SPENCER STAMPS HIMSELF AS “OVAL NATIONALS” FAVORITE

From Dick Jordan

Mike Spencer of Temecula, Calif. earned the role of favorite for the upcoming November 4-6 “Budweiser Oval Nationals” with his victory in Saturday night’s “Legends of Ascot” Night 30-lap AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint car race at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.

Spencer is a runaway leader in the 2010 USAC/CRA standings and the Temecula, Calif. driver showed why again Saturday as he sped to victory in his Madera Produce/Grubstake Mini Storage Maxim/Shaver. He passed Danny Sheridan on lap 13 and yielded the lead only on lap 37 to Matt Mitchell, then regained it a lap later. Mitchell took second ahead of Darren Hagen, Rickie Gaunt and Casey Shuman. Damion Gardner was the fastest qualifier and David Cardey won the special “Legends of Ascot” Match Race challenge.

Spencer is among a large field of pre-entries for the November 4-6 spectacular, which offers points toward both the AMSOIL USAC National and USAC/CRA championships.

Saturday’s win was Spencer’s fourth at the PAS this season and his 13th career triumph at the half-mile dirt oval. Last year he finished second in the “Budweiser Oval Nationals” A-main behind Damion Gardner.

AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT SERIES POINT STANDINGS

1-Mike Spencer-1,202, 2-Danny Sheridan-916, 3-Cory Kruseman-845, 4-Matt Mitchell-807, 5-Blake Miller-770, 6-Greg Bragg-608, 7-Tony Jones-590, 8-Cody Williams-560, 9-David Cardey-555, 10-Austin Williams-552.