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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
- #29 Bud Kaeding. 4th in AMSOIL USAC/CRA point standings. Photo by Steve Lafond / Tear-Off Heaven Fotos.
USAC/CRA WATSONVILLE-SANTA MARIA SWING STARTS THIS FRIDAY
By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – AUGUST 5, 2013… After a break in the schedule, the cars and stars of the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series are ready for a special “northern swing” to Watsonville and Santa Maria. The Friday, August 9th event at John Prentice's Ocean Speedway will pit the powerful 410s against the USAC Western Classic Racing Series. The following night, the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will make their last visit of the season at Ruben and Katy Munoz’s Santa Maria Speedway.
Friday's race will mark the sixth USAC/CRA event hosted by the Watsonville quarter-mile facility. Last June 14th, “The Demon” Damion Gardner passed Bud Kaeding on the final lap to score the dramatic feature victory. Previous wins at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds were earned by “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman and Mike Spencer, each with two main event wins. Friday’s action packed card will also feature 4-Bangers, American Stocks, and BAD Dwarf Cars. The Spectator Gates will open at 4:30pm and Racing is set to begin at 6:00pm.
Santa Maria Speedway will showcase the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars for the sixteenth time in series history. On June 15th, “The Demon” Damion Gardner grabbed the lead from “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr. on lap seventeen and powered to his first Santa Maria victory. With two wins at the 1/3-mile facility, “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman, Mike Spencer, and Austin Williams are tied for the series lead. Other Santa Maria winners include “Super” Rickie Gaunt, Mike Kirby, “The Ripper” Rip Williams, “Smooth” Tyler Brown, Nic Faas, Garrett Hansen, “The Bullet” Blake Miller, and “Showtime” Danny Sheridan. On Saturday, the California Lightning Sprints, C&D Bonding Hobby Stocks, CDCRA Dwarf Cars, and QRC Outlaw Karts will share the spotlight. The Spectator Gates will open at 4:00pm, Time Trials at 5:00pm, and Racing is scheduled for 6:00pm.
Concord’s “The Demon” Damion Gardner leads the Amsoil USAC/CRA standings and holds a 44 point advantage over the competition. Racing Mark Alexander’s #4A Scott Sales Company / Advanced Racing Suspension Spike, Gardner was fourth at the July 4th “Firecracker 30” at Perris Auto Speedway. To date, the 2005 Champion has five feature wins, four Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, five heat race victories, one dash win, twelve top-10 finishes, and 91 feature laps led on the year. “The Demon” will have his sights on another Watsonville and Santa Maria “sweep.”
Nic Faas of Huntington Beach is second in the championship point chase. Piloting Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / Competition Suspension Inc. Spike, Faas claimed his second win of the year at the “Firecracker 30.” Currently, the 2008 Rookie of the Year has three Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, two heat race victories, twelve top-10 finishes, and 47 feature laps led on the season. Nic will be looking to gain valuable points with victories at Watsonville and Santa Maria.
Sitting third in the USAC/CRA point chase is Temecula’s Mike Spencer. Driving Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer was second in the “Firecracker 30.” The five-time champion enters Friday’s action with one feature win, three Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, four heat race victories, one Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, nine top-10 finishes, and 17 feature laps led. Mike will have his sights on adding the billet first place trophies from Watsonville and Santa Maria to his collection.
Bud Kaeding of Campbell is fourth in the point standings. Racing Junior Bowman’s #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Bullet, Bud did not compete in the “Firecracker 30.” To date, the three-time Oval Nationals Champion has yet to win a feature, but has one Dash win, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, nine top-10 finishes, and 25 feature laps led on the year. Kaeding won the USAC Western Classic portion of Watsonville’s “Howard Kaeding Classic” on July 12th and will be one of the favorites to watch at both race tracks.
Yorba Linda’s Matt Mitchell is fifth in the USAC/CRA standings. Piloting his #37 MPD Racing / A.R.T. Enterprises entry, Mitchell placed sixth at Perris after starting twelfth. Currently, the former USAC Western Midget Rookie of the Year has one main event win, two heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, eight top-10 finishes, and 30 feature laps led to his credit. Matt will be looking for his first feature wins at Watsonville and Santa Maria.
