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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series

#44 “The Cadillac” Cody Williams – 4th in USAC/CRA point standings. Photo by Doug Allen.

AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINTS RETURN TO PERRIS FOR “GLENN HOWARD CLASSIC”
By Lance Jennings

PHOENIX, AZ – SEPTEMBER 10, 2014… This Saturday, September 13th, the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will return to Don Kazarian’s Perris Auto Speedway for the “7th Annual Glenn Howard Classic." The eighteenth point race of the season will also showcase the PAS Senior Sprints, PAS Young Gun Sprints, and the California Lightning Sprints. The spectator gates will open at 5:00pm and racing at "America's Premier Dirt Track" will start at 7:00pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.

Saturday's event honors Glenn Howard, considered by many in the industry as a "racer's racer." Throughout his involvement in racing, Glenn served as a crew member, driver, car owner, sponsor, official, and business man. Howard's So-Cal Performance was recognized as a major parts supplier to racers across the globe for many years. In 1993, Glenn became the first president of the Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) and helped to build the foundation of the nationally respected club. After his term was over, Howard remained active in motorsports until his passing in September 2007. Kazarian, Perris Auto Speedway, and the USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series are proud to honor Glenn's memory with the annual event.

Heading into Saturday’s event, “The Demon” Damion Gardner of Concord, California is the hottest driver on the circuit. After winning at Chico, Watsonville, and Santa Maria, the pilot of Mark Alexander's #4 Scott Sales Company / J&D Performance Spike reached 211 miles per hour in a Sprint Car at the Bonneville Salt Flats. To date, the recently crowned California Sprint Week Champion has a 242-point lead with ten feature wins, seven Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, fourteen heat race victories, sixteen top-10 finishes, and 191 feature laps led. “The World’s Fastest Sprint Car Driver” will be looking to make the “Glenn Howard Classic” his 57th career USAC/CRA main event win.

Running second in the USAC/CRA point chase is Temecula, California’s Mike Spencer. Driving Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer’s best finish during California Sprint Week was a fifth place run at Watsonville and Santa Maria. Currently, the five-time USAC/CRA champion has one feature win, five Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, two heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main Win, one Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, fourteen top-10 finishes, and 75 feature laps led. The 2012 “Howard Classic” winner will have his sights on his 36th career USAC/CRA victory this Saturday.

Brody Roa of Huntington Beach, California has climbed to third in the point standings. Racing the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Burris Racing Maxim, Roa had three fourth place finishes during Sprint Week and earned his first USAC/CRA Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award at Santa Maria. To date, the former Wagsdash Champion has five heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main Win, one Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, and eleven top-10 finishes on the season. Brody will be looking to earn his first series triumph at Perris Auto Speedway.

Corona, California’s “The Cadillac” Cody Williams sits fourth in the championship points. Piloting Jack Jory’s #44 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams ran second to Gardner at Santa Maria after leading fourteen laps. Currently, the former National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Rookie of the Year has one feature win, heat race victory, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, one Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, nine top-10 finishes, and 29 feature laps led. Cody will have his sights on his first “home track” victory at the “Glenn Howard Classic.”

Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda, California is fifth in the USAC/CRA standings. Racing his #37 Campbell Bros. Storage / Pit Boss Maxim, Mitchell ran sixth during the opening night of Calistoga’s “Louie Vermeil Classic.” To date, the 2-time “Salute to Indy” winner has one feature win, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, nine top-10 finishes, and 35 feature laps led in 2014. Matt will be looking for his seventh career main event win with USAC/CRA.

Currently tenth in points, Yorba Linda, California’s Logan Williams leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Chris Gansen of Verdemont Heights, California, Snohomish, Washington’s Gary Taylor, and Norco, California’s Cody Swanson are also in contention.

Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Austin Williams, Jake Swanson, Richard Vander Weerd, Jace Vander Weerd, Ronnie Gardner, A.J. Bender, “Super” Rickie Gaunt, R.J. Johnson, Corey Ballard, David Bezio, Jeremy Ellertson, Seth Wilson, Verne Sweeney, and more.

Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California. Adult tickets are $25, Senior tickets (65 & older) are $20, Active Military, Students (13-18), and Kids tickets (6-12) are $5. Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.

The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Engler Machine & Tool, Extreme Mufflers, Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, 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 or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/USAC-CRA-Sprint-Car-Series/167535183297971) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/USAC_CRA). Mike Truex's Loudpedal Productions has DVDs available for purchase that feature the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series. For more information, call 805.407.7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com.
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GLENN HOWARD CLASSIC/MEMORIAL WINNERS:
2008-Tony Jones, 2009-Bryan Clauson, 2010-Cory Kruseman, 2011-Nic Faas, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Nic Faas.

2014 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS:
10-Damion Gardner, 1-Rico Abreu, 1-Christoper Bell, 1-Matt Mitchell, 1-Mike Spencer, 1-Richard Vander Weerd, 1-Austin Williams, 1-Cody Williams.

