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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 

PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY GOES BACK TO TRADITION FOR THE 20^TH BUDWEISER OVALS NATIONALS! 

(Perris, CA, January 6, 2015)    With the holidays over, the staff at Perris Auto Speedway is back in the office and working hard on the historic 20^th season at the famous Riverside County racing facility.  Among the things getting attention is the most prestigious traditional sprint car race in the nation, the annual Budweiser Oval Nationals Presented by All Coast Construction.  When the race takes place for the 20^th time on November 12^th, 13^th and 14^th, it will return to a format that endeared it to race fans around the country in years gone by. 

The Oval Nationals began life in October of 1996 as a two-day event.  It immediately garnered wide spread attention and appreciation of race teams and fans around the nation.  They marveled at the gorgeous new track and appreciated that the race featured a large purse, stiff competition and was staged at a time of year when most tracks around the country had already closed for the winter.  

The race remained a two day affair through the year 2000.  In 2001 promoter Don Kazarian added an extra night and split the field in two.  Half the cars raced on Thursday, the other half on Friday and then they all raced together on Saturday.  One season later he made one of the major decisions which made the race so popular over the years.  He kept the event at three days and instituted the policy of all drivers having to race all three nights. 

All cars racing all three nights brought out the best drivers.  It was a tough format where they had to perform at their hardest from their first lap in qualifying on Thursday until the final checkered flag on Saturday.  It left little room for error from the drivers and their equipment.  It was demanding on the competitors not only racing the cars, but also the crew’s thrashing on them in the pits.  It created excitement and drama that the fans looked forward to every year. 

The race stayed a three night affair through 2011.  In 2012, it went back to the original two-night format.  In 2013 and 2014, it was back to three nights again, but only the last two of those nights featured the 410 sprint cars.  It was still the Oval Nationals, but it was not the same show and the fans let Kazarian know that they wanted the three nights of 410 sprint cars back.  Much to their delight, in 2015 the show is going back to what made it great in years gone by.  Three straight nights of 410 sprint cars with every driver competing all three nights! 

“The fans have been asking for three straight nights of 410 sprint cars like we used to have at the Oval Nationals and that is what we are going to give them,” Kazarian said.  “The race did lose a little bit of its luster for a few years, but things began to swing around again when we started getting purse back up thanks to Mike Grosswendt at All Coast Construction.  There was a buzz around the race again the past two seasons and there will be even more this year as fans will be able to see their favorites from the USAC National and USAC/CRA Series’ go at it three straight nights like the old days.” 

The 2015 edition of the prestigious race will also see it go back to another past tradition of the Oval Nationals.  The race started out with just 410 sprint cars and stayed that way for quite some time.  However, the past few years have seen a couple of support classes sharing the program with the 410’s.  That is not going to be the case this year.  

“Fans also asked for 410’s only and no support classes at the Ovals, so that is what we are going to do” Kazarian commented.  “It seemed like the support classes cut out some of the drama and took some of the focus away from the 410’s.  Make no mistake about it, the 410’s made the Oval Nationals and we want everyone to be able to focus on them completely so we are not running any support classes with them at this year’s Ovals.”  

The addition of the third night of 410 racing brings on another big chunk of change for the drivers to compete for.  It will be the largest purse in the 20-year history of the race.  That should not only draw the attention of the local drivers in the USAC/CRA Series and the Indiana based USAC National Series, but it should draw interest from drivers from other parts of the nation as well. 

“Last year Robert Ballou won both nights of the 410 portion of the Oval Nationals and pocketed $30,000.00 for doing so,” Kazarian said.  “If a driver sweeps all three nights this year, he will take home at least $35,000.00 in main event winnings alone.  In addition to going back to all 410’s and the biggest purse in Oval Nationals history, we will have some other exciting announcements in the ten months leading up to the race.  This year’s Oval Nationals is going to be great for the drivers and the fans.  Just like old times.” 

Advance tickets for the 20^th Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals will go on sale within the next few weeks. 

For more information on The PAS call: (951) 940-0134.

 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. 1-800LoanMart, 777 Racecars, All Coast Construction, Amsoil, Ayers Hotel and Spa, BlueLine Rental, Budweiser, CamGuard, Champion Towing, City of Perris, Daytona Boat & RV Storage, Edelbrok, Engine Pro, HD Industries, Hoosier Tires, K&N Engineering, Marjon RV, Pacific Coach Works, Pep Boys, P.I.P.E., Pepsi-Cola, Pick-A-Part Auto Salvage, Running Waters Hospice, Scott Sales, Shaver Racing Engines, Sherwin-Williams,  Sprint Car Driving Experience, Square H, Swedish Speed, Town and Country Golf Carts, Trench Shoring, United States Army, US Foods and Valley Auto Salvage. 

