By Scott Daloisio
(Perris, CA, May 24, 2016) The “Southern California Home of Major League Sprint Car Racing,” Perris Auto Speedway, will host one of the longest running and most historic races in west coast open wheel racing when it plays host to the annual Salute to Indy this Saturday night, May 28th. The popular Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will be the main attraction on Saturday and they will be joined by The PAS Senior & Young Gun Sprint Cars and the California Lightning Sprint Cars. Spectator gates will open at 5:00 PM and the first race will begin at 7:00.
The salute to Indy has been a Southern California staple dating back to 1948 when Dempsey Wilson won the inaugural one. From 1948 through 1990 the race was contested in all but five years. However, after Ascot closed in 1990 the race shelved until Perris Auto Speedway opened in 1996. Since being reborn in 96′, the prestigious race has taken place each year with the exception of 2008 when it was rained out.
Since moving to The PAS, two drivers, Damion Gardner of Concord and Lomita’s Mike Kirby, have each won the race three times. Gardner, who will be looking for his first win of 2016, will in the field on Saturday night. Kirby retired from sprint cars several years ago and now concentrates on stock car racing.
Visalia’s Richard Vander Weerd, who turned 25-years-old last month, won the latest edition of the Salute to Indy last May. Heading into this week’s race, Vander Weerd is ranked second in USAC/CRA points and trails leader Brody Roa of Garden Grove by 18-points. 2012 Salute to Indy winner Mike Spencer of Temecula, who will be driving his fourth different car in four races in 2016, but who will be in his new, permanent #4S from Gansen Racing, is third in the championship standings with Anaheim’s Jake Swanson and Gardner rounding out the top five.
Visalia’s Richard Vander Weerd after winning the 2015 Salute to
Indy. Please give photo credit to Doug Allen.
There will be a new treat for fans starting this Saturday. After the 30-lap main ends, all drivers will immediately stop on the front straight and fans will be allowed onto the track to get autographs and take photos. In addition, one youngster will be presented with an official winner’s plaque signed by the winning driver.
The exciting PAS Young Guns will be led into the holiday weekend race by Courtney Crone. The 15-year-old Corona driver has won both of the mains staged thus far in 2016 and comes in with a 12-point lead over 20-year old marketing student Hannah Mayhew of Acton. Crone’s teammate, Venice teenger Daniel Anderson, is one point behind Mayhew. Matt McCarthy of Riverside and Glendale, Arizona’s Gavin Harlein are ranked fourth and fifth.
15-year-old Courtney Crone of Corona has won both of the PAS Young Gun mains in 2016 and leads the championship point standings. Please give photo credit to Doug Allen.
Eddie Tafoya of Chino Hills, a former draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates, sits on top of the championship standings in the Senior Sprints for drivers 45 and older. Rick Hendrix of Palmdale, a multi-champion racer who won the 2013 Senior Sprint crown, is five points behind in second followed by Canyon Country stunt man Richard McCormick, 2011 champ Bill Badger of Santa Clarita and Fairbanks, Alaska racer Danny Parrish.
Former Pittsburgh Pirates draft choice Eddie Tafoya of Chino Hills is the current PAS Senior Sprint Car points leader. Please give photo credit to Doug Allen.
Rounding out Saturday’s Salute to Indy will be the California Lightning Sprint Cars who will be making their first of two appearances at their former home track in 2016. Corona’s Darren Hillberg took the point lead from Upland’s Alex Grigoreas at the last CLS race two weeks ago at Ventura. Chino’s Pat Kelley, who won his first ever CLS race at Ventura, is third in the standings. San Bernardino’s James Heling and Jeff Dyer of Victorville comprise the remainder of the top five.
Adult tickets are $25.00 on Saturday. Seniors (65 and older) get in for $20.00. Active military members with proper id, teens 13-18 with their school id and kids age 6-12 are $5.00. Children 5 and under are free. There will be plenty of tickets for everyone at the ticket window on Saturday. In addition, advance tickets are available 24-hours a day online at the following link http://pas.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=829397 or by calling 1-800-595-4849.
Amsoil USAC/CRA Points
- Brody Roa – Garden Grove, CA – 218
- Richard Vander Weerd – Visalia, CA – 200
- Mike Spencer – Temecula, CA – 189
- Jake Swanson – Anaheim, CA – 185
- Damion Gardner – Concord, CA – 168
- Austin Williams – Yorba Linda, CA – 167
- Max Adams – Loomis, CA – 150
- Cody Williams – Corona, CA – 149
- Josh Hodges – Tijeras, NM – 146
- Logan Williams – Yorba Linda, CA – 122
PAS Young Gun Sprints
- Courtney Crone – Corona, CA – 126
- Hannah Mayhew – Acton, CA – 114
- Daniel Anderson – Venice, CA – 113
- Matt McCarthy – Riverside, CA – 57
- Gavin Harlein – Glendale, AZ – 52
PAS Senior Sprints
- Eddie Tafoya – Chino Hills, CA – 121
- Rick Hendrix – Palmdale, CA – 116
- Richard McCormick – Canyon Country, CA – 105
- Bill Badger – Santa Clarita, CA – 105
- Danny Parrish – Fairbanks, AK – 93
California Lightning Sprint Cars
- Darren Hillberg – Corona, CA – 692
- Alex Grigoreas – Upland, CA – 687
- Pat Kelley – Chino, CA – 652
- James Heling – San Bernardino, CA – 627
- Jeff Dyer – Victorville, CA – 574
The complete 2016 Perris Auto Speedway schedule is at the end of this release.
Perris Auto Speedway wants to thank its corporate sponsors. All Coast Construction, All Seasons Tree Repair, Amsoil, Archibald’s Restaurants, Ayers Hotel and Spa, BlueLine Rentals, Budweiser, Bud’s Tire Pro, Center Point Church, Champion Towing, City of Perris, Daytona Boat & RV Storage, Edelbrock, Engine Pro, Green Sheet, HD Industries, Hoosier Tires, Horizon Solar, Imola Restaurant & Bar, K&N Engineering, Luke’s Transmission, Paul Oil Company, Pepsi-Cola, Pick-A-Part Auto Salvage, Pizza Factory, Pole Position, PrintItNow.com, R. David Bulen Insurance, Scott Sales, Square H, Sunstate Equipment, Swedish Speed, Original Tommy’s Burgers, Trench Shoring, US Foods, Valley News and Vista Paint.
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:trtruex@gmail.com 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.
racesatthepas@aol.com is the only authorized Internet address to issue official media news released from The Perris Auto Speedway or Oval Entertainment.