by Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – MAY 14, 2013… This Saturday, May 18th, the cars and stars of the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will clash at Tulare’s Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway. Joining the powerful 410 cubic-inch non-winged sprints will be the IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Stock Cars. The Front Gates will open at 5:00pm, Hotlaps is 6:00pm followed by time trials, and Racing at the lightning fast 1/3-mile clay oval is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm.
The USAC/CRA Sprint Cars last visited the Tulare clay oval on November 13, 2010 and Bud Kaeding won the Pacific Coast Nationals. “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman, Matt Mitchell, Garrett Hansen, Jon Stanbrough, and “The Bullet” Blake Miller have also claimed feature wins in Tulare.
After winning the last three races, Concord’s “The Demon” Damion Gardner is the hottest driver on the circuit. Piloting Mark Alexander’s #4A Scott Sales Company / Competition Suspension Inc. Spike, Gardner holds a 12-point advantage over the competition. Entering Saturday’s race, “The Demon” has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, one dash win, seven top-5 finishes, and 76 feature laps led to his credit. The 2005 Champion will have his sights on his 45th career USAC/CRA victory at the Thunderbowl Raceway.
Gardner’s teammate, Nic Faas of Huntington Beach is second in the point standings. Racing Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / Competition Suspension Inc. Spike, Faas ran third in the May 4th “Don Flanders Classic” at Perris. To date, the former USAC Western Midget Champion has one feature win, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, one heat race victory, seven top-5 finishes, and 7 feature laps led. Nic will be looking for his eighth series main event win this Saturday night.
Temecula’s Mike Spencer has climbed to third in the point chase. Driving Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer finished second in the “Don Flanders Classic.” Currently, the five-time champion has two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, four top-5 finishes, and 12 feature laps led on the season. Mike has 33 USAC/CRA wins to his credit and will be looking to add Tulare to his win list.
Bud Kaeding of Campbell is fourth in the championship points. Piloting Junior Bowman’s #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Bullet, Bud claimed eighth after starting thirteenth at Perris Auto Speedway. The 3-time USAC Silver Crown Champion has one dash win, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, three top-5 finishes, and 6 feature laps led on the year. On Saturday, Kaeding will have his sights on the 30-lap feature victory at Tulare.
Phoenix, Arizona’s R.J. Johnson is tied for fifth in the point standings. Racing Bobby Martin’s #51 Weiler Farms / Pecon Builders Maxim, Johnson finished twelfth in the “Don Flanders Classic.” To date, the former Arizona Midget Champion has one feature win, four heat race victories, three top-10 finishes, and 29 feature laps led on the season. At press time, Johnson may miss Saturday’s action at Tulare.
“The Cadillac” Cody Williams of Yorba Linda is tied with Johnson for fifth in the standings. Driving Jack Jory’s #44 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams claimed fourth at Perris. Currently, the former National Sprint Car Rookie of the Year has one Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, five top-10 finishes, and 3 feature laps led in the campaign. Cody will be looking to claim his first USAC/CRA victory at Thunderbowl Raceway.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Austin Williams, Brody Roa, Matt Mitchell, “The Ripper” Rip Williams, Ryan Bernal, “Super” Rickie Gaunt, “Dynamite” David Cardey, Seth Wilson, Richard Vander Weerd, Jace Vander Weerd, “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr., “The Bakersfield Bullet” Rusty Carlile, and more.
Local 360 iron-block powered Sprint Cars are welcome to race with USAC/CRA. The 360s can run their local approved Hoosier tires, but must meet series tech standards and race track muffler rules. The United States Auto Club (USAC) will pay $200 for the longest tow and Hoosier Tire West is offering a new HTW Right Rear Tire to the highest finishing 360. Out of state cars will not have to pay an entry fee at the Tulare event.
Tulare’s Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds at the corner of Bardsley and K Streets. Advance tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling the track office at (559) 688-0909. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.tularethunderbowl.com.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series would like to thank Hoosier Tire, BR Motorsports, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Kaeding Performance, Keizer Wheels, King Racing Products, Racing Optics, Rugged Radios, 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, 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-
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AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Damion Gardner-471; 2. Nic Faas-459; 3. Mike Spencer-363; 4. Bud Kaeding-356; 5. R.J. Johnson-300; -. Cody Williams-300; 7. Austin Williams-276; 8. Brody Roa-250; 9. Charles Davis, Jr.-232; 10. Matt Mitchell-231; 11. Bryan Clauson-210; 12. Rip Williams-199; 13. Mike Martin-191; 14. Ryan Bernal-181; 15. Rickie Gaunt-167; 16. David Cardey-166; 17. Seth Wilson-152; 18. David Bezio-132; 19. Richard Vander Weerd-123; 20. Markus Niemela-107.