PERRIS HOSTS USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR BATTLE THIS SATURDAY
By Lance Jennings
JULY 20, 2017... This Saturday, July 22nd, the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series are back in action at Perris Auto Speedway. Promoted by Don Kazarian, the eighth point race will also feature the PAS Senior Sprint Cars and PAS Young Gun Sprint Cars. Located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds in Perris, California, the spectator gates at "America's Premier Dirt Track" will open at 5:00pm and racing is scheduled for 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. USAC MEMBERSHIPS ARE MANDATORY AT RACER’S FIRST EVENT and can be purchased at the track or online at https://usacracing.redpodium.com/2017-usac-sprint-midget-sc.
Since March 6, 2004, the Lake Perris Fairgrounds has held 197 USAC/CRA Sprint Car events and 34 different drivers have claimed victory. “The Demon” Damion Gardner leads all drivers with 42 wins and Nic Faas set the 1-lap qualifying record of 15.833 on February 25, 2012. This year, Richard Vander Weerd won the March 4th “Sokola Shootout” and Gardner won the April 1st “So Cal Showdown” and the “Salute to Indy” on May 27th. R.J. Johnson topped the 30-lap main event on June 24th. A complete Perris series win list is at the end of this release.
Entering Saturday’s event, “The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, California) has an eighteen point advantage over the competition. Piloting Mark Alexander's #4 S.P. Beagle Plumbing / Scott Sales Company Spike, Gardner scored third at Santa Maria on July 1st. To date, the five-time champion has three feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, six heat race victories, six top-10 finishes, and 60 feature laps led on the season. “The Demon” leads all drivers with 73 USAC/CRA victories and will be looking to extend his point lead with another Perris victory.
Brody Roa (Garden Grove, California) ranks second in the chase for the championship. Driving the #91R BR Performance owned HD Industries / Burris Racing Maxim, Roa ran second to Max Adams at Santa Maria Raceway. At press time, last year’s USAC West Coast Champion has posted one heat race victory, seven top-10 finishes, and 44 feature laps led to his credit. Brody has one career USAC/CRA triumph and will have his sights on his first “home track” win.
Mike Spencer (Temecula, California) sits third in the USAC/CRA point standings. Racing the Gansen Engineering Motorsports #4S Trench Shoring / Ram-Bull Racing Maxim, Spencer finished eighth at the July 1st main event. To date, the five-time champion has one feature win, three heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 28 feature laps led on the year. Mike ranks second with 38 career USAC/CRA wins and will be looking for his first Perris victory since November 3, 2012.
Jake Swanson (Anaheim, California) is fourth in the championship point chase. Piloting Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Clackamas Rigging and Transfer XXX, Swanson placed fourth in the Santa Maria main event. At press time, the 2012 Rookie of the Year has three Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Incorporated Semi-Main win, and five top-10 finishes on the season. Jake has one career USAC/CRA victory and will have his sights on his first win at Perris Auto Speedway.
“The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams is fifth in the USAC/CRA point standings. Racing Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams ran sixth at the Santa Maria checkered flags. To date, the 2009 Rookie of the Year has two heat race victories, two Saldana Racing Products / Rod End Supply Hard Charger Awards, and six top-10 finishes in the campaign. Austin is tied with Garrett Hansen for twentieth on the USAC/CRA win list and will be looking to earn his sixth feature triumph.
Currently tenth in points, Matt McCarthy (Riverside, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Kyle Edwards (Fountain Valley, California) is also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Logan Williams, Chris Gansen, Richard Vander Weerd, “Thunder” Tommy Malcolm, Max Adams, “The Bear” Jeremy Ellertson, Jace Vander Weerd, Verne Sweeney, A.J. Bender, “The Flying Peanut” Parker Colston, Eddie Tafoya, and more.
A strong contingent of Arizona racers and cars will join the action. 4-time USAC SouthWest Champion and June 24th Perris winner R.J. Johnson will be joined by Stevie Sussex, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, and “The Real American” Matt Rossi. 4-time USAC Western States Midget Champion Ronnie Gardner of California will be at the helm of Robbie & Gaye Allen’s potent #12 machine.
“The Hanford Hornet” Chad Boespflug will fly from Indiana to pilot Dwight Cheney’s #42 Maxim and Don Gansen will return to sprint car racing after a three year retirement.
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), and Kids tickets (6-12) are $5. Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event 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 & Miller Racing Solutions, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, 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, contact 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, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat pages.
Loudpedal Productions has USAC/CRA DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
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AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR 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, 2016-Damion Gardner.
2017 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 3-Damion Gardner, 1-Max Adams, 1-R.J. Johnson, 1-Mike Spencer, 1-Richard Vander Weerd.
PERRIS AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 42-Damion Gardner, 24-Mike Spencer, 19-Tony Jones, 17-Cory Kruseman, 9-Nic Faas, 8-David Cardey, 7-Rip Williams, 6-Bryan Clauson, 6-Mike Kirby, 6-Matt Mitchell, 6-Danny Sheridan, 6-Richard Vander Weerd, 5-Rickie Gaunt, 4-Robert Ballou, 4-Dave Darland, 3-Garrett Hansen, 2-Darren Hagen, 2-Jesse Hockett, 2-R.J. Johnson, 2-Levi Jones, 2-Blake Miller, 2- Austin Williams, 2-Chris Windom, 1-Chad Boespflug, 1-Greg Bragg, 1-Daron Clayton, 1-Charles Davis Jr., 1-Josh Ford, 1-Josh Hodges, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Adam Mitchell, 1-Johnny Rodriguez, 1-Scotty Weir, 1-Jason York.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Damion Gardner-520, 2. Brody Roa-502, 3. Mike Spencer-467, 4. Jake Swanson-437, 5. Austin Williams-407, 6. Cody Williams-386, 7. Logan Williams-343, 8. Chris Gansen-291, 9. Richard Vander Weerd-289, 10. Matt McCarthy-246, 11. Tommy Malcolm-240, 12. Max Adams-231, 13. Jeremy Ellertson-229, 14. Danny Faria Jr.-199, 15. Kyle Edwards-182, ... Jace Vander Weerd-182, 17. Verne Sweeney-159, ... Ronnie Gardner-159, 19. A.J. Bender-157, 20. Parker Colston-153.
2017 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
July 22: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
August 5: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA
August 26: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (California Racers Hall of Fame Night)
September 2: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week)
September 3: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week)
September 4: Petaluma Speedway - Petaluma CA (California Sprint Week)
September 7: Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions / California Sprint Week)
September 8: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA (California Sprint Week)
September 9: Keller Auto Speedway - Hanford, CA (California Sprint Week)
September 23: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
October 21: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
November 3: *Arizona Speedway - San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 4: *Arizona Speedway - San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 9: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
November 10: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
November 11: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with Amsoil USAC National Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
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ATTACHED PHOTOS/IMAGES:
#5X “Thunder” Tommy Malcolm – 11th in USAC/CRA Point Standings. Photo by Doug Allen.
