From Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – DECEMBER 4, 2012… The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series had another solid season in 2012 and for the fifth straight year, Temecula’s Mike Spencer won the driver’s championship. Showcasing twenty-two events throughout California and Arizona, 127 different drivers took the green flag during the campaign. Twelve of those drivers scored main event wins as the group registered an average car count of thirty.
Driving Ron Chaffin’s famed red #50 Madera Produce / Grubstake Mini Storage Maxim, Mike Spencer capped off an outstanding season by winning his first Budweiser Oval Nationals at Perris Auto Speedway. With Bruce Bromme Jr. turning the wrenches, Spencer scored nine feature wins on the year, including the May 26th “Salute To Indy,” July 4th “Firecracker 30,” the “California Racers Hall of Fame Night” on July 28th, and both shows at Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway. The five time champion led the series with thirteen Sander Engineering / Rod End Supply Fast Time Awards, twenty top-5 finishes, and 167 feature laps led. In addition, he recorded five heat race victories and one Keizer Wheels / Ringers Gloves Hard Charger Award. For Chaffin, the 2012 USAC/CRA Championship is his sixth owner’s title in the nine year history of the series.
For the second straight season, Nic Faas of Huntington Beach finished second in the USAC/CRA point chase. Piloting Mark Alexander’s silver #4 Scott Sales Company / Competition Suspension Incorporated Spike, the former USAC Western Midget Champion won the season opening “Sokola Shootout” at Perris and broke the nine year old track record in time trials. Faas returned to victory lane at the October 6th “Southern California Fair Race” and led the series with six heat race victories and two Keizer Wheels / Ringers Gloves Hard Charger Awards (tied). Nic also earned three Sander Engineering / Rod End Supply Fast Time Awards, sixteen top-10 finishes, and led 43 main event laps.
Buena Park’s Brody Roa put together a solid campaign and claimed third in the championship standings. Driving the BR Performance owned #91R HD Industries / Burris Racing Spike, Roa scored his first series victory at Yuma, Arizona on June 2nd and earned Most Improved Driver honors. The former USAC Ford Focus Midget Champion had two heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Diversified Machine Inc. Semi-Main win, one Keizer Wheels / Ringers Gloves Hard Charger Award, sixteen top-10 finishes, and 47 feature laps led to his credit.
“The Ripper” Rip Williams of Yorba Linda placed fourth in the final standings. Piloting Jack Jory’s famed black #3 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, the 2004 Champion ran third on three occasions and continues to thrill his many fans. During the campaign, the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Driver earned one Sander Engineering / Rod End Supply Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Diversified Machine Inc. Semi-Main win, thirteen top-10 finishes, and led 13 main event laps.
Scoring fifth in the USAC/CRA point chase was Yorba Linda’s Austin Williams. Driving Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams claimed the Santa Maria main event win on June 16th. The 2009 Rookie of the Year tied for the series lead with two Keizer Wheels / Ringers Gloves Hard Charger Awards and had five heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Diversified Machine Inc. Semi-Main win, eleven top-10 finishes, and 29 feature laps led on the season.
Ryan Bernal of Hollister claimed sixth in points during his first full season with USAC/CRA. Starting the year in the Kittle Motorsports #18 Sherman, Bernal switched to Keith Ford’s #73 King Racing Products / A&A Precision Machine Spike and won at Victorville on August 19th. The two time Santa Maria track champion won the opening night of Calistoga’s “Louie Vermeil Classic” and had four heat race victories, one Keizer Wheels / Ringers Gloves Hard Charger Award, twelve top-10 finishes, and led 94 main event laps.
Ventura’s “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman finished seventh in the championship chase. Piloting Mark Priestley’s #7 Roy Miller Freight Lines / Sander Engineering Bullet, the 2006 Champion scored his first victory with the veteran car owner at Perris on August 18th. The future Hall of Fame driver ranks second in career series wins (34) and closed out the season with five heat race victories, one Keizer Wheels / Ringers Gloves Hard Charger Award, twelve top-10 finishes, and 40 feature laps led.
“Cadillac” Cody Williams of Yorba Linda finished eighth in the point standings. Driving Jack Jory’s #44 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, the former National Rookie of the Year set a new qualifying track record at Watsonville on August 10th and ran third at the Perris “Southern California Fair Race.” In 2012, Williams led the series with two Competition Suspension Inc. / Diversified Machine Inc. Semi-Main wins and earned one Sander Engineering / Rod End Supply Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, and six top-10 finishes.
Riverside’s “Dynamite” David Cardey placed ninth in the final points. Starting the year in his #59 Circle Track Performance Viper, Cardey switched to Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Victory Race Cars entry and finished second at Perris on July 28th. The former California Lightning Sprint Champion had three heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Diversified Machine Inc. Semi-Main win, one Keizer Wheels / Ringers Gloves Hard Charger Award, and six top-10 finishes on the year.
Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda claimed tenth in the point standings. The pilot of the J.W. Mitchell Motorsports’ #37 J.M. Mancha Realtors / Sierra Springs Water Maxim had championship aspirations until a Terre Haute crash during Indiana Sprint Week ended his season. The former USAC Western Midget Rookie of the Year scored a runner-up finish at Perris on April 28th and had two heat race victories and seven top-10 finishes to his credit. Mitchell is still on the mend from his eye injury and everyone with USAC/CRA wishes him a complete and speedy recovery.
“Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr., “Showtime” Danny Sheridan, Kyle Hirst, “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, and Bryan Clauson also claimed feature wins in 2012. Faria drove his #17V Johnston Calf Pens Bullet from twelfth to his first USAC/CRA victory at Hanford on May 19th. Sheridan lived up to his nickname in the Kittle Motorsports’ #18 Pace Lighting Sherman by claiming a dramatic August 11th victory at Santa Maria. Hirst drove Rod Tiner’s #83 ART Enterprises entry to his first USAC/CRA feature win Calistoga’s “Louie Vermeil Classic” finale on September 2nd.
Darland won at Canyon Speedway Park on October 26th aboard Jeff Walker’s #11 Jam-It-In Storage Maxim and Martin made history the following night by winning the “Hall of Fame Classic.” “The Magic Man” led all 30-laps to claim the $5,000 victory in his #16 Ultimate Offroad Maxim with a 360 power plant. Racing the CTR-BCI-Curb/Agajanian #7 Curb Records Maxim, Clauson won the opening night of the Perris Oval Nationals on November 2nd and claimed the USAC National title.
Anaheim’s Jake Swanson tied for twenty-first in points and earned Rookie of the Year honors. Driving the Larry Henry / Tony Jones owned #41 VGI Graphics / Berg-Nelson Company DRC, Swanson earned his best finish (ninth) at Victorville on August 19th. The USAC Western Midget standout closed out the season with one heat race victory, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Diversified Machine Inc. Semi-Main win, and one top-10 finish to his credit.
As this writing goes to press, Series Director Chris Kearns is working on the upcoming 2013 schedule and USAC officials are looking at options for the annual awards banquet. Details for both items will be released as soon as possible. Mike Truex’s Loudpedal Productions has DVDs available for purchase that feature the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series and videos can be ordered by calling (805) 407-7229 or visiting www.loudpedalvideo.com.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series would like to thank Hoosier Tire, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Integra Racing Shocks, Keizer Wheels, LRB Inc. Race Products, Ringers Gloves, Rod End Supply, SBI Fuel Systems, Saldana Racing Products, and Sander Engineering for their support.
For more information on the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, visit www.usacracing.com/cra or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/USAC-CRA-Sprint-Car-Series/167535183297971 ) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/#!/USAC_CRA). If you or your company would like to become part of the series for the upcoming season, please email PR Director Lance Jennings at lwjennings@earthlink.net.
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2012 AMSOIL USAC/CRA FEATURE WINNERS:
February 25: Perris, CA – Nic Faas
March 31: Perris, CA – Mike Spencer
April 28: Perris, CA – Mike Spencer
May 19: Hanford, CA – Danny Faria Jr.
May 26: Perris, CA – Mike Spencer
June 2: Yuma, AZ – Brody Roa
June 15**: Watsonville, CA – Mike Spencer
June 16**: Santa Maria, CA – Austin Williams
July 4: Perris, CA – Mike Spencer
July 28: Perris, CA – Mike Spencer
August 10**: Watsonville, CA – Mike Spencer
August 11**: Santa Maria, CA – Danny Sheridan
August 18: Perris, CA – Cory Kruseman
August 19: Victorville, CA – Ryan Bernal
September 1**: Calistoga, CA – Ryan Bernal
September 2**: Calistoga, CA – Kyle Hirst
September 15: Perris, CA – Mike Spencer
October 6: Perris, CA – Nic Faas
October 26*: Peoria, AZ – Dave Darland
October 27*: Peoria, AZ – Mike Martin
November 2*: Perris, CA – Bryan Clauson
November 3*: Perris, CA – Mike Spencer
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* = Co-Sanctioned With Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series.
**= Co-Sanctioned With USAC Western Classic Racing Sprint Car Series.
FINAL AMSOIL USAC/CRA POINT STANDINGS:
1. Mike Spencer-1407; 2. Nic Faas-1032; 3. Brody Roa-983; 4. Rip Williams-906; 5. Austin Williams-863; 6. Ryan Bernal-837; 7. Cory Kruseman-725; 8. Cody Williams-676; 9. David Cardey-498; 10. Matt Mitchell-461; 11. David Bezio-440; 12. Richard Vander Weerd-439; 13. Seth Wilson-431; 14. Jace Vander Weerd-320; 15. Greg Alexander-246; 16. Bryan Clauson-234; 17. Tracy Hines-207; 18. Dave Darland-206; 19. Jon Stanbrough-200; 20. Robert Ballou-179.