Among the other USAC/CRA drivers expected to be in action are Austin Williams, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Brody Roa, Ryan Bernal, Richard Vander Weerd, “The Ripper” Rip Williams, Seth Wilson, “Super” Rickie Gaunt, Markus Niemela, Jace Vander Weerd, “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman, “and more.
With four top-10 finishes, Stockton’s D.J. Johnson leads the USAC Western Classic point standings. Ryan Bernal, Tony Hunt, Shauna Hogg, Colton Slack, Matt Streeter, James Sweeney, Scott Hall, Colby Copeland, and Nathan Washam round out the top-10 drivers. Other WCRS drivers expected to compete at Watsonville are Jim Richardson, Klint Simpson, Gordon Rodgers, Marty Hawkins, “The Human Highlight Reel” Geoff Ensign, Tom Baker, and more.
All competitors must run quiet mufflers at the Watsonville and Santa Maria events. Ocean Speedway has a strict muffler rule and asks competitors to run the Extreme Ventura Legal (4615-3535-8), FlowMaster Suitcase, Spintech Suitcase, or Extreme (6014-3530) and Spin Tech 180 degree mufflers. Santa Maria Speedway has a standard track rule (95dB at 100 feet), similar to those used at California Fairgrounds. Local track sound standards must be met in order to compete and failure to do so risks disqualification.
Per USAC/CRA rules, 360 iron-block powered Sprint Cars can run their local track or series approved Hoosier tires on all four corners. Cars must pass a tech inspection and one-way radios are mandatory for drivers. USAC/CRA charges a $25 entry fee to all competitors, which includes a transponder rental. Aluminum block 410 powered cars must run either a Hoosier HT2, HTW (105x18x15), DT3, or F55 Right Rear tire. USAC Western Classic Racing entries must follow series rules to earn championship points.
Ocean Speedway is located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, California at 2601 E. Lake Avenue. Adult Tickets are $20, Senior Tickets (over 65) are $19, and Kid Tickets (12-6) are $15. For more information, visit the track's website at www.oceanspeedway.com or call (831) 662-9466 (WINN).
Santa Maria Speedway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo, California. Adult Tickets are $20, Military and Senior Tickets are $18, Kid Tickets (12-6) are $6, and Kids Tickets (5 & Under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.racesantamariaspeedway.com or call (805) 315-2023.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series would like to thank Hoosier Tire, BR Motorsports, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror Inc., Kaeding Performance, Keizer Wheels, King Racing Products, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, SBI Fuel Systems, Saldana Racing Products, Weld Racing, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, email PR Director Lance Jennings at [email protected].
For more information on the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, visit www.usacracing.com/cra or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/USAC-CRA-Sprint-Car-Series/167535183297971) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/#!/USAC_CRA).
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AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1-Damion Gardner-803, 2-Nic Faas-759, 3-Mike Spencer-628, 4-Bud Kaeding-564, 5-Matt Mitchell-519, 6-Austin Williams-461, 7-Cody Williams-441, 8-Brody Roa-420, 9-Ryan Bernal-359, 10-R.J. Johnson-330, 11-Richard Vander Weerd-309, 12-Rip Williams-301, 13-David Cardey-292, 14-Seth Wilson-246, 15-Rickie Gaunt-243, 16-Charles Davis Jr.-232, 17-Markus Niemela-223, 18-Bryan Clauson-210, 19-Jace Vander Weerd-201, 20-Cory Kruseman-197.
USAC WESTERN CLASSIC SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1-D.J. Johnson-295, 2-Ryan Bernal-290; 3-Tony Hunt-247; 4-Shauna Hogg-224, 5-Colton Slack-167, 6-Matt Streeter-157, 7-James Sweeney-150, 8-Scott Hall-125, 9-Colby Copeland-120, 10-Nathan Washam-113, 11-Jim Richardson-112, 12-Klint Simpson-101, 13-Marc Mackay-97, 14-Gordon Rodgers-94, 15-Marty Hawkins-86, 16-Geoff Ensign-71, 17-Richard Vander Weerd-68, 18-Jace Vander Weerd-62, --Max Adams-62, --Tanner Swanson-62.
