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Perris Auto Speedway

18700 Lake Perris Drive

Perris, CA  92571

(951) 940-0134

http://perrisautospeedway.com/ 

For further information contact Scott Daloisio (909) 226-7768 or mailto:[email protected] 

For Immediate Release 

RICKIE GAUNT TO RETIRE SATURDAY AT PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY! 

(Perris, CA, June 30, 2015)  Officials, fans, drivers and crews are anxiously looking forward to the big July 4^th race at Perris Auto Speedway this Saturday.  After all, it is an annual affair that is one of the famous Riverside County clay oval’s signature events.  However, in another way, it is a night they wish would never come.  Yes, it will be filled with great racing in the “Budweiser Firecracker 40” and the beautiful “We the People” fireworks sky concert presented by The City of Perris will light up the summer sky, but it will end with a sad twinge that is going to bring a tear or more from many in the crowd and in the pits.  When the checkered flag ends the 40-lap main event, it will also signal the end of Rickie Gaunt’s sprint car racing career. 

Gaunt, a 45-year-old who lives in Torrance, California, is one of the few drivers left at The PAS who also raced at Ascot.  He started racing sprint cars in 1989 at Ascot, one year before it closed.  This year is his 27^th straight season of racing sprint cars and along the way, he has collected some very impressive hardware.  

The affable star has 20 wins and is ranked 20^th overall on the all-time CRA win list (CRA, SCRA and USAC/CRA) that dates back to 1946.  Of those 20 victories, 11 of them have come at Perris Auto Speedway.  He won six times with SCRA at The PAS and five times with USAC/CRA.  Amongst those wins are the 1999 Budweiser Oval Nationals, 2002 July 4^th Firecracker race, 2004 Jack Kindoll Classic and the 2009 Sokola Shootout.  The Sokola Shootout win came in a show that not only featured USAC/CRA, but also the USAC National Sprint Cars.  In addition to those prestigious victories, Gaunt also picked up a couple of series titles.  In 2004 he won both the SCRA and Non Wing World Championships.  

On Sunday night the always entertaining Gaunt was a guest on the San Diego Motorsports radio show.  The segment was slated for 15 minutes, but host Dave Stall enjoyed the first segment so much, he asked Gaunt to stay on for another 15 minutes to close the show. 

“I was in the first race at Perris Auto Speedway and if it is time to call it a career, this is the place to do it at,” Gaunt told Stall when asked why he is hanging up his helmet.  “When we get into this deal, everybody wants to win.  The competitive side of you says, ‘hey, I want to go out and kick everybody’s butt.’  I have not been doing that.  I am getting older, my kids are racing (off road) and I am not racing enough to be competitive at the level that you have to be to go out there and win races.” 

Gaunt went on to tell Stall how he got the nickname “Super Rickie.” 

“Years ago Simpson built a “Superman” firesuit for Dale Earnhardt and one for Steve Kinser,” the veteran driver laughed.  “I looked at them and thought that was so cool.  I have always loved the super hero stuff.  They said, ‘hey, if we build one for you, would you wear it?’  Kinser would not wear it and neither would Dale Earnhardt.  I said, ‘heck yeah.’  I figured I ain’t any good, but I may as well look good doing it.  I guess I was the only one arrogant enough to wear that dang suit.” 

Perris Auto Speedway promoter Don Kazarian was listening to the show and decided to call in and add his thoughts on Gaunt and his imminent retirement. 

“Rickie and I have been close friends for probably 30-years,” Kazarian reminisced.  “It is going to be a sad night on Saturday to see him hang up his helmet.  He is absolutely one of the fan favorites and he has had the best interviews over the 20-year period we have been open.  I think Saturday night he is probably going to cap it off with a great interview.” 

As Kazarian had high praise for Gaunt, the popular racer also had high praise for Perris Auto Speedway where he has contested a majority of the races during his career. 

“I have been to every world famous racetrack in the country,” Gaunt said.  “I have raced at Williams Grove, Lincoln, Eldora, Knoxville, Terre Haute.  I have raced everywhere.  I hope the fans appreciate what they have here (Perris Auto Speedway).  It is absolutely top notch.  You will not get any better.” 

When Gaunt was done heaping the praise on The PAS, he also went on to throw some huge kudos in a direction they are hardly thrown in the racing world. 

“I also want to compliment the Lake Perris Fair Board (Lake Perris Fairgrounds where Perris Auto Speedway is located on),” he stated.  Most fair boards are idiots.  The Lake Perris Fair Board had the foresight to get the Kazarian family in and they are a family of racers.  What a great job by the fair board.  It is one of the few fair race tracks that I know of that has not changed promotional hands.  Hats off to them because most fair boards are just idiots except for Perris.  Thank god Perris has a good fair board.”  

