By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – MARCH 29, 2011… This Saturday, April 2nd, the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will return to Perris Auto Speedway. Joining the traditional 410 cubic-inch powered machines will be the California Lightning Sprints. The spectator gates for will open at 5:00pm, with racing at “America’s Premier Dirt Track” to begin at 7:00pm.
On the strength of two straight feature wins, Temecula’s Mike Spencer sits atop the point standings. Piloting Ron Chaffin’s #50 Madera Produce / Circle C Marketing Maxim, Spencer took the lead from Plainfield, Indiana’s Bill Rose on lap eleven to score last Saturday night’s win at Victorville. The 3-time defending champion will be looking for another Perris victory as he looks to make USAC history with his fourth straight title.
Riverside’s “Dynamite” David Cardey is currently second in the point chase. Driving his own #59 Circle Track Performance / Pick’s Racing Engines Viper, Cardey earned “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors at Victorville with his second place run after starting eleventh. In addition, the former California Lightning Sprint Champion won the 10-lap DJ Safety Heat Race #3. Cardey has enjoyed success at Perris, claiming four main event wins last season.
“The Bullet” Blake Miller of Yorba Linda is tied for second in the points with Cardey. Last Saturday at Victorville, Miller piloted Mark Priestley’s #7 Roy Miller Freightlines / Sander Engineering Maxim to his second straight fourth place finish on the year. The former VRA Sprint Car Champion led the first six laps at the Perris opener and will look to claim Saturday’s feature win.
Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda sits fourth in the USAC/CRA standings. Driving the #37 J.W. Mitchell Motorsports Maxim, sponsored by Mancha Realtors and Sierra Springs, Mitchell scored a ninth place finish at Victorville. The USAC Western Midget Series graduate won last year’s Fair Race at Perris Auto Speedway and will be one of the favorites on Saturday.
Huntington Beach’s Nic Faas is fifth in the championship point chase. Piloting Mark Alexander’s #4 Spike, backed by Scott Sales Company and VP Racing Fuels, Faas set a new track record in qualifying at Victorville. After having problems in the main event, the former USAC Western Midget Series Champion rebounded to claim twelfth. Faas is getting settled into his new ride and will look for the Perris victory.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are Visalia’s Greg Bragg, “Super” Rickie Gaunt of Torrance, Yorba Linda’s Austin, Cody, and “The Ripper” Rip Williams, “Showtime” Danny Sheridan of Santa Maria, Norco’s Ronnie Gardner, and many more.
Local 360 iron-block powered Sprint Cars are welcome to race with USAC/CRA. The 360s can run their local approved tires, but must meet series tech standards and race track muffler rules. The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series does not have an entry fee, but drivers must have one-way radios.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds in Perris, California. Adult tickets are $20, Senior tickets are $15, and $5 for Active Military and Children. For more information, please visit www.perrisautospeedway.com or call (951) 940-0134.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series would like to thank Hoosier Tire, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Donovan Engineering, Electro Tech Powder Coating, Extreme Mufflers, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror, Keizer Wheels, Saldana Racing Products, and Sander Engineering for their support. For more information, visit usacracing.com or follow the series on facebook.
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USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Mike Spencer 142; 2. David Cardey 118; 3. Blake Miller 118; 4. Matt Mitchell 104; 5. Nic Faas 98; 6. Greg Bragg 90; 7. Rickie Gaunt 81; 8. David Bezio 67; 9. Cody Williams 67; 10. Austin Williams 66; 11. Damion Gardner 62; 12. Ronnie Gardner 55; 13. Bill Rose 54; 14. Danny Sheridan 52; Cory Kruseman 52; 16. Rip Williams 47; 17. Greg Alexander 41; 18. Seth Wilson 36; 19. Jace VanderWeerd 36; 20. Richard VanderWeerd 33.
NEXT USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACE:
April 2nd – Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, California