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

Hallefreakinglujah!

Don Kazarian goes big!

Not having the WC 360's at the Ovals is a mistake in my opinion. There should be no reason why they couldn't have been included in the Ovals. Need Less down time and more racing. Maybe they should have added the 360 show to Turkey Night. More sprintcar races on the event card seems like a no brainer to me. Good news is that we get more 410 racing throughout the Ovals. SCS

I agree totally with SCS. Turkey Night needs more than two races. Sometimes the 360s were the best part of the Ovals.

hey racerDon how about adding wings to the Ovals????

ROB

NO THANKS!

Seriously, PAS and USAC asked the race fans what they wanted?  I must of missed when that happened.

Disappointing to throw out the best 360 non wing race of the year.  3 nights with the same drivers/cars/teams is too exhausting, expensive for everyone involved.

Doug, it does not say The PAS and USAC asked the fans what they wanted.  It says the fans asked for it.  Via phone, text, E-mail and in person, they asked.  That is why it is happening.

It is sad that the 360 race is being dropped as the racing was great.  However, the crowd was not.  In fact, the Thursday 360 crowd in 2014 was down substantially from the same crowd in 2013.  Over the years, The PAS has hosted the Bandit, IMCA, VRA and USAC West Coast/Southwest 360's.  The racing has been fine, but sadly, they all have the same thing in common.  Empty grandstands.  At The PAS, it is like NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide.  People show up in numbers for the Sprint Cup, but the crowds do not show up for Nationwide.

Disagree with you about the three nights of racing being to much.  Three nights in a row is common place every week in the Midwest (even more with Late Models).  With USAC, look at Indiana Sprint Week and the USAC East Coast Swing.  They are much more grueling, but real racers show up to compete.  In the East Coast Swing they are racing five times ar five different track in six days.  Indiana Sprint Week is seven races at seven different tracks in nine days.  Three nights at the Oval Nationals on the same track and sleeping in the same bed (hotel or home) is a piece of cake compared to those.  And, they will be racing for a monster purse at the Oval Nationals.

In order to grow this sport we love, I think there are three critical components.

-The car owners and drivers deserve the best treatment possible because they are the show. The need enough money and respect to want to come to race.

-The fans deserve the very best show possible because their support is the most critical component in the equation. Nobody should be required to “support” sprint cars. People will just naturally buy an outstanding product.

-The promoter needs to figure this all out, sell his vision and then be rewarded. He will then be likely to increase the effort and further improve and expand the product.

Personally, I support Don’s decision to eliminate multiple racing classes for the Oval Nationals. The goal should be to present the most exciting “National” event possible. The opening night track is typically the best surface and should be included in the National program. The drivers will also have the important ability to recover from one bad night and allow all the crème to rise to the top for the Saturday main event. The purse needs to be big enough to entice and reward the National car owners and drivers and to split it with another class is self-defeating. Advertising needs to highlight the National and California stars and would be most efficient focused on that alone. The ability to park the big rigs in the infield once and then let them alone is a huge benefit.

BTW, if you need 360 racing action, USAC has scheduled three consecutive nights of both West Coast and Southwest Sprint cars merely one week later at USA Speedway combined with the final Championship races of the National Sprint Car Series! That should be an outstanding presentation.

 Again, the future of sprint car racing is going to be what we make it. The status quo hasn’t been working. This fan is impressed that Don would risk extra back gate money in order to put forth the best show possible. It’s a bold, gutsy move and exactly what California sprint car racing needs.

The "fans" may have asked for it, but I haven't (yet, anyway) run into anyone I =know= who "asked for it." And everyone I've talked with says the 360 show this past November was the best night of racing at the O'Nats. (I =am= perplexed, but it's not for the first time, and it won't be the last.) (Yahoo smiley face with wobbling eyes goes here.)

Scott

Everything you say is fair.  (I was in a foul mood yesterday (hate getting an undeserved camera ticket from X-mas Eve).

But I feel I am a hard core (racer) and fan, since I was 6, starting with Saugus and Ascot in the mid 70's.   (Also ran 1/4 midgets and karts with many of the current racers at PAS and Nartionally).