As usual, Gaunt, who plans on staying involved in sprint car racing after his retirement, had an amusing anecdote on the radio show when asked if he ever beat the great Steve Kinser. 

“Did I ever beat Steve Kinser,” he repeated the question with a laugh.  “Only if he broke.  It is a lot easier to beat him if he is parked on the trailer.” 

Car owner David Miller, who Gaunt has primarily driven for the past few years, will be retiring as an owner and will be selling all of his equipment after Saturday’s race. 

In addition to the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, The PAS Senior & Young Gun Sprint Cars and the California Lightning Sprint Cars will also be in action on Saturday.  Spectator gates will open two hours earlier than normal at 3:00 PM and the first race will be at 7:00.  For early arriving fans there will be an autograph session on the track with all the drivers, games where the kids can compete with the drivers and a live band.  The “Hollywood Legend,” Pink’s Hot Dogs will be available and there will be a vintage plane fly over just after the national anthem. 

Residents of the City of Perris will be admitted free to Perris Auto Speedway when the popular Riverside County racing facility celebrates Independence Day on Saturday.  All they have to do is show their driver’s license with a Perris address or produce a utility bill from The City of Perris. 

Adult reserved tickets are $30.00 and children’s (6-12 years old) reserved seats are $10.00.  General admission is $25.00 for adults, $20.00 for seniors 65 & over.  General admission is also available for $5.00 for active military members with proper id, teens 13-18 with their school id and kids 6-12.  Children 5 and under get in for free. 

Please note a correction to the press release sent out on Monday, June 29^th.  It states “Friday, July 4^th,” in the opening paragraph.  That should read, “Saturday, July 4^th.” 

Camping is available for $25.00 per night for all PAS events.  The campground opens at noon the day before each event.  Tailgating in the spectator parking lot will begin at 1:00 PM for all PAS events as well. 

Perris Auto Speedway wants to thank its corporate sponsors for the 2015 season.  AA Lynco Painting, All Coast Construction, All Seasons Tree Repair, Amsoil, Archibald’s Restaurants, Ayers Hotel and Spa, BlueLine Rentals, Budweiser, California Budget Finance, CamGuard, Champion Towing, City of Perris, Perris  Com Ecco, Daytona Boat & RV Storage, Drop Zone, Edelbrock, Engine Pro, Harry’s Café,  HD Industries, Hoosier Tires, Horizon Solar, K&N Engineering, Livingwaters Hospice, Luke’s Transmission, Moon Nursery, Paul Oil Company, Pepsi-Cola, Pick-A-Part Auto Salvage, Pizza Factory, Red Lion Inns and Suites, Robert Dempster, Scott Sales, Shaver Racing Engines, Sherwin-Williams,  Stassines Cross, Square H, Swedish Speed, Trench Shoring, US Foods and Valley News. 

To keep up with all of the latest Perris Auto Speedway news, photos, gossip and receive special offers, sign up at The PAS Facebook site at:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Perris-Auto-Speedway/113876798686480?ref=hl 

 You can also keep up with the latest news and receive special offers from The PAS Twitter site: Perris Auto Speedway on Twitter. 

Video and DVD productions of all racing events at Perris Auto Speedway are available from Loudpedal Productions. For more information on these productions you can contact them by calling (805) 844-3854, E-mailing mailto:[email protected] or you can visit the web site LoudPedal Productions 

Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of October’s Southern California Fair), approximately one hour east of Los Angeles and one hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, exit on the Ramona Expressway and go three miles east to the fairgrounds.

[email protected] is the only authorized Internet address to issue official media news released from The Perris Auto Speedway or Oval Entertainment. 

 2015 PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY SCHEDULE

NOTE; THIS SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Shawny Boy McDonald is losing his hero and best buddy, truly a sad day for him but I know the friendship will continue on.  I know Ricky was just as inspired by Shawn as Shawn was with him.  Those two had some wild times between them over the years, nobdy had more fun at the Races than Super Ricky.  If you weren't a fan of his, you weren't a fan of racing, he gave it his all on every lap and giggled/smiled all the way through the race, nobody had more fun than this man did.  His stats may not warrant the Hall of Fame but he's already in it as a human being and been there for years.  Cheers to the Super one....

Definetly Hall of Fame Human Being, plus he did win some big sprint car races along the way including the oval nationals.

And he gives some pretty damn funny interviews too      It won't be the same without Super Ricky racing, but hopes he continues his interviews