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JONES / COONS SLIDE THEIR WAY TO PRELIM WINS
By: Robert Mayson
PERRIS, CA, November 2 - Tony Jones served notice that he is ready to defend his Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply / Budweiser Oval Nationals title. With six laps to go, Jones passed newly crowned Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) Champion Cory Kruseman and went on to win Friday's first 20 lap main event at the Perris Auto Speedway. While Jones raced from the 20th starting spot to a third place finish in the completely inverted 20 lap race that followed, Jerry Coons, Jr. drove his dad's Napa Auto Parts No. 12A Stealth to his second career Non-Winged World Championship (NWWC) victory after starting 14th.
In contrast to Thursday's racing, track conditions we much slicker on Friday which played right into the hands of Jones and the Mike Wall owned / Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply No. 37 Avenger. Revered by many as the best at executing the Perris slide job, Jones hopes that track conditions are similar for Saturday's $25,000 to win finale.
"It was a good race track tonight, hopefully it'll be the same type of track tomorrow tonight. If it is we'll have a lot of fun," Jones said in victory lane. "We're out here to take the money, but there's a lot of tough guys out here and we'll see what happens tomorrow night. Hopefully, we'll have some luck."
Jones started sixth in the first main event, but ran fourth at the end of the opening lap behind pole sitter Cory Kruseman, Charles Davis, Jr., and Troy Rutherford. Charlie Ekiss touched Brent Kaeding entering turn three on lap two and spun to a stop. Looking for a way to miss Ekiss, Jon Stanbrough touched wheels with Jeff Schildmeyer and flipped hard into the fence. Stanbrough was not hurt during the flip. Kaeding never stopped in the incident and eventually finished eighth.
Jones passed the Gardner Motorsports / Sander Engineering No. 4 Sled driven by Rutherford for third on the restart. Rutherford passed Jones back, only have Jones attempt a daring slide job where he split, and passed, Rutherford and Davis entering turn three on lap five. Jones nearly spun in front of Davis as he pulled off this pass, but Davis did a nice job to avoid Jones even though in cost him the third position to Rutherford.
By the eleventh circuit, Jones was glued to the tail tank of the Harlan Willis / WorldGate Networks No. 45 TCR. Kruseman effectively worked lapped traffic, but Jones was equally as good. Jones waited for a couple of laps and then took the lead on lap 15 after giving Kruseman one of his turn one sliders. Jones nearly spun for a second time in turn three one lap later, but was able to quickly get back up to speed and went on the win the race. Kruseman finished second ahead of Rutherford, Davis and John Scott.
Ekiss started on the pole for the second race and led the opening lap. As always with the bulk of the faster cars starting near the rear, the second 20 lap main was all about passing. Rookie Ronnie Clark took the lead on the second lap, as Jones and Kruseman sliced and diced their way forward. Kruseman tangled with Eric Rossi on lap four spinning the winged specialist to a stop in turn two. Scott also spun after contact with Rossi. Both cars were able to restart.
Still in the hunt for his second NWWC Championship, Kruseman had another close call in turn three after he and Danny Sheridan came together after the restart. Kruseman lost a couple of positions as a result of the incident, but managed to keep from spinning.
The caution flag was out with 12 laps to go and Jason Statler now in the lead. Jones ran eighth and Kruseman tenth at this point of the race. While most spectators were thinking that the restart would give Jones and Kruseman a chance to win, Coons had other ideas. Passing two cars on the restart, Coons moved into the third spot.
Two laps later, Coons passed the Carol Crossno / Pace Hallmark No. 37 TCR driven by Levi Jones. Coons moved into the lead coming down to complete the tenth lap as Jones simultaneously moved into fifth. Once out front, Coons was never challenged and went on to earn his first SCRA win at Perris.
"It's been about three years since I've been to this track and I absolutely love coming here. Racing back east, I don't get to come back here as often as I'd like. I've been hitting Bubby Jones up tonight asking him some questions. Tony doesn't know that," Coons laughed. "But, I want to thank him for some pointers."
Kaeding moved into the runner-up spot on lap eleven on was able to stay ahead of Tony Jones, Levi Jones and Kruseman. After the race, Kaeding was pleased to learn that he will be joining his son, Bud, on the front row for tomorrow's 50 lap championship race.
"These guys down here without the wing are really tough. This is something we get to come down and do once a year, and I'll tell you what, I've had more fun tonight than I've had all year racing with them wings on," said Kaeding, prior to being asked about his chances against his son. "He's been on a roll lately and has been really tough everywhere. We've got our work cut out for us, but we're just here to have a good time."