I've been to USAC Sprint Week, Knoxville, SCRA Mid West races, etc.   

My favorite events so far have been Trophy Cup, Oval Nationals and USAC Sprint week.  (One of least favorite event, was Knoxville Nationals, but that could of been that after hot laps I knew Donny was going to dominate the week, and he die, the heat was oppressive, and they had a day event.

But for me, I do not enjoy seeing the SAME guys race 3 nights in a row.   At Knoxville, they split the fields, same thing at Chilli Bowl.   Been to Trophy Cup with 2 and 3 day iterations.

With that said, my favorite show last year was the Ovals, I liked seeing both 360 and 410 guys race.   The biggest disappointment was the Trophy Cup, it was too draining, and the Saturday Show did not live up to the hype.

In case any promoter wants my feedback, after going to 3 days at both Ovals and Trophy Cup last year,  I will likely only attend the Saturday Portion of the Trophy Cup, although i may attend the Oval Nationals if they have heat races on Saturday.

Since we have over 10 months to the Oval Natiionals, I hope Scott and Donf K can come up with very innovative format so that I change my mind.   Here's some of my suggestions.

Run Qual and Heat races for Thursday and Friday, and mains.    Add the points, and on Saturday, run heat races again, but with fully inverted 8 car heat races based by points.   Than add the points again, and determine the starting positions for the mains on Saturday.   To ensure one guy does not dominate the whole weekend or somebody sandbagging, have a redrawl for the top 8 in points for starting positions.   No matter what, all these guys are fast, and there is a good chance, who ever starts on the front row is likely to win, but  last year was one of the most exciting events I had been too in awhile for the ovals.

As a fan, its not hard to attend 3 nights and is minimal expenses compared to a race team   For a race team to compete at the Oval Nationals, I would imagine it is very expensive equipment wise, time away from the job.

I would hope PAS would consult more witht the teams and see what they want, and also listen to the fans a little.   In order to regrow sprint car racing again in SoCAL, the teams, PAS, fans, USAC need to work together and collaborate.  I would not miss USAC that much, but they are here.   PAS is the key to work with the teams to make this better.  But at the same time, teams need to realize, Don K has finacial concerns to make this work.  If this was a Gold Mine, there would be sprint car races every week at PAS.   We are lucky PAS offers sprint car races.

The last of my $.02 rant.   I would just like to see the PAS and teams (and fans) work together and not against each others interest.  Back on topic. PLEASE DO NOT JUST RUN MAINS on Saturday's Portion, or drag it out all night.   I saw newbie fans, (first sprint car race ever) walk out at the Ovals on Saturday around 9:30, they asked me after the 1 st semi, was the main event next.  I had to explain they needed to run a few more races.   About 5 minutes later, they got up and left.  I HIGHLY DOUBT THEY WILL EVER ATTEND ANOTHER SPRINT CAR RACE, and this was at the premier sprint car event for us non wing folks.   I think all promoters should look at their competiton, and see how they conduct  their entertainment.  The moment someone walks into the facitly, they need to be entertained the whole time, and the program should not be too  long.   Even at NBA games, or Superbowl, they HAVE HALFTIME entertainment.

I know it is easy as a fan to take shots at USAC or even PAS.  It's hard work and time consuming, and no matter what they do, people like me will bitch and moan.   But I still have passion for CRA (and PAS).   I just want it better, and I think is starts with Don K and the CRA teams communicating.  Hell maybe CRA teams want to race 3 nights, and I am full of shit.  But did anyone ask the CRA teams what they thought.   As a fan, I can go 1, 2 or 3 nights.  As a team, they have to be there all 3 nights if they want to race.

Cheers - even with my ughly rant, CRA and PAS are moving forward, and I hope to attend more shows in the future, and I still have passion for the sport WE ALL LOVE (if we still read this forum)  

Sincerely

Doug Lierle

Damn I wish this forum had spell check or a way to edit, as my spelling sucks, and even I will admit, my thoughts are not always coherent, but hopefully you can gather my message.

Have a great day everyone, chilli bowl just around the corner, and before too long CRA at the PAS

The days of CRA and SCRA are gone.  USAC is a business and knows what is best for the competitors.  I believe since USAC took over SoCal, Steve Ostling was the only one that ever scheduled a membership meeting.  Can any of you old-timers remember Walt Kennedy giving Gary Solola all he could handle at the meetings?  Good times...

Brett

www.brodyroa.com