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GARDNER ADDS SCRA TO HIS WIN LIST
By Robert Mayson
PERRIS, CA, JUNE 8, 2002 - From dwarf cars to winged sprint cars, Damion Gardner has scored a feature win in the first year of every series he has competed in. After Saturday's race at the Perris Auto Speedway, Gardner can now add the NAPA Auto Parts / Auto Trader Magazines SCRA series to that list.
In just his 13th career SCRA start, Gardner started the evening by posting his third Sander Engineering Fast Time of the year and then proceeded to drive his Coy Construction No. 20 Eagle to a 30 lap win from the fifth starting position.
"I knew I could win races in every series that I've been in. Once we started running consistent and close to the front, I knew we could win here and that it was up to me to just stay calm," Gardner said after becoming the 31st different man to win an SCRA main event. "When you look at some of the guys that we compete against, they're some of the best in the country, and for us to be standing here on the podium in the number one spot is a great feeling."
Rip Williams won his first JE Pistons Dash of the year to earn the pole position for Sharon Jory / AMA Plastics No. 3 Gambler in the feature race. SCRA point leader Steve Ostling started outside of Williams and was able to put the Fischer Motorsports / Watt Enterprises No. 29 Okie into the lead at the start. Charles Davis, Jr. moved into second place on the opening lap and was followed closely by Williams, Mike Kirby and Gardner.
Richard Griffin was battling for the sixth spot when he spun on lap three after tangling with Gary W. Howard in turn two. Griffin returned to finish eighth. Howard was not as lucky and retired during the caution period with front-end damage.
Gardner passed Williams and Davis on the restart to move into second. Kirby seemed to find his rhythm after the restart as well and was able to push the Statewide Towing No. 5 Stinger into third by the end of the eighth circuit.
Running the same low line as the leader, Gardner caught Ostling on the tenth lap. Three laps later, Gardner moved to the middle groove and swept around Ostling for the lead in turn two. Having already earned a reputation for being ultra aggressive, Gardner reached lapped traffic on lap 17. Ostling and Kirby stayed close hoping for a mistake.
Even though a mistake never came, Ostling was able to surprise Gardner along the back straight to retake the lead on lap 21. One lap later, Gardner replied with a bold move. Utilizing the momentum he gained from a good run off turn two, Gardner dove to the bottom of turn three and was able to muscle his way ahead of Ostling for what would be the race-winning pass.
"I got a little cautious and Ostling drove right by me," Gardner confessed. "Everyone's always telling me to be patient and that's what I was doing when Ostling slipped by me. I knew I had to get back into the seat and drive back by him. It was pretty fun."
Even though he says he is still learning what it takes to be consistent in a non-winged sprint car, Gardner relied on his four years of experience in winged sprint cars to close out the remaining laps like a champion. His victory lap, however, proved to be more exciting than the final laps of the race. Entering turn three, Gardner was forced to slide to a stop to avoid striking Michael Hinrichsen, who flipped on the final lap. As Hinrichsen walked away without injury, Gardner's car finally reached victory lane with the aid of a push truck.
Waiting for Gardner on the podium was runner-up Ostling and Williams, who passed Kirby for third on the final lap of the race. Defending SCRA Champion Cory Kruseman won the KSE Hard Charger Award after guiding the WorldGate Networks No. 1 TCR from the12th starting spot to finish fifth.
SCRA RACE #13 - PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY, PERRIS, CA
Date of Race: 06/08/02
SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS
1. Damion Gardner, Concord CA, Gardner 20, 16.380 2. Tony Jones, Garden Grove CA, Vermeer/Jones 87, 16.593 3. Gary W. Howard, Fontana CA, Ruth 25, 16.596 4. Mike English, Norwalk CA, Jory 6, 16.636 5. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda CA, Jory 3, 16.695 6. Richard Griffin, Silver City NM, Chaffin 50, 16.733 7. Steve Ostling, Corona CA.,Fischer Mtrspts 29, 16.804 8. Mike Kirby, Torrance CA, Geurin 5, 16.807 9. Charles Davis, Jr, Buckeye AZ, Davis 94, 16.837 10. Jeremy Sherman, Phoenix AZ, Priestley 7, 16.848 11. John Scott, Hesperia CA, Scott Mtrsprts 83, 16.867 12. Cory Kruseman, Ventura CA, Willis 1, 16.871 13. Rodney Argo, Gardena CA, Argo 19, 16.933 14. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance CA, Alexander 4 , 16.949 15. Bobby Graham, Riverside CA, Crossno 38, 16.957 16. Verne Sweeney, Lomita CA, Sweeney 98, 16.958 17. Mike Spencer, Temecula CA, Engstrom 44, 16.985 18. Adam Mitchell, Escondido CA, Mitchell 99, 17.033 19. Bobby Cody, (R) Costa Mesa CA, Cody 41, 17.198 20. Casey Shuman, Tempe AZ, Pratt 12, 17.237 21. Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria CA, DiDonato 57, 17.255 22. Lance Gremett, San Marcos CA, Gremett 85, 17.292 23. Jack DeArmond, Jr., Corona CA, DeArmond, Jr. 24, 17.301 24. Tom Downing, Lakewood CA, Downing 90, 17.357 25. Michael Hinrichsen, Lakeside CA, Lake Mtrsprts. 16, 17.368 26. Keith Williamson, Pomona CA, Williamson 95, 17.493 27. Mel Murphy, Woodcrest CA, Murphy 62, 17.505 28. Dan Hillberg, Whittier CA, Hillberg 82, 17.532 29. Brian Venard, Tustin CA, Venard. 47, 17.542 30. Ronnie Clark, Tucson AZ, Clark 33, 17.630 31. Mark Heidenreich, (R) Upland CA, Heidenreich 22, 17.775 32. Toby Stanford, (R) Yucca Valley CA, T&L Motorsports 31, 18.118 33. Bob Ferro, Sherman Oaks CA, Ferro 91X , 18.147 34. Tom Wilhelm, (R) Temecula CA, Wilhelm 64, 18.990 35. Greg DeCaires, Elk Grove CA, Lancaster 14, 19.984
HEDMAN HEDDERS HEAT 1
1. Charles Davis, Jr, 2. Rip Williams, 3. Damion Gardner, 4. Michael Hinrichsen, 5. Rodney Argo, 6. Mike Spencer, 7. Brian Venard, 8. Bob Ferro, 9. Danny Sheridan,
SHAVER ENGINES HEAT 2
1. Rickie Gaunt, 2. Jeremy Sherman, 3. Tony Jones, 4. Ronnie Clark, 5. Keith Williamson, 6. Tom Wilhelm, 7. Lance Gremett, 8. Adam Mitchell, 9. Richard Griffin,
SPIN TECH MUFFLERS HEAT 3
1. Jack DeArmond, Jr., 2. Bobby Cody, 3. Steve Ostling, 4. Gary W. Howard, 5. John Scott, 6. Bobby Graham, 7. Mel Murphy, 8. Greg DeCaires, 9. Mark Heidenreich,
STINGER CHASSIS HEAT 4
1. Cory Kruseman, 2. Mike Kirby, 3. Dan Hillberg, 4. Mike English, 5. Verne Sweeney, 6. Tom Downing, 7. Casey Shuman, 8. Toby Stanford,
JE PISTONS
1. Rip Williams. 2. Steve Ostling. 3. Mike English. 4. Charles Davis, Jr. 5. Damion Gardner. 6. Mike Kirby. 7. Gary W. Howard, 8. Tony Jones.
B FEATURE
1. Richard Griffin. 2. John Scott. 3. Bobby Graham. 4. Rodney Argo. 5. Verne Sweeney. 6. Brian Venard. 7. Keith Williamson. 8. Lance Gremett. 9. Mike Spencer. 10. Greg DeCaires. 11. Casey Shuman. 12. Mel Murphy. 13. Tom Downing. 14. Tom Wilhelm. 15. Mark Heidenreich, 16. Toby Stanford.
A FEATURE (30 Laps)
1. Damion Gardner, 2. Steve Ostling, 3. Rip Williams. 4. Mike Kirby. 5. Cory Kruseman. 6. Tony Jones. 7. John Scott. 8, Richard Griffin. 9. Charles Davis, Jr. 10. Rodney Argo. 11. Bobby Graham. 12. Bobby Cody. 13. Jeremy Sherman.14. Rickie Gaunt. 15. Ronnie Clark. 16. Verne Sweeney. 17. Brian Venard. 18. Dan Hillberg. 19. Michael Hinricbsen. 20. Jack DeArmond, Jr., 21. Mike English, 22. Gary W. Howard.
Laps Led: Ostling 1-12, Gardner 13-20, Ostling 21, Gardner 22-30
SCRA DRIVER POINTS
CAR NAME HOMETOWN STARTS POINTS
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1. 29 Steve Ostling Corona CA 13 766
2. 1 Cory Kruseman Ventura CA 13 739
3. 50 Richard Griffin Silver City NM 13 734
4. 87 Tony Jones Garden Grove CA 13 726
5. 3 Rip Williams Yorba Linda CA 13 690
6. 7 Jeremy Sherman Phoenix AZ 13 674
7. 5 Mike Kirby Torrance CA 12 641
B. 83 John Scott Hesperia CA 13 640
9. 20 Damion Gardner Concord CA 13 574
10. 94 Charles Davis, Jr Buckeye AZ 13 538
11. 21J Troy Rutherford Ojai CA 11 523
12. 4 Rickie Gaunt Torrance CA 13 497
13. 6 Mike English Norwalk CA 13 447
14. 25 Gary W. Howard Fontana CA 10 364
15. 38 Bobby Graham Riverside CA 13 348
16. 19 Rodney Argo Gardena CA 12 269
17. 57 Danny Sheridan Santa Maria CA 10 213
18. 38 Levi Jones Olney IL 6 213
19. 99 Adam Mitchell Escondido CA 11 211
20. 16 Michael Hinrichsen Lakeside CA 11 210
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