PERRIS AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS:
31-Damion Gardner, 24-Mike Spencer, 19-Tony Jones, 17-Cory Kruseman, 9-Nic Faas, 8-David Cardey, 7-Rip Williams, 6-Mike Kirby, 5-Rickie Gaunt, 5-Matt Mitchell, 5-Danny Sheridan, 4-Bryan Clauson, 3-Dave Darland, 3-Garrett Hansen, 2-Jesse Hockett, 2-Levi Jones, 2-Blake Miller, 2-Chris Windom, 1-Greg Bragg, 1-Daron Clayton, 1-Charles Davis Jr., 1-Josh Ford, 1-Darren Hagen, 1-R.J. Johnson, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Adam Mitchell, 1-Johnny Rodriguez, 1-Richard Vander Weerd, 1-Scotty Weir, 1-Jason York.

AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Damion Gardner-1118, 2. Mike Spencer-876, 3. Brody Roa-743, 4. Cody Williams-701, 5. Matt Mitchell-692, 6. Austin Williams-664, 7. Nic Faas-628, 8. Jake Swanson-611, 9. Richard Vander Weerd-551, 10. Logan Williams-439, 11. Cory Kruseman-381, 12. Chris Gansen-333, 13. Ryan Bernal-317, 14. Jace Vander Weerd-312, 15. Kevin Thomas Jr.-311, 16. Gary Taylor-263, 17. Colby Copeland-260, 18. Ronnie Gardner-214, 19. A.J. Bender-199, 20. Cody Swanson-198.

2014 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE:
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
September 13: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
November 7: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
November 8: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Oval Nationals / $20,000-to-Win)
November 14: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
November 15: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC National Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.

Sure, you can go to Perris for the Damien Gardner show in 103 degree heat. OR! you can motor up to Ventura for a show never seen in SoCal. The King of The West 410 sprints invade Jimmies joint. If you have been disappointed by the Outlaws, these are the guys, like the Pennsylvania Posse that consistantly thrash the Outlaws. Possibly Rico Abreu might be there if he is not back east campaigning the Kunz midget. Rico recently won a $10K midget show at Calisstoga. Then won the USAC/CRA Vermeil Classic after only his second go in a nonwing car. Rumor has it that Rico might have a NASCAR ride in his future and join his long time pal Kyle Larson.

I believe Gary Scelzi will be there cheering on his son Dominic. Dominic has been running all the KoW shows and also runs some Taco Bravo shows at Watsonville.

I'm hoping most of the points leaders will be there; Bud Kaeding, Jon Allard, Willie Croft, D.J. Netto, "The Shark" Sean Becker, Carson Macedo, Brent Kaeding and Kyle Hirst. Macedo and Allrd recently won Outlaw shows at Chico.

As a bonus Jonathan Henry should get a dwarf car ride to resume his battle againt Hannah Mayhew. Hannah is one fiercely competetive lady and is a favorite at Ventura. 

Did I mention the temps will be in the 70's with the A/C turned on. Oh and there is an INnOUT near the track. Tix $25, $15 for old farts.

Pretty sure Rico is running Midgets this weekend. Both shows will be great I am sure...

There is only one first time though!

I rember the first time when midgets ran and also 410 sprint cars.  Can not wait till Saturday for the Wing guys at Ventura, although I assume most who read this board will be at Perris.

Shame, CRA doesn't run for almost 2 months (50 days)? and on this weekend, the cra and kow run the same weekend  

 What's the deal with CRA not racing for so long.  Yeah, I know the race got cancelled at hanford, but still, only one race in October planned.  Why didn't the CRA race get moved to Tulare for the Cotton Classic.

Looks like KOW drivers won one of the biggest WOO races of the year at the Gold Cup, with Allard making a last lap pass to win on Saturday, while young Macedo won the Friday portion.  Wished CRA drivers had the same luck at the Oval Nationals this year.  Would of been cool to see some of the CRA guys put on wings to run Ventura ie Damion, Ricky, Ford race cars, etc.

The racing last week at Santa Maria was fun, with a few lead changes to boot.  Looking for more this Friday.

The weather looks great for the two KOW shows this weekend, remember to bring a light jacket, it does cool off both place.  For those going to PAS, wear sun screen, looks like it might be a scorcher.  Lots of action this week, Santa Maria, Ventura and Perris  

(PS I sure hope Ventura gets some more push trucks, by the time they push off all the cars for the main, they will need to stop and refuel them   Seriously, why doesn't Ventura do what most tracks do, put all the cars on the track (ie like a red) and than push the cars off, instead of the 2 or if were real lucky, 3 push trucks circulating the whole track to push another car.  Better yet, why not both, more push trucks and push the cars off from the track instead of off the track.

Safety.

They get the heats / main fired off in decent time. For whatever reason, they rarely have any support push trucks and rely on the functional wreckers.

Someone Rig a bumper to my ride and a rock guard and ill help...