By Scott Daloisio
(MAY 18, 2010, PERRIS, CA) Perris Auto Speedway will play host to a historic Sprint Car race this Saturday, May 22nd, when the American Sprint Car Series sanctions its first ever race in California. In addition to the ASCS stars and cars, the Extreme Late Models, headed by red-hot Mike Kirby, will also be in action on the famous Riverside County half-mile clay oval. Spectator gates will open at 5:00 PM and the first race will be at 7:00 PM.
ASCS, which began sanctioning Sprint Car events in 1992, is the largest Sprint Car sanctioning body in North America with racing at approximately 100 tracks in 30 states and north of the border in Canada. The sanctioning body is comprised of 12 regional series and a National touring group.
“We are very pleased to host this truly historic night or racing,” excited PAS promoter Don Kazarian said. “We think it is going to be a great show for the fans with all of the stars and cars of the ASCS Canyon Region being challenged by the California drivers. And, we have the Late Models including Mike Kirby as well. There has been a buzz about this race with the fans ever since we announced it. It is going to be a lot of fun.”
Buckeye, Arizona’s Charles Davis Jr. comes into Saturday’s race on a three race-winning streak in the ASCS Canyon Region. His last win came last Saturday night at the series’ home track, USA Raceway in Tucson. The defending series champion, Davis, who won a Sprint Car main event at The PAS in the USAC/CRA series in 2006, carries a 62-point lead over Peoria, Arizona’s Josh Pelkey heading into this Saturday’s race (the top ten in ASCA Canyon Region points is listed at the end of this release). The only race Davis did not win in the series this year was the season opener, which went to Indiana legend Dave Darland at USA Raceway on March 13th.
While Darland will be busy with racing duties in the Midwest on Saturday, the Parker Stores car he won the season opening main event in will be on hand with two-time defending USAC/CRA champion Mike Spencer of Temecula, California
behind the wheel. Spencer will be returning to action after a grinding flip down The PAS front straightaway on April 10th.
As well as Spencer and the Arizona stars, a bevy of drivers from around California is expected to be on hand on Saturday.
In addition to the ASCS Sprint Cars the Extreme Late Models return to The PAS for their third race of 2010. The favorite in the Late Models has to be former Sprint Car star Mike Kirby of Lomita, California. Simply put, Kirby is the hottest Late Model driver on the West Coast at the present time and he sits on top of the West Coast driver ratings. Kirby swept the show at The PAS two weeks ago winning his heats and the main events in the Late Models and the Modifieds in convincing action. The Modified win, in a car that will eventually be driven by his nephew Cody Laney, was his second victory in that class in 2010.
In addition to his convincing win at The PAS two weeks ago, the popular 46 year old won the West Coast Shootout Late Model main event at Bakersfield on April 24th and finished third in the same series at Tulare on May 1st. In his other 2010 Late Model start at The PAS on March 27th, Kirby had a half straight lead when he broke a drive shaft.
“Mike Kirby is a fun driver to watch,” Kazarian said. “He can drive anything he gets into and he is always a contender. He was one of the biggest stars in Sprint Car racing for a lot of years and now he is on top of the heap in Late Models. Not many drivers can do that. He is truly a short track racing superstar.”
You can keep up with all of the latest news from Perris Auto Speedway on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/perrisautospdwy.
For more information call The PAS at: (951) 940-0134.
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.
Video and DVD productions of all racing events at Perris Auto Speedway are available from Jeff Kristensen’s Raceway Video. For more information on these productions you can call: (818) 618-9764 or visit the web site at: racewayvideo.com.
Perris Auto Speedway is on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of the 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 two 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
ASCS CANYON REGION SPRINT CARS
1. Charles Davis Jr. – Buckeye, AZ – 572
2. Josh Pelkey – Peoria, AZ – 510
3. Mike Martin – Yuma, AZ – 499
4. Jeremy Sherman – Surprise, AZ- 492
5. Andrew Reinbold – Gilbert, AZ – 475
6. R.J. Johnson – Phoenix, AZ – 472
7. Thomas Ogle – Waddell, AZ – 459
8. Stevie Sussex – Laveen, AZ – 436
9. Ronnie Clark – Tucson, AZ – 424
10. Seainn Hendricsen – Scottsdale, AZ – 417