Tony Jones, Kruseman, Coons and Rutherford also earned direct transfers to tomorrow's A-Main. Rickie Gaunt finished sixth in both races, but fell one point shy of earning a direct transfer to Saturday's 50 lap ($25,000 to win) finale.
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SCRA RACE #41 - OVAL NATIONALS - PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY, PERRIS, CA
Date of Race: 11/02/01
SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS
1. Cory Kruseman, Ventura CA, Willis 45 , 16.988 2. Charles Davis, Jr, Chandler AZ, Morales 94 , 17.214 3. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance CA, M&B Racing 5X, 17.295 4. Troy Rutherford, Ojai CA, Gardner, Jr 4 , 17.312 5. John Scott, Hesperia CA, Scott Mtrsprts 83, 17.344 6. Tony Jones, Corona CA, Wall 37 , 17.398 7. Jerry Coons, Jr, Tucson AZ, Coons, Sr. 12A, 17.448 8. Verne Sweeney, Lomita CA, Sweeney 98 , 17.493 9. Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria CA, Sertich 92, 17.585 10. Eric Rossi, Gilroy CA, Family Auto 98X , 17.607 11. Brent Kaeding, Campbell CA, M&M Racing 2M, 17.620 12. Levi Jones, Olney IL, Crossno 38, 17.757 13. Dan Hillberg, Whittier CA, Hillberg 82 , 17.813 14. Charlie Ekiss, La Mesa CA, Ball 78, 17.814 15. Brad Noffsinger, Concord NC, Gaunt Const. 40 , 17.828 16. Jason York, Chico CA, York 25N, 17.922 17. Bob Ream Jr, Glendale AZ, Brat Racing 8 , 17,930 18. Ed Carpenter, Jr., Indianapolis IN, K&D Motorsports 6, 18.020 19. Jon Stanbrough, Jamestown IN, Yeley 2J , 18.056 20. Jason Statler, San Jose CA, Statler 00 , 18.137 21. Tom Downing, Lakewood CA, Downing 90 , 18.207 22. Ronnie Clark, (R) Tucson AZ, Winter 33 , 18.237 23. Jeff Schildmeyer, (R) Alpine CA, Ball 87 , 18.285 24. Tony Lima, Industry CA, Lima 30 , 18.286 25. Bob Ferro, (R) Sherman Oaks CA,Ferro 91X , 19.383 26. Jordan Hermansader, Long Beach CA, Pratt 12, No Time, 27. Jack DeArmond, Jr., Corona CA, DeArmond, Sr. 24, No Time
HEDMAN HEDDERS HEAT 1
1. John Scott, 2. Cory Kruseman, 3. Danny Sheridan, 4. Dan Hillberg, 5. Bob Ream Jr, 6. Bob Ferro,
SHAVER ENGINES HEAT 2
1. Tony Jones, 2. Eric Rossi, 3. Charles Davis, Jr, 4. Ed Carpenter, Jr., 5. Ronnie Clark, 6. Charlie Ekiss,
KSE PRODUCTS HEAT 3
1. Brent Kaeding, 2. Rickie Gaunt, 3. Jon Stanbrough, 4. Jerry Coons, Jr, 5. Brad Noffsinger, 6. Jeff Schildmeyer,
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS HEAT 4
1. Troy Rutherford, 2. Levi Jones, 3. Jason Statler, 4. Verne Sweeney, 5. Tony Lima, 6. Jason York,
JB ENTERPRISE B FEATURE
1. Bob Ream Jr. 2. Charlie Ekiss. 3. Brad Noffsinger. 4. Jason York. 5. Jeff Schildmeyer, 6. Ronnie Clark.
7. Tony Lima, 8. Bob Ferro. 9. Tom Downing.
A FEATURE #1 (20 Laps)
1. Tony Jones, 2. Cory Kruseman. 3. Troy Rutherford, 4. Charles Davis, Jr. 5. John Scott. 6. Rickie Gaunt. 7. Jerry Coons, Jr. 8. Brent Kaeding. 9. Danny Sheridan. 10. Levi Jones. 11. Eric Rossi. 12. Verne Sweeney. 13. Jason Statler, 14. Jason York. 15. Bob Ream Jr. 16. Ed Carpenter, Jr.. 17. Brad Noffsinger. 18. Ronnie Clark. 19. Dan Hillberg. 20. Charlie Ekiss. 21. Jon Stanbrough. 22. Jeff Schildmeyer.
