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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
#18 "Showtime" Danny Sheridan. Photo by Tear-Off Heaven Fotos.
2011 USAC/CRA SEASON BEGINS SATURDAY AT PERRIS "SOKOLA SHOOTOUT"
By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – MARCH 7, 2011… This Saturday, March 12th, the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will kickoff their 2011 campaign at Perris Auto Speedway. Joining the traditional 410 cubic-inch powered machines will be the California Lightning Sprints. The spectator gates for the "Sokola Shootout" will open at 5:00pm, with racing at "America's Premier Dirt Track" to begin at 7:00pm.
Temecula's Mike Spencer will be leading the field of Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars. The 3-time defending series champion is back behind the wheel of Ron Chaffin's potent #50 Madera Produce / Circle C Marketing Maxim. Last year, Spencer tied for the series lead with five feature victories, with four coming at the Perris 1/2-mile clay oval. In addition, Mike led the series with nine fast times, ten heat race wins, three semi-main victories, seventeen top-5 finishes, and 145 feature laps led. Look for Spencer to be among the favorites on Saturday.
"Showtime" Danny Sheridan of Santa Maria finished second in the championship point chase. Piloting the #18 Kittle Motorsports owned Pace Lighting / PIPE entry, Sheridan will drive a brand new Sherman Fabrication car in 2011. Danny did not score a feature win last season, but had two fast time awards, six heat race wins, one semi-main victory, eight top-5 finishes, and led thirty-six main event laps. The Kittle Motorsports team will be looking to start off the new season with a victory.
Yorba Linda's Matt Mitchell claimed third place in the hunt for the championship. Driving the #37 J.W. Mitchell Motorsports Maxim backed by Mancha Realtors and Sierra Springs, Mitchell won the October 9th Fair Race at Perris Auto Speedway. In addition, Matt scored four fast time awards, one heat race win, ten top-5 finishes, and led twenty-five main event laps. This Saturday, Mitchell will be in the mix for a feature win.
"The Kruser" Cory Kruseman of Ventura was fourth in the point standings. Piloting the #21K Kruseman Motorsports Eagle sponsored by Lucas Oil and Agromin, Kruseman scored three feature wins, coming at Watsonville, Ventura, and the season ending Glenn Howard Memorial at Perris. The 2006 series champion had five heat race wins, nine top-five finishes, and led 119 main event laps. Cory is always a threat to score the main event win.
Finishing fifth in the point chase was Yorba Linda's "Bullet" Blake Miller. Driving Mark Priestley's #7 Roy Miller Freightlines / Sander Engineering Bullet, Miller had two feature wins on the year, coming at Tulare and Santa Maria. Blake was in the thick of the title chase until he suffered a late season injury at Perris. The former series rookie of the year finished with one fast time, two heat race wins, one semi-main victory, and fifty-three main event laps led. Miller will be looking to make a statement with a victory.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are Yorba Linda's Austin, Cody, and "The Ripper" Rip Williams, Visalia's Greg Bragg, "Dynamite" David Cardey of Riverside, Torrance's "Super" Rickie Gaunt, Nic Faas of Huntington Beach, Whittier's Ronnie Gardner, and many more.
Local 360 iron-block powered Sprint Cars are welcome to race with USAC/CRA. The 360s can run their local approved tires, but must meet series tech standards and race track muffler rules. The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series does not have an entry fee, but drivers must have one-way radios.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds in Perris, California. Adult tickets are $20, Senior tickets are $15, and $5 for Active Military and Children. For more information, please visit www.perrisautospeedway.com or call (951) 940-0134.
For more information on the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, please visit usacracing.com or follow the series on facebook.
To catch all of the action of the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars at Perris Auto Speedway, Jeff Kristensen's Raceway Video has DVD videos available for purchase. For more information, call (818) 618-9764 or visit www.racewayvideo.com.
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NEXT AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACE:
March 12 - Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, California - "Sokola Shootout"
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