This message was edited on
August 09, 2011 at
02:21:12 PM by ljennings
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
#50 Mike Spencer. Photo by Doug Allen.
MIKE SPENCER LEADS USAC/CRA TO SANTA MARIA SATURDAY
By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – AUGUST 9, 2011… Temecula's Mike Spencer will lead a talented roster of drivers when the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series invades Chris Kearns' Santa Maria Speedway. The Saturday, August 13th event, will be the last visit of the year for the traditional 410 sprints at the 1/3-mile facility, where Cory Kruseman scored the June 18th victory. Joining the showcase will be the Toste Construction Mini Stocks and Vintage Sprints. The spectator gates will open at 4:00pm, time trials will start at 5:00pm, with racing set begin at "The West Coast's Best Short Track" at 6:00pm.
In addition to the regular program for the USAC/CRA Sprints, track promoter Chris Kearns and Rugged Radios of San Luis Obispo have announced the return of the "Last Man Standing Trophy Dash." The format for the special $1000 winner-take-all event is simple. The top 4 qualifiers that transfer out of the heat races are eligible to compete. The drivers will pick a pill for their starting position in a 4 car / 4-lap dash. Once completed, the last place finisher is eliminated and the 3 remaining cars battle in a 3-lap shootout. The third place car will be retired and the last round will have the two remaining drivers compete in a 2-lap sprint. The winner will claim the $1000 top prize.
Piloting Ron Chaffin's famed #50 Madera Produce / Grubstake Mini Storage Maxim, Mike Spencer scored his fifth victory of the season at the July 30th "Kindoll Classic" at Perris. Heading into Saturday's event, the 3-time defending champion holds a twenty-three point advantage over the competition with three Sander Engineering Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. Semi-Main win, six top-10 finishes, and 114 feature laps led to his credit. Spencer will be looking to continue his championship march with the Santa Maria 30-lap feature win.
With his runner-up finish at Perris, Nic Faas of Huntington Beach is now second in the point chase. Driving Mark Alexander's #4 Scott Sales Company / VP Racing Fuels Spike, Faas has won the two previous "Last Man Standing Dashes" at Santa Maria and Perris. To date, the former USAC Western Midget Series Champion has one Sander Engineering Fast Time Award, four heat race victories, one Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Award, and seven top-10 finishes on the year. This Saturday, Faas will have his eyes set on his first main event win of the season.
Sitting third in the championship points is Yorba Linda's Matt Mitchell. Piloting the J.W. Mitchell Motorsports' #37 Mancha Realtors / Sierra Springs Maxim, the Perris "Salute to Indy" winner scored eleventh in the "Kindoll Classic." Now thirty-six points behind Spencer, Mitchell has four heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and led twenty-six feature laps in 2011. The USAC Western Midget Series graduate will be looking to add Saturday's feature at Santa Maria to his resume.
Austin Williams of Yorba Linda has moved into fourth in the point standings. Driving Jack Jory's #2 Viper backed by the John Jory Corporation and AMA Plastics, Williams claimed fourth in the Perris "Kindoll Classic." As of the writing, the 2009 Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory, one Keizer Wheel Hard Charger Award, and six top-10 finishes to his credit. The young driver has been battling with the front runners and is getting closer to his first series victory.
Visalia's Greg Bragg sits fifth in the standings. Driving Tom and Laurie Sertich's #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Pacific Business Machine Buckley, Bragg was ninth at the July 30th "Kindoll Classic." To date, the 3-Time California Lightning Sprint Champion has two heat race victories, two Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Awards, seven top-10 finishes, and led seven main event laps on the year. It is reported that the Moose Racing entry will miss Saturday's show to re-group after a crash hurt the team's inventory of equipment.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are Yorba Linda's Cody and "The Ripper" Rip Williams, Riverside's "Dynamite" David Cardey, "Super" Rickie Gaunt of Torrance, Norco's Ronnie Gardner, "Showtime" Danny Sheridan of Santa Maria, Visalia's Richard and Jace VanderWeerd, "The Kruser" Cory Kruseman of Ventura, 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 (all four corners must be Hoosier), but must meet series tech standards and race track muffler rules. The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series does not have an entry fee or charge for transponders, but drivers must have one-way radios. In addition, the series is offering a bonus to the highest finishing 360 team. To be eligible for the $200 cash award from USAC and 20 gallons of methanol from So-Cal Performance, the owner or driver must have a current USAC membership.
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, Senior, Military, and Student tickets (13-17) are $18, Kids tickets (6-12) are $6, and Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.racesantamariaspeedway.com or call (805) 922-2232.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series would like to thank Hoosier Tire, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Donovan Engineering, Electro Tech Powder Coating, Extreme Mufflers, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror, Keizer Wheels, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Sander Engineering, and So-Cal Performance for their support. For more information, visit usacracing.com/cra or follow the series on facebook.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT POINTS:
1. Mike Spencer 502; 2. Nic Faas 479; 3. Matt Mitchell 466; 4. Austin Williams 391; 5. Greg Bragg 385; 6. Cody Williams 332; 7. David Cardey 318; 8. Rickie Gaunt 304; 9. Ronnie Gardner 281; 10. Blake Miller 277; 11. Rip Williams 272; 12. Danny Sheridan 269; 13. Cory Kruseman 246; 14. Richard VanderWeerd 225; 15. Jace VanderWeerd 210; 16. David Bezio 185; 17. Rodney Argo 140; 18. Greg Alexander 136; 19. Danny Faria Jr. 110; 20. Kenny Perkins 104.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT SCHEDULE:
August 13: Santa Maria Speedway - Santa Maria, CA
August 20: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
September 3: **Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA
September 4: **Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA
September 8: **Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA
September 24: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
October 8: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
October 28: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ
October 29: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ
November 3: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
November 4: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
November 5: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
November 12: *Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA
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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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