Laps Led: Kruseman 1-14, T. Jones 15-20
A FEATURE #2 (20 Laps)
1. Jerry Coons, Jr. 2. Brent Kaeding. 3. Tony Jones, 4. Levi Jones. 5. Cory Kruseman. 6. Rickie Gaunt. 7. Jason Statler, 8. Troy Rutherford, 9. Ed Carpenter, Jr. 10. Charlie Ekiss. 11. John Scott. 12. Eric Rossi. 13. Ronnie Clark. 14. Danny Sheridan. 15. Jason York. 16. Bob Ream Jr. 17. Verne Sweeney. 18. Charles Davis, Jr. 19. Brad Noffsinger. 20. Dan Hillberg.
Laps Led: Ekiss 1, Clark, 2-5, Statler 6-9, Coons 10-20
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BUD KAEDING WINS $25K OVAL NATIONALS / GRIFFIN EARNS 2ND NWWC TITLE
By: Robert Mayson
PERRIS, CA, November 3 - Twenty-one year-old Bud Kaeding became the sixth different driver in as many years to win the Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply / Budweiser Oval Nationals. The victory was worth $25,000 to Kaeding. Richard Griffin finished eighth in the race, which was good enough for him to win his second straight Non-Winged World Championship (NWWC) title.
One week ago, Kaeding led all but the final lap of the Western World Championships at Manzanita Speedway. His heartbreaking defeat came as a result of a front end failure that sent him hard into the turn one wall. Although Kaeding was extremely pleased with Saturday's 50 lap victory at the Perris Auto Speedway, he remained disappointed with last week's outcome.
"I wouldn't say this makes up for it, but it does kind help heal it," Kaeding said. "We won $25,000 tonight and we could have won $12,500 last week, but that's just the way it goes. We'll go back home now, do our homework, and try to start next year like we've end this one."
Driving the BK Racing / Kohler Faucets No. 29K Maxim, Kaeding started on the pole with his father, Brent Kaeding, to his outside. Dad showed his son that he still had a few lesson to learn and easily won the drag race to the green flag.
Danny Sheridan halted the race on lap eight after he flipped high in the air through the first turn. Sheridan was not hurt during an incident that also collected Tony Elliott and Gary Howard. Jerry Coons, Jr. and Rodney Argo bumped tires along the backstraight after the restart leaving Coons stopped on the track with a flat left rear tire. Brent held the lead for the restart, only to watch Bud drop his M&M Racing / Al's Roofing Supply No. 2M Maxim back to the second spot in turn two.
One lap later, Tracy Hines bicycled Andy Morales' "Tamale Wagon" in turn three. Hines rode up the wall, flipped and was hit by 1999 Oval Nationals Champion, Rickie Gaunt. A small fire broke out after the flip resulting in some anxious moments when Hines crawled from the car with one of his legs on fire. Fortunately, the fire was quickly extinguished and it was reported that Hines did not suffer any serious burns. It was later feared, however, that Hines may have sustained a broken ankle in the accident.
With Bud now into lapped traffic, Tony Jones used one of his trademark PAS slide jobs to put the Mike Wall / Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply No. 37 Avenger ahead of Brent on lap 22. A pair of past Oval Nationals winners ran into problems two laps later. Much like Hines' accident, Argo biked and flipped in turn three leaving Rip Williams nowhere to go except into Argo. Williams returned for the restarted, but might have wished he hadn't after he flipped entering three on lap 29. Neither driver was hurt.
With no lapped cars between first and second place, Jones knew that the restart might present an opportunity for him to try another one of his slide jobs. Bud was more than aware of this since his crew chief is Jones' brother (Davey). Nevertheless, Jones was able to grab the lead on the restart with a big slider in turn one. Bud battled back and regained the lead in turn three.
"I'm just glad I survived a Tony Jones slide job," Kaeding laughed. "I spent all week listening to everything thing he was going to do and everything to watch out for. At the same time, it worked out in our favor because not everyone can warn you about it. Tony got by me and I saw that he had blistered his tires real early in the race. We put a harder tire on and were able to beat him down the straightaway."
Reminiscent of his Oval Nationals victory over Mike Kirby last year, Jones seemed content to wait for Bud to reach lapped traffic. Bud eventually reached the last running car ten laps from the finish. As it tuned out, lapped traffic benefited the leader more than it did Jones. Jones did, however, make up the ground that he had lost and was within striking distance when passed beneath the white flag. Bud was slowed for a split second by a slower car through turn two and it looked like Jones might have a shot at victory. That is, until the yellow flag waved for Gaunt, who stopped on the racing surface.
Reverting back to lap 48 on the restart, Bud powered away from Jones as the green flag flew. Jones was once again within striking distance as the white cloth appeared and tried one final turn one slide job for the win. Refusing to have victory snatched from his hands for the second week in a row, Bud looked like a seasoned veteran when he beat Jones to the cushion and drove on to reach starter Lee Jaskowiak's checkered flag first.
