by Lance Jennings
PERRIS, CA – MAY 26, 2013… After having a rough start to his season, Yorba Linda’s Matt Mitchell led all 30 laps to claim the “Salute To Indy” at Perris Auto Speedway. The $2,500 triumph was Mitchell’s fifth career Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car victory and second Memorial Day Classic. “The Demon” Damion Gardner, “Dynamite” David Cardey, Bud Kaeding, and Nic Faas followed Matt to the checkered flags.
While the stat sheet may read that it was an easy victory for the former USAC Western Midget Rookie of the Year, it was not the case. A three-wide battle for the lead between pole sitter Kaeding, Mitchell, and Gardner in the first corner set the tone of the feature. Matt emerged with top spot, but “The Demon” remained in pursuit throughout the event. During the closing laps, the leaders sliced through heavy traffic and had to contend with a treacherous cushion. Both factors helped Damion to close the gap and challenge for the lead. 
Gardner looked to have taken command on two occasions, with the first pass erased by a flip by Ryan Bernal, who was fifth, on lap 27. Bernal was uninjured and a three lap shootout was left to settle the feature. “The Demon” remained within striking distance and made his move on the last lap. Damion took command going down the backstretch, only to have Mitchell execute a successful turn three “slide job.” Both drivers scrambled to charge for the finish line and Matt scored a narrow victory to the roar of the crowd.
Racing his #37 MPD Racing / ART Enterprises machine, Matt Mitchell was fifth quick in time trials and used a daring last corner pass to win the DJ Safety Heat Race #2. Matt, who also won the “Salute To Indy” in 2011, earned his first series win of the campaign and left USAC/CRA’s “home track” fifth in the point chase. To date, Mitchell has two heat race victories, five top-10 finishes, and 30 feature laps led on the season.
“The Demon” Damion Gardner of Concord nearly stole the victory and had to settle for second. Piloting Mark Alexander’s #4A Scott Sales Company / Competition Suspension Inc. Spike, Gardner qualified fourth and won the 10-lap Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1. Currently, the point leader has three feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, four heat race victories, one dash win, nine top-10 finishes, and 76 feature laps led to his credit. Damion holds a 31 point advantage heading to the “Watsonville-Santa Maria swing” that starts June 14th.
Riverside’s “Dynamite” David Cardey had a late race surge to score third in the “Salute To Indy.” Racing the Tom and Laurie Sertich owned #92 Huntington Beach Glass and Mirror / Victory Race Cars entry, Cardey was ninth fast in qualifications and won the Saldana Racing Products / Circle Track Performance Heat Race #3. To date, the former California Lightning Sprint Champion has two heat race victories, three top-10 finishes, and 28 feature laps led in the campaign.
Bud Kaeding of Campbell scored fourth in the 30-lap main event. Driving Junior Bowman’s #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Bullet, the 3-time USAC Silver Crown Champion qualified sixth and placed fourth in his heat race. Kaeding fought hard to stay near the front all race and as this writing goes to press, he is fourth in points with one Dash win, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, eight top-10 finishes, and 17 feature laps led on the year.
Huntington Beach’s Nic Faas claimed fifth in the “Salute To Indy” after graduating from college earlier in the day. Piloting Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / Competition Suspension Inc. Spike, Faas earned his third Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and was fifth in his heat race. Currently, Nic is second in the standings with one feature win, one heat race victory, nine top-10 finishes, and 12 feature laps led in 2013.
Mike Spencer of Temecula earned the night’s Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a sixth place run from twenty-first. Racing Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer had engine problems in time trials and the Bruce Bromme Jr. led team had to change power plants. After claiming fifth in his heat race, the five-time champion put on a show as he charged forward in the 30-lap main event. Mike left Perris third in points with one feature win, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 27 feature laps led on the season.
The USAC/CRA traditional 410s will return to action on Friday, June 14th, at John Prentice’s Ocean Speedway in Watsonville. Co-sanctioned with the USAC Western Classic Racing Series, the event will also feature 4-Bangers, Modifieds, and Sport Mods. For more information, visit www.oceanspeedway.com or call 831.622.WINN (9466).