2013 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK – LOCATION
August 9: **Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA
August 10: Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA
August 17: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (California Racers Hall of Fame Night)
August 31: **Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 1: **Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 14: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
October 25: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
October 26: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
November 1: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
November 2: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC National Sprints.
** = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC Western Classic Racing Series.
This schedule is subject to change.
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Updated USAC-CRA & Western Classic Roster June 2013
Car # . Colors . Name . Hometown . Car Owner
0 . ___ . Ed Schwarz . Santa Fe Springs . Perkins
0k . black/orange . Kenny Perkins . Victorville . Perkins
0x . yellow/black . Jon Kairot . San Bernardino . Perkins
01 . ___ . Danny Ebberts . Menifee . Carroll
04 . ___ . Mike Collins . Lake Forrest . Perkins
1 . blue/white . Steve Sussex . Tempe, AZ . ___
1h . ___ . Justin Sanders . Salinas . Smith
1x . blue/white . Seth Wilson . Las Vegas, NV . Wilson
1x . ___ . Terry Schank Jr. . Santa Rosa . Gleason
2 . black/gold . Austin Williams . Yorba Linda . Jory
3 . black/gold . Rip Williams . Yorba Linda . Jory
3m . black/red . Marty Hawkins . Santa Rosa . Hawkins
3t . ___ . Tom Baker . Sacramento . Baker
4 . silver/red . Nic Faas . Huntington Beach . Alexander
4a . silver/red . Damion Gardner . Concord . Alexander
4g . ___ . Charles Davis Jr. . Buckeye, AZ . Cook
4g . white/orange . Don Gansen . San Bernardino . Gansen
4q . ___ . Nick Foster Jr. . San Jose . Shanoian
5 . white/orange . Shauna Hogg . Citrus Heights . Hogg
5v . ___ . Geoff Ensign . Sebastapol . McLish
5x . ___ . Max Adams . Plumas . Adams
6 . black/white . Gary Potter . Yorba Linda . Potter
6x . ___ . Jesse Denome . San Diego . Denome
7 . red . Greg Taylor . Ojai . ___
7 . yellow/red . Cory Kruseman . Ventura . Priestley
7g . white/orange . Don Gansen . San Bernardino . Gansen
7k . ___ . Bruce St. James . Phoenix, AZ . St. James
8 . ___ . Jim Richardson . Graeagle . Richardson
10 . white/orange . Rich Vander Weerd . Visalia . Vander Weerd
11 . yellow . Troy Rutherford . Ojai . Rutherford
11 . orange/white . A.J. or Bobby Bender . Ramona . Bender
11 . green/orange . James Sweeney . Placerville . Lewis
12a . orange/black . Josh Pelkey . Phoenix, AZ . Allen
12 . white/orange . A.J. or Bobby Bender . Ramona . Bender
12 . black/white . John Aden . Victorville . Blair
12 . black/white . Matt Shedarowich . Mission Viejo . Blair
14 . black/white . Austin Smith . _________ . Springstead
14 . ___ . Colby Copeland . Alamo . Vertullo/Piersona
14jr . ___ . Matt Streeter . Galt . Streeter
14s . ___ . John Gerber . Menlo Park . Gerber
15 . white . Cotton Farmer . Atascadero . HAL
16 . ___ . Mike Martin . Yuma, AZ . Martin
17 . red/black . Cotton Slack . Brentwood . ___
