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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS RETURN TO PERRIS FOR “SALUTE TO INDY”
By Lance Jennings
MAY 24, 2016... This Saturday, May 28th, the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will battle at Don Kazarian’s Perris Auto Speedway for the annual “Salute to Indy.” “The Power of Purple Night” benefiting the City of Perris Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society will also feature the PAS Senior Sprint Cars, PAS Young Gun Sprint Cars, and the California Lightning Sprints. Located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds in Perris, California, the spectator gates at "America's Premier Dirt Track" will open at 5:00pm and racing is scheduled for 7:00pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
NOTICE TO USAC/CRA COMPETITORS: The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is the ONLY legal right rear tire and all four corners must be Hoosier tires. The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is also the current legal tire with the USAC West Coast, USAC SouthWest, and VRA Sprint Cars. Cars must pass a tech inspection and one-way radios are mandatory for drivers. USAC/CRA charges a $25 entry fee to all competitors and the series rule book can be found online at www.usacracing.com.
The annual "Salute to Indy" has been a Southern California tradition going back to 1948 when Dempsey Wilson claimed the checkered flags with the original California Racing Association. When Perris Auto Speedway opened their doors in 1996, the Riverside County oval kept the tradition alive and current NASCAR competitor J.J. Yeley scored the victory. Last year, Richard Vander Weerd took command from Matt Mitchell and added the “Salute to Indy” win to his resume.
Since March 6, 2004, the Lake Perris Fairgrounds has held 183 USAC/CRA Sprint Car events. “The Demon” Damion Gardner leads all drivers with 37 victories and Nic Faas set the 1-lap qualifying record of 15.833 on February 25, 2012. In the two previous visits of 2016, Indiana’s Bryan Clauson and New Mexico’s Josh Hodges earned wins at USAC/CRA’s ‘home track.” A complete Perris series win list is at the end of this release.
Entering the fourth point race, Brody Roa (Garden Grove, California) leads the chase for the championship by eighteen points. Racing the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Lee & Norma Leonard Maxim, Roa scored third at Ventura on May 7th. To date, the defending 360 Western World Champion has three top-10 finishes on the season. This Saturday, Brody will be looking for his second career USAC/CRA feature win.
Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, California) is second in the USAC/CRA point standings. Piloting the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Richard placed eighth at Ventura Raceway. Heading to Perris, the 2011 USAC West Coast Champion has two heat race victories, three top-10 finishes, and 21 feature laps led to his credit. Vander Weerd will have his sights on making this year’s “Salute to Indy” this sixth USAC/CRA win of his career.
After running second to Troy Rutherford at Ventura, Mike Spencer (Temecula, California) has climbed to third in the point chase. Making his debut in his fourth ride in as many races, the driver of the Gansen Engineering Motorsports’ #4S Trench Shoring / Baldozier Racing Maxim has three top-10 finishes and 21 feature laps led on the year. The five-time champion won the 2012 “Salute to Indy” and will be looking to claim his 38th win this Saturday.
Jake Swanson (Anaheim, California) sits fourth in the USAC/CRA point standings. Driving Tom and Laurie Sertich's #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Clackamas Rigging & Transfer Victory, Swanson earned the Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and ran sixth at Ventura. To date, the 2012 Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory, one Brown & Miller Racing Solutions Semi-Main win, and three top-10 finishes. This Saturday, Jake will have his sights on his first USAC/CRA triumph at Perris Auto Speedway.
“The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, California) has risen to fifth in the championship standings. Racing Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / Weld Racing Spike, Gardner scored fourth in the Ventura main event. Heading to Perris, the four-time and defending series champion has two top-10 finishes and 20 feature laps led on the year. “The Demon” won the 2003 & 2004 “Salute to Indy” and will be looking to earn his series leading 66th victory.
Currently ranked seventh in points, Max Adams (Loomis, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Trent Williams (Victorville, California), Andrew Sweeney (Lomita, California), and Mikey Lovas (Wildomar, California) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Austin Williams, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Logan Williams, A.J. Bender, “The Bear” Jeremy Ellertson, “The Flying Peanut” Parker Colston, Chris Gansen, “Thunder” Tommy Malcolm, Jace Vander Weerd, 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 and over) are $20, Active Military (with ID), Students (13-18 with School ID), and Kids tickets (6-12) are $5. Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. Advance tickets are available and for more 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, All Coast Construction, BR Motorsports, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Incorporated, DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Stand 21 Racer Goes Safer Foundation, surfnsprint.com, Ultra Shield Race Products, 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 USAC/CRA, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC/CRA Facebook and Twitter pages.
Loudpedal Productions has USAC/CRA DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
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AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS:
2004-Rip Williams, 2005-Damion Gardner, 2006-Cory Kruseman, 2007-Tony Jones, 2008-Mike Spencer, 2009-Mike Spencer, 2010-Mike Spencer, 2011-Mike Spencer, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Damion Gardner, 2014-Damion Gardner, 2015-Damion Gardner.
PERRIS "SALUTE TO INDY" WINNERS:
1996-J.J. Yeley; 1997-Cory Kruseman; 1998-Mike Kirby; 1999-Troy Rutherford; 2000-Richard Griffin; 2001-Mike Kirby; 2002-Mike Kirby; 2003-Damion Gardner; 2004-Damion Gardner; 2005-Cory Kruseman; 2006-Tony Jones; 2007-Blake Miller; 2008-RAIN; 2009-Blake Miller; 2010-David Cardey; 2011-Matt Mitchell; 2012-Mike Spencer; 2013-Matt Mitchell, 2014-Damion Gardner, 2015-Richard Vander Weerd.
2016 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS:
1-Bryan Clauson, 1-Josh Hodges, 1-Troy Rutherford.
PERRIS AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS:
37-Damion Gardner, 24-Mike Spencer, 19-Tony Jones, 17-Cory Kruseman, 9-Nic Faas, 8-David Cardey, 7-Rip Williams, 6-Bryan Clauson, 6-Mike Kirby, 5-Rickie Gaunt, 5-Matt Mitchell, 5-Danny Sheridan, 4-Robert Ballou, 4-Richard Vander Weerd, 3-Dave Darland, 3-Garrett Hansen, 2-Darren Hagen, 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-Josh Hodges, 1-R.J. Johnson, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Adam Mitchell, 1-Johnny Rodriguez, 1-Scotty Weir, 1-Jason York.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Brody Roa-218, 2. Richard Vander Weerd-200, 3. Mike Spencer-189, 4. Jake Swanson-185, 5. Damion Gardner-168, 6. Austin Williams-167, 7. Max Adams-150, 8. Cody Williams-149, 9. Josh Hodges-146, 10. R.J. Johnson-122, ---. Logan Williams-122, 12. A.J. Bender-114, 13. Jeremy Ellertson-113, 14. Parker Colston-109, 15. Chris Gansen-101, 16. Tommy Malcolm-90, 17. Jace Vander Weerd-85, 18. Bryan Clauson-82, 19. Verne Sweeney-78, ---. Troy Rutherford-78.
2016 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
May 28: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Salute to Indy)
June 11: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
July 1: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA
July 2: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Firecracker 30)
July 30: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
August 27: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (California Racers Hall of Fame Night)
September 3: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 4: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 5: Petaluma Speedway - Petaluma CA (California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 8: Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions / California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 9: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA (California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 10: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds - Hanford, CA (California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 24: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
September 30: Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
October 1: Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
October 15: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
November 4: *Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 5: *Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 10: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
November 11: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
November 12: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with Amsoil USAC National Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
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