USAC/CRA SPRINTS INVADE PERRIS SATURDAY FOR “SOKOLA SHOOTOUT”

From Lance Jennings

Santa Maria, CA — (March 5, 2013) — This Saturday, March 9th, the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will return to Perris Auto Speedway for the 11th Annual “Sokola Shootout.” Joining the traditional 410 cubic-inch powered machines will be the winged California Lightning Sprints and popular PAS Senior 360 Sprint Cars. The spectator gates will open at 5:00pm, with racing at “America’s Premier Dirt Track” to begin at 7:00pm.

The “Sokola Shootout” has been a popular West Coast event since March 17, 2001 when “The Cowboy” Tony Jones won the inaugural race at Manzanita Speedway. Originally called the “Sokola Classic” to honor past CRA President and USAC Sprint Supervisor Gary Sokola, the event has grown to also recognize his family and their contributions to racing. This Saturday night, Cory Kruseman, Rickie Gaunt, Damion Gardner, Mike Spencer, and Nic Faas will be looking to join Jeremy Sherman and Mike Kirby as the only two-time winners of the “Sokola Shootout.”

After scoring a win and a third place finish at Canyon, Noblesville, Indiana’s Bryan Clauson sits atop the point standings. Piloting Mike Martin’s #16B Ultimate Offroad / Naquin Precision Earth Moving Maxim, Clauson also has a Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and a heat race victory to his credit. The defending USAC Sprint Car Champion has three Perris feature wins in his career and will be looking to add the “Sokola Shootout” to his resume.

Nic Faas of Huntington Beach is second in the USAC/CRA point chase. Driving Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales / Competition Suspension Inc. Spike, Faas claimed two second place finishes at the “Copper On Dirt.” Nic swept last year’s “Sokola Shootout” and broke current teammate Damion Gardner’s nine year old track record in qualifying. The former Rookie of the Year will have his sights on another victory at Perris Auto Speedway.

Concord’s “The Demon” Damion Gardner is third in the championship points. Piloting Mark Alexander’s #4A Scott Sales / Competition Suspension Inc. Spike, Gardner earned two fourth place finishes at Canyon Speedway Park. The 2005 Champion has returned to the West Coast and will be looking to score his 42nd career USAC/CRA main event this Saturday at the “Sokola Shootout.”

Sitting fourth in the point standings is Bud Kaeding of Campbell. Driving Junior Bowman’s #29 Ultimate Offroad / Buster & Ziggy Enterprises Maxim, Kaeding placed third and sixth at the “Copper On Dirt.” The 3-time Oval Nationals Champion is no stranger the Perris victory circle and will have his sights on his sixth career USAC/CRA feature win.

After placing sixth and ninth at the “Copper On Dirt,” Buckeye, Arizona’s Charles Davis Jr. ranks fifth in points. Piloting the Gerry Cook owned #4G Lucas Oil RSS, Davis has two heat race victories and one Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award on the year. The five-time Arizona Champion is an infrequent competitor with USAC/CRA and three series wins to his credit.

Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are Ryan Bernal, R.J. Johnson, Mike Spencer, “Super” Rickie Gaunt, Brody Roa, Matt Mitchell, “Dynamite” David Cardey, Austin Williams, Cody Williams, “The Ripper” Rip Williams, “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman, Seth Wilson, and many more.

Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California. Adult tickets are $25, Senior tickets are $20, Active Military, Students (13-18), and Kids tickets (6-12) are $5. Children’s tickets (5 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.perrisautospeedway.com or call (951) 940-0134.

To catch all of the action of the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series at Perris Auto Speedway, Mike Truex’s Loudpedal Productions has DVD videos available for purchase. For more information, call (805) 407-7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com. In addition, Perris Auto Speedway offers a pay per view feed of every event at www.circletracknetwork.com.

The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series would like to thank Hoosier Tire, BR Motorsports, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Wheels, King Racing Products, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, SBI Fuel Systems, Saldana Racing Products, Weld Racing, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. 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.

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).

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SOKOLA CLASSIC / SHOOTOUT WINNERS:

2001-Tony Jones; 2002-Jeremy Sherman; 2003-Jeremy Sherman; 2004-Cory Kruseman; 2005-Mike Kirby; 2006-Mike Kirby; 2007-Not Held; 2008-Not Held; 2009-Rickie Gaunt; 2010-Damion Gardner; 2011-Mike Spencer; 2012-Nic Faas.

AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT POINT STANDINGS:

1. Bryan Clauson-138; 2. Nic Faas-124; 3. Damion Gardner-119; 4. Bud Kaeding-110; 5. Charles Davis Jr.-102; 6. Ryan Bernal-98; 7. Hunter Schuerenberg-91; 8. R.J. Johnson-88; 9. Mike Spencer-80; 10. Rickie Gaunt-78; 11. Brody Roa-71; 12. Matt Mitchell-63; 13. Josh Hodges-62; 14. David Cardey-60; –. Austin Williams-60; 16. Cody Williams-58; 17. Rip Williams-49; 18. Cory Kruseman-48; 19. Bruce St. James-39; 20. David Bezio-32.

2013 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE

DATE – TRACK – LOCATION

March 9: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Sokola Shootout)

April 6: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA

April 19: Cocopah Speedway – Yuma, AZ

April 20: Cocopah Speedway – Yuma, AZ

May 4: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Don Flanders Classic)

May 18: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA

May 25: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Salute To Indy)

June 14: **Ocean Speedway – Watsonville, CA

June 15: Santa Maria Speedway – Santa Maria, CA

July 4: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Firecracker 30)