17s . ___ . Terre Rothweiler . Santa Cruz . ___
17v . aqua/black . Danny Faria Jr . Tipton . DeBoer
18 . blue . Danny Sheridan . Santa Maria . Kittle
18 . blue . Ryan Bernal . Hollister . Kittle
18 . blue . Ronnie Gardner . Corona . Kittle
19 . white . Rodney Argo . El Segundo . Argo
19 . ___ . Andy Reinbold . Chandler, AZ . Underwood
20 . white/black . Corey Ballard . Orange . Ballard
20x . ___ . Tommy Laliberte . San Jose . Laliberte
21 . ___ . Casey Shuman . Tempe, AZ . Roberts/Tate
23 . red/white . Jeremy Ellertson . Lawndale . ___
24c . black/white . Colby Copeland . Roseville . Copeland
25 . black/red . Gavin Matlock . Spring Valley Lake . Matlock
26 . ___ . Billy Aton . Benicia . Aton
26 . black/blue . Billy Blinn . Costa Mesa. ___
27 . ___ . Keith Bloom . Anderson . Abreu
29 . red/white . Bud Kaeding . Campbell . Bowman/Snyder
30k . black/white . Colby Araki . Clovis . Araki
31 . ___ . Bruce Douglas . Ventura . Douglas
33 . blue/orange . D. J. Johnson . Stockton . Johnson
33. ___ . Raymond Potter . Yorba Linda . Potter
33x . white . Nathan Washam . Pleasanton . ___
33x . white . Daniel Hood . Oakland . Hood
35 . black/white . Kyle Klein . Victorville . Perkins
36 . black . J. J. Ercse . Lakewood . ___
36 . ___ . Brandon Thomson . Norwalk . Springstead
37 . black/dayglo . Matt Mitchell . Yorba Linda . Mitchell
37x . white/orange . David Bezio . El Cajon . Bezio
39 . yellow . Cal Smith . Phelan . Smith
41 . red/white . Jake Swanson . Anaheim . Henry/Jones
44 . black/gold . Cody Williams . Yorba Linda . Jory
44j . yellow/blue . Johnny McCall . Apple Valley . Morbitzer
50 . red/white . Mike Spencer . Temecula . Chaffin
50x . ___ . Mike Collins . Lake Forrest . Perkins
51 . green/gray . Rusty Carlile . Bakersfield Carlile
51 . white/yellow . R. J. Johnson . Phoenix, AZ . Martin
55 . ___ . Tony Everhart . El Cajon . Everhart
56 . ___ . Steve Conrad . Quartz Hill . ___
56 . white . Tony Hunt . Lincoln . Phulps
56s . white . Scott Hull . Columbia City, IN . Phulps
58 . ___ . Johnny Bluntach . Rowland Heights . Bluntach
62 . black . Dennis Howell . Rancho Palos Verdes . H&M
62a . white/orange .Adam Frith-Smith . O'Neals . Frith-Smith
62x . white/red . Jerry Welton . Monrovia . Welton
66 . blue . Rickie Gaunt . Torrance . Miller
69 . ___ . Randy Waitman . Ramona . Waitman
69x . ___ . Cody Swanson . Kingsburg . Kaiser
71 . ___ . Greg Lane . Gilbert, AZ . Connelly
71k . white/black . Patrick Clarke . ________ . ___
72 . red/white . Greg Alexander . Gardena . Bellegante
73 . black . Ryan Bernal . Hollister . Ford
77 . ___ . Johnny McCall . Apple Valley . McCall
77 . ___ . James Bondurant . Malibu . Keener
81 . blue . Marcus Niemela . Santa Barbara . Watt
83 . black . Austin Liggett . Tracy . Liggett
84 . black/white . Klint Simpson . Santa Rosa . ___
87 . blue/white . Ricky Kirkbride . Bakersfield . ___
88 . white/blue . Jace Vander Weerd . Visalia . Vander Weerd
91r . green/gray . Brody Roa . Buena Park . Roa
92 . white/blue . David Cardey . Riverside . Sertich
92x . red . Andy Forsberg . Auburn . Forsberg
94 . ___ . Gordon Rodgers . Winton . Dusin
121 . gray/black . Shane Golobic . Fremont . ___
179 . white/dayglow . Landon Hurst . Riverdale . Hurst
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