From Scott Daloisio
(SEPTEMBER 9, 2010, PERRIS, CA) Defending race champion Damion Gardner has submitted his entry for the 15th Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals at Perris Auto Speedway on November 4th, 5th and 6th.
Currently ranked second in Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series points, Gardner has made every Oval Nationals A main since 2002. In addition to last year’s win, the 2005 USAC/CRA champion finished second in the Oval Nationals in 2005 and fourth in 2004. A native of Concord, California, Gardner, who resides in Pittsboro, Indiana during the racing season, won both mains at the 3rd Annual Louie Vermeil Classic last weekend at Calistoga. Despite the fact that he is not a regular in the USAC/CRA series, Gardner’s four wins in 2010 has him tied with David Cardey for the series lead. The two victories at Calistoga give Gardner a total of 49 wins on the all-time CRA, SCRA, USAC/CRA victory list. That ranks him 12th over all and just five wins behind five-time CRA champion and National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Jimmy Oskie.
In addition to Gardner, another face to fans at The PAS has entered the prestigious race. However, this driver is familiar due to being an effervescent child in the grandstands. Rancho Cucamonga, California native JJ “The Jet” Hughes, who used to sit in the stands as a tike while his father worked on cars in the pits, is entering his first ever Oval Nationals. Hughes began his racing career in the Pomona Valley Quarter Midget Racing Association at the former site of the paved track on 1st Street in Pomona. Now a high school student in Columbus, Indiana, this is Hughes second full year driving 410 Sprint Cars. In 2004 Hughes finished fourth in points and was named Rookie of the Year at Indiana’s Lawrenceburg Speedway.
The Budweiser Oval Nationals is America’s premiere and toughest traditional Sprint Car race. All drivers have to race all three nights as they seek the prestigious title of Budweiser Oval Nationals champion and the $12,500.00 first place paycheck that goes with it. It is a full points paying event for both the Amsoil USAC/CRA and USAC National Sprint Cars. The final two days of the three-day racing fest will also include the California Lightning Sprint Cars.
Advance tickets for the 15th Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals are on sale now. You can order by phone at: 1-800-595-4849 or online at perrisautospeedway.com or tix.com
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
2010 15th BUDWEISER OVAL NATIONALS ENTRY LIST
007 – Wes Gutierrez – San Martin, CA
2 – Cody Williams – Yorba Linda, CA
3 – Rip Williams – Yorba Linda, CA
5 – Justin Grant – West Liberty, IN
20 – Levi Jones – Brownsburg, IN
44 – Austin Williams – Yorba Linda, CA
51 – Rusty Carlile – Bakersfield, CA
71 – Damion Gardner – Pittsboro, IN
76 – JJ Hughes – Columbus, IN
BUDWEISER OVAL NATIONALS CHAMPIONS
1996 – Jimmy Sills
1997 – Rip Williams
1998 – Rodney Argo
1999 – Rickie Gaunt
2000 – Tony Jones
2001 – Bud Kaeding
2002 – Bud Kaeding
2003 – Cory Kruseman
2004 – Tony Kruseman
2005 – Dave Darland
2006 – Dave Darland
2007 – Bud Kaeding
2008 – Jesse Hockett
2009 – Damion Gardner