By Dick Jordan
Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda, Calif. sits atop the 2011 AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car standings after his victory in last Saturday night’s 30-lap “Salute to Indy” feature at the Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.
Mitchell has an 11-point lead over defending series champion Mike Spencer going into June 17 and 18 races at Watsonville, Calif. and Santa Maria, Calif.
Saturday night’s victory in the “Salute to Indy” at Perris came as Mitchell passed Greg Alexander on lap eight and led the final 23 laps in his J.W. Mitchell Motorsports/Mancha Realtors Maxim/Speedway entry. Greg Bragg, Rickie Gaunt, Nic Faas and Blake Miller, who led the first five laps, trailed at the checkered flag.
Spencer posted the fastest qualifying time.
Cory Kruseman (Watsonville) and Blake Miller (Santa Maria) are the defending USAC/CRA race winners at the next two series stops.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR STANDINGS
1-Matt Mitchell-290; 2-Mike Spencer-279; 3-Blake Miller-277; 4-David Cardey-259; 5-Greg Bragg-244; 6-Rickie Gaunt-223; 7-Nic Faas-223; 8-Austin Williams-181; 9-Cody Williams-154; 10-Rip Williams-153.