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JONES BACK ON THE FENCE AT THE PAS
By Robert Mayson
Perris, Calif…(August 1, 2009) After 30 physically-demanding laps around the Perris Auto Speedway, Tony Jones, Norco, Calif., still found the energy to salute the fans with his now familiar racing-winning fence climb. It was the 20th Lucas Oil USAC/CRA sprint car win of his career, which also made him the tenth different series winner in eleven races this season.
“This was a pretty physical track tonight, there were a lot of hoops and whoops and it was really fun,” Jones said after making his first star t in 70 days. “Honestly, I think I’m in better shape now than I’ve ever been. The only time I really got winded tonight was climbing the fence yelling and screaming.”
Jones started on the pole in the Mark Alexander / La Villa Restaurant No. 4 DRC, but would fall to third on the opening lap behind the Glenn Crossno/ ITI Performance No. 38 Viper driven by David Cardey, Riverside, Calif. and defending series champion Mike Spencer.
Jones was several car-lengths behind the leaders when Cardey spun to a stop entering turn-four on the eighth lap and collected Spencer. Both drivers returned to action with Spencer retiring seven laps later with rear-end problems. Cardey, on the other hand, may have had the drive of the night finishing third after restarting at the rear of the field.
After the restart, Jones’s most serious challenge came from Danny Sherdian, who pulled alongside of him on a couple occasions before he jumped the turn-three cushion and flipped on lap-13. After some quick work by his crew, Sheridan returned to finish 12th.
Even though eventual runner-up finisher Garrett Hansen of Manhattan Beach, Calif., stayed close to Jones throughout the race, he and his Mark Priestley / Roy Miller Freightlines No. 7 Maxim was never able to take a serious shot at the lead. Hansen was, however, able to take checkered-flag ahead of a charging Cardey.
Greg Bragg of Visalia, Calif., had another strong outing muscling the Tom & Laurie Sertich / Huntington Beach Glass No. 92- Buckley to a fourth-place finish. Fast qualifier Cory Kruseman, Ventura, Calif., drove his Kruseman Motorsports / Lucas Oil No. 21k Viper to a fifth-place finish.
Recent Nation Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee Rip Williams passed his son Cody seven-laps from the finish helping him earn “Hard Charger” honors with his 22nd to sixth-place run.
Blake Miller entered the race leading the series points standings until a broken steering arm sent him hard into the wall on the 14th circuit. As a result, Cardey assumes the points lead heading into the Lou Vermeil Classic at Calistoga Speedway (Calif.) on September 5th & 6th with Hansen now second and Miller and Spencer tied for third.
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what a great night of racing , have to give it to the PAS staff , great track prep,and with the midgets and oldtimers they kept everything moving, i was in my truck after the sprintcar race at 10:05pm !!
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