USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS HEADLINE SATURDAY’S ACTION AT PERRIS
After a short break, the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Cars are back in action this Saturday, October 15th at Perris Auto Speedway. Promoted by Don Kazarian, the nineteenth point race will also feature the PAS Senior and Young Gun Sprint Cars. The spectator gates will open at 5:00pm and racing at "America's Premier Dirt Track" will start at 7:00pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
NOTICE TO USAC/CRA COMPETITORS: The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is the ONLY legal right rear tire and all four corners must be Hoosier tires. The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is also the current legal tire with the USAC West Coast, USAC SouthWest, and VRA Sprint Cars. Cars must pass a tech inspection and one-way radios are mandatory for drivers. USAC/CRA charges a $25 entry fee to all competitors and the series rule book can be found online at www.usacracing.com.
Since March 6, 2004, the half-mile clay oval at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds has held 189 USAC/CRA Sprint Car events. “The Demon” Damion Gardner leads all drivers with 38 victories and Nic Faas set the 1-lap qualifying record of 15.833 on February 25, 2012. To date, there have been eight “home track” shows and seven different drivers have taken the checkered flags. California’s Austin Williams won the May 28th “Salute to Indy” and the “Glenn Howard Classic” on September 24th. Indiana’s Bryan Clauson, New Mexico’s Josh Hodges, and California’s Richard Vander Weerd, “Showtime” Danny Sheridan, Matt Mitchell, and “The Demon” Damion Gardner have stood atop the podium. A complete series win list at Perris Auto Speedway is at the end of this release.
After scoring fourth at Peoria, Arizona’s “Hall of Fame Classic” finale on October 1st, “The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, California) has a 107-point advantage over the competition. Piloting Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / Weld Racing Spike, Gardner has three feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, eleven heat race victories, one Brown & Miller Racing Solutions Semi-Main win, one BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Award, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 86 feature laps led to his credit. The four-time champion leads all drivers with 68 USAC/CRA victories and will be looking for another Perris win this Saturday night.
Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, California) ranks second in the chase for the championship. Driving the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Richard claimed third in the “Hall of Fame Classic.” At press time, the 2011 USAC West Coast Champion has one feature win, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, fourteen top-10 finishes, and 61 feature laps led on the year. Vander Weerd is tied with Robert Ballou, Levi Jones, Bud Kaeding, and Blake Miller for fifteenth on the USAC/CRA win list and will have his sights on his seventh victory.
Jake Swanson (Anaheim, California) sits third in the USAC/CRA point standings. Racing Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Clackamas Rigging and Transfer XXX, Swanson won the “Hall of Fame Classic” preliminary feature and ran eleventh on October 1st. To date, the 2012 Rookie of the Year has one feature win, three Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, two heat race victories, two Brown & Miller Racing Solutions Semi-Main wins, and thirteen top-10 finishes on the season. This Saturday, Jake will be looking for the second USAC/CRA main event win of his career.
Brody Roa (Garden Grove, California) is currently fourth in the USAC/CRA point chase. Piloting the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Lee & Norma Leonard Maxim, Roa placed eighteenth at Canyon Speedway Park. At press time, the USAC West Coast Champion has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, five heat race victories, eleven top-10 finishes, and 36 feature laps led in the campaign. Brody has one career USAC/CRA triumph and will have his sights on his first win at Perris Auto Speedway.
“The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, California) ranks fifth in the championship chase. Driving Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams finished second at the “Hall of Fame Classic” finale. To date, the 2009 Rookie of the Year has posted two feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, one Brown & Miller Racing Solutions Semi-Main win, two BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Awards, twelve top-10 finishes, and 55 feature laps led in the campaign. Austin is tied with Garrett Hansen for twentieth on the USAC/CRA win list and will be looking to score his sixth career victory.
Currently ranked seventh in points, Max Adams (Loomis, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Andrew Sweeney (Lomita, California), Trent Williams (Victorville, California), and Mikey Lovas (Wildomar, California) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Mike Spencer, Logan Williams, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Jace Vander Weerd, Chris Gansen, “The Bear” Jeremy Ellertson, “Thunder” Tommy Malcolm, Stevie Sussex, Ronnie Gardner, Verne Sweeney, A.J. Bender, “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr., Anthony Lopiccolo, 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 with School ID), and Kids tickets (6-12) are $5. Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. Advance tickets are available and for more information, visit the track’s website at www.perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, All Coast Construction, BR Motorsports, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Incorporated, DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Stand 21 Racer Goes Safer Foundation, surfnsprint.com, Ultra Shield Race Products, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, email PR Director Lance Jennings at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
For more information on USAC/CRA, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC/CRA Facebook and Twitter pages.
Loudpedal Productions has USAC/CRA DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