On the cool down lap, Bud was greeted with a loving wheel rub from his dad, who finished third. Once out the their respective mounts, father and son hugged on the front straight before joining Jones on the victory podium. Prior to the last restart, Cory Kruseman was in a position to win his second NWWC title. Griffin struggled for most of the race and was running tenth at the time. Unbelievably, the combination of Yeley passing Kruseman for fourth and Griffin moving up to an eighth place finish gave Griffin the title by just three points.
"Right from the start we didn't have a very good race car," Griffin said after winning the $10,000 bonus that goes with the NWWC Championship. "I'm a little bit disappointed because we had a good car on Thursday and was looking forward to tonight, but it just wasn't hooked up. We had a lot of chances under those reds to make it better and we never really helped it a whole lot. That last yellow came out and I knew what I had to do if I wanted to win it and I focused on that. Luckily, J.J. was able to get by Cory and we were able to pass two cars on the last two laps and pull off the Non-Winged World Championship again."
Second generation driver Mike Spencer, who's father won shared CRA Rookie of the Year honors with Buster Venard in 1976, won the Speedway Motors, Inc. / NWWC Rookie of the Year Award.
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SCRA RACE #42 - OVAL NATIONALS - PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY, PERRIS, CA
Date of Race: 11/03/01
D FEATURE (15 Laps)
1. Adam Mitchell. 2. Jeremy Sherman. 3. Cal Smith. 4. Bobby Cody. 5, Tony Lima, 6. Steve Venard.
C FEATURE (20 Laps)
1. Troy Cline. 2. Tracy Hines. 3. Mike Spencer. 4. Brad Noffsinger. 5. Jeremy Sherman. 6, Charlie Ekiss. 7. Tim Crawley, 8. Ed Carpenter, Jr.. 9. Jason York. 10. Adam Mitchell. 11. Bob Ream Jr. 12. Tyler Walker, 13. Bobby Cody. 14. Rick Becker. 15. Ronnie Clark. 16. Steve Venard. 17. Andy Forsberg. 18. Jason Statler, 19. Cal Smith, 20. Tony Lima.
B FEATURE (20 Laps)
1. Brian Venard, 2. Charles Davis, Jr. 3. Rickie Gaunt, 4. John Scott. 5. Mike Kirby. 6. Jarrett Chaney. 7. Danny Sheridan. 8. Gary W. Howard. 9. Michael Hinrichsen. 10. Tracy Hines, 11. Steve Ostling. 12. Tony Elliott. 13. Troy Cline. 14. Jeremy Sherman. 15. Eric Rossi. 16. Lance Gremett. 17. Tim Crawley. 18. Levi Jones. 19. Ed Carpenter, Jr. 20. Mike Spencer. 21. Charlie Ekiss. 22. Dan Hillberg. 23. Verne Sweeney. 24. Brad Noffsinger.
A FEATURE (50 Laps - $25,000 to Win)
1. Bud Kaeding. 2. Tony Jones. 3. Brent Kaeding. 4. J.J, Yeley. 5. Cory Kruseman. 6. John Scott. 7. Charles Davis, Jr. 8. Richard Griffin. 9. Jeremy Sherman. 10. Mike Kirby. 11. Troy Cline. 12. Steve Ostling. 13. Michael Hinrichsen. 14. Brian Venard, 15. Gary W. Howard. 16. Rickie Gaunt. 17. Troy Rutherford. 18. Rip Williams, 19. Rodney Argo. 20. Jarrett Chaney. 21. Tracy Hines, 22. Jerry Coons, Jr. 23. Danny Sheridan. 24. Tony Elliott.
Laps Led: Brent Kaeding 1-8, Bud Kaeding 9-50
FINAL 2001 NON-WINGED WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (NWWC) TOUR POINTS TOTAL
Richard Griffin 637
Cory Kruseman 634
Mike Kirby 546
Troy Rutherford 522
Steve Ostling 487
Rickie Gaunt 461
Charles Davis, Jr. 448
John Scott 448
Rip Williams 437
Danny Sheridan 363
Troy Cline 342
Bob Ream, Jr. 326
Tony Jones 308
Adam Mitchell 259
Mike English 248
Lance Gremett 232
Mike Spencer 187
Ronnie Clark 183
Brian Venard 180
Mike Hinrichsen 152
Tony Elliott 151
George Gervais 142
Casey Shuman 131
Kevin Doty 121
Glenn Crossno 92
Hank Winter 89
Tony Everhart 39
Kevin Frisbie 20
Josh Davis 11
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