The following night, June 15th, USAC/CRA will travel to Ruben and Katy Munoz’s Santa Maria Speedway. The event will also showcase IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Super Stocks, Hobby Stocks, and American Stocks. For more information, visit www.racesantamariaspeedway.com or call 805.315.2023.
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, Extreme Mufflers, Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror Inc., Kaeding Performance, Keizer Wheels, King Racing Products, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, 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 CAR RACE RESULTS:
May 25, 2013 – Perris, California – Perris Auto Speedway – “Salute to Indy”
WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY TIME TRIALS:
1. Nic Faas, 4, Alexander-16.331; 2. Austin Williams, 2, Jory-16.440; 3. Ryan Bernal, 73, Ford-16.448; 4. Damion Gardner, 4A, Alexander-16.467; 5. Matt Mitchell, 37, Mitchell-16.523; 6. Bud Kaeding, 29, Bowman-16.542; 7. Rickie Gaunt, 66, Miller-16.587; 8. Cody Williams, 44, Jory-16.599; 9. David Cardey, 92, Sertich-16.612; 10. Ronnie Gardner, 18, Kittle-16.700; 11. Jake Swanson, 9, BR-16.762; 12. Brody Roa, 91R, BR-16.815; 13. Jace Vander Weerd, 88, Vander Weerd-16.894; 14. Kenny Perkins, 0K, Perkins-16.982; 15. Seth Wilson, 1X, Wilson-17.040; 16. Richard Vander Weerd, 10, Vander Weerd-17.130; 17. Johnny Bluntach, 58, Bluntach-17.214; 18. A.J. Bender, 21, Bender-17.320; 19. Jesse Denome, 81, Watt-17.668; 20. Chris Gansen, 4G, Gansen-17.842; 21. Mike Collins, 04, Collins-18.080; 22. Mike Spencer, 50, Chaffin-26.136; 23. Rip Williams, 3, Jory-NT.
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE 1: (10 laps)
1. Damion Gardner, 2. Richard Vander Weerd, 3. Rickie Gaunt, 4. Mike Spencer, 5. Nic Faas, 6. Jace Vander Weerd, 7. Jesse Denome, 8. Ronnie Gardner. NT
DJ SAFETY HEAT RACE 2: (10 laps)
1. Matt Mitchell, 2. Kenny Perkins, 3. Austin Williams, 4. Cody Williams, 5. Jake Swanson, 6. Johnny Bluntach, 7. Chris Gansen. NT
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS / CIRCLE TRACK PERFORMANCE HEAT RACE 2: (10 laps)
1. David Cardey, 2. Seth Wilson, 3. Ryan Bernal, 4. Bud Kaeding, 5. Brody Roa, 6. A.J. Bender. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Matt Mitchell (2nd), 2. Damion Gardner (3rd), 3. David Cardey (9th), 4. Bud Kaeding (1st), 5. Nic Faas (6th), 6, Mike Spencer (21st), 7. Rickie Gaunt (7th), 8. Seth Wilson (15th), 9. Jake Swanson (11th), 10. Brody Roa (12th), 11. Jace Vander Weerd (13th), 12. Ronnie Gardner (10th), 13. Richard Vander Weerd (16th), 14. Kenny Perkins (14th), 15. Johnny Bluntach (17th), 16. Chris Gansen (20th), 17. A.J. Bender (18th), 18. Jesse Denome (19th), 19. Ryan Bernal (4th), 20. Cody Williams (8th), 21. Austin Williams (5th). NT
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**Ryan Bernal flipped on lap 27 of the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-30 Matt Mitchell.
KEIZER WHEELS / RACING OPTICS HARD CHARGER: Mike Spencer (21st to 6th)
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT POINT STANDINGS:
1-Damion Gardner-596, 2-Nic Faas-565, 3-Mike Spencer-484, 4-Bud Kaeding-472, 5-Matt Mitchell-357, 6-Cody Williams-349, 7-Austin Williams-347, 8-Brody Roa-324, 9-R.J. Johnson-300, 10-Ryan Bernal-267.