BY: Robert Mayson
(PERRIS, CA, MARCH 27, 2010) Mike Spencer, Temecula, Calif., appears ready to make a run at a third straight Amsoil USAC/CRA sprint car title. Dominating throughout Saturday’s night program at the Perris Auto Speedway, Spencer and his Ron Chaffin / Grubstake Storage No. 50 Maxim were the fastest in qualifying, won their heat and scored a convincing 30-lap feature win, an accomplishment that earned Spencer his first ever “Dean Thompson Award.”
“I’m just really excited about tonight and to win the Dean Thompson Award is pretty special because Dean was a hero of mine and a guy that I went to for advise,” said Spencer. “He’s definitely missed around here and it’s the first time that I’ve had a chance to win this award and I’ve been trying for awhile.”
Yorba Linda, California drivers Matt Mitchell and Blake Miller shared the front row for the main event. Mitchell led the field into the first-turn in his J.W. Mitchell / Mancha Realtors No.37 Maxim, but it would be second row starter David Cardey that would emerge with the lead exiting turn-two.
“Showtime” Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria, Calif., found the best line early and charged to the lead from his fifth starting spot in just two laps. Cardey would regroup and take back the top spot from Sheridan and his Kittle Plumbing / Pace Lighting No. 18 Stinger on lap-seven after a nice move entering turn-one.
Meanwhile, Spencer was clearly the fastest driver on the track right from the drop of the green flag. In fact, Spencer moved from the eighth starting position to fourth in just three laps. Continuing his quest to the front, Spencer moved into the lead on lap-16 after Cardey’s car suddenly slowed in front of Sheridan.
Once ahead of the pack, Spencer never looked back and comfortably sailed to his first win of the young season. Mitchell battled his way back to earn a second-place finish, with Sheridan grabbing the last spot on the podium.
Former series champion Cory Kruseman, Ventura, Calif., drove his Lucas Oil No. 21k Viper to a fourth-place finish. Tony Jones, Norco, started 13th and was determined to be the only driver to make the cushion work. For his efforts, Jones and his Alexander Trucking / La Villa Restaurant No. 4 DRC were rewarded with a fifth-place finish.
Former Speedway motorcycle star John Aden earned “Hard Charger” honors with his seventh-place finish after starting the event in the 20th position. A case could have been made on this night to issue a second “Hard Charger” Award to Greg Bragg, who starting his night by flipping in time trials. Driving his battered “Moosemobile” in the feature, Bragg worked his way up to the sixth position before being sent to the rear of the field for a work area violation during a lap-14 red flag. Seemingly even more motivated, Bragg aggressively fought his way back to a sixth-place finish.