Williams & Josh Wise
30. [2 wins] Rico Abreu, Brady Bacon, Tyler Brown, R.J. Johnson, Kyle Larson & Chris Windom
36. [1 win] Alan Ballard, Jayme Barnes, Christopher Bell, Greg Bragg, Daron Clayton, Shane Cottle, Danny Faria, Jr., Ricci Faria, Josh Ford, Marty Hawkins, Tracy Hines, Kyle Hirst, Tim Kaeding, Mike Martin, Adam Mitchell, Brody Roa, Johnny Rodriguez, Jon Stanbrough, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Chase Stockon, Cole Whitt, Cody Williams & Jason York
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ALL-TIME USAC/CRA AMSOIL SPRINT CAR DRIVER 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
