THURSDAY-SATURDAY; BROWN SCORES 2ND CRA WIN AT VENTURA
Tight point races will highlight this weekend's three-night "Budweiser Oval Nationals" competition at the Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway. USAC's National and Lucas Oil USAC/CRA Championships will be impacted as the two series combine for the 13th running of the prestigious race at the 1/2-mile dirt oval.
 
Defending Budweiser Oval Nationals Champion Bud Kaeding headlines a stellar field of drivers, which includes 2008 National title hopefuls Jerry Coons Jr., Levi Jones and Cole Whitt, plus Lucas Oil USAC/CRA title hopefuls Mike Spencer, Blake Miller and Danny Sheridan.
 
Sheridan (sixth) and Coons (eighth) are the only 2008 title contenders who posted a "top-10" finish in last year's event. Coons currently lead Jones by two points and Whitt by 63 going into the program, while Sheridan trails USAC/CRA point leader Spencer by 105 and Miller by 43.
 
Drivers will compete in 25-lap features Thursday and Friday and Saturday night's main event is 40 laps.
 
Tyler Brown of Norco, Calif. earned his second Lucas Oil USAC/CRA Sprint race victory of the 2008 season last Saturday night, leading all 30 laps at Ventura Raceway. Brown and his Goodwine Glass/Gardner Pipe & Mechanical Chalk/Downing were trailed by Cory Kruseman, Tony Jones, Rickie Gaunt and Rip Williams. Series point leaders Spencer, Miller and Sheridan finished seventh, ninth and eighth respectively.
 
Kaeding stands alone as the only three-time Budweiser Oval Nationals Champion. Dave Darland and Cory Kruseman could match that feat with a 2008 crown, while Jimmy Sills, Rip Williams, Rodney Argo, Rickie Gaunt and Tony Jones are also former winners.