From Lance Jennings
Santa Marriea, CA — (June 12, 2013) — The cars and stars of the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series are gearing up for a special Friday-Saturday “northern swing” to Watsonville and Santa Maria. The Friday, June 14th, event at John Prentice’s Ocean Speedway will pit the powerful 410s against the USAC Western Classic Racing Series. The following night, the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will make their first appearance of the year at Ruben and Katy Munoz’s Santa Maria Speedway.
Friday’s race will mark the fifth appearance of USAC/CRA at the Watsonville quarter-mile oval. Last year, Mike Spencer won both Ocean Speedway events on his way to his fifth straight title. 2010 and 2011 winner “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman plans to return to action after a Perris crash in early March. The showcase at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds will also feature 4-Bangers, Modifieds, and Sport Mods. The Spectator Gates will open at 4:30pm and Racing is set to begin at 6:00pm.
Santa Maria Speedway will feature the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars for the fifteenth time in series history. Austin Williams claimed last June’s main event and “Showtime” Danny Sheridan won the August race in dramatic fashion. The Papich Construction IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Super Stocks, C&D Bonding Hobby Stocks, and American Stocks will join the action. The Spectator Gates will open at 4:30pm, Time Trials at 5:00pm, and Racing is scheduled for 6:00pm.
Heading into the tenth point race of the season, “The Demon” Damion Gardner of Concord holds a thirty-one-point advantage over the competition. On May 25th at Perris, the pilot of Mark Alexander’s #4A Scott Sales Company / Competition Suspension Inc. Spike almost won the “Salute To Indy” with a last lap pass. Finishing second, 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. Gardner will have his sights on winning both features and continuing his charge to another championship.
Huntington Beach’s Nic Faas is second in the point standings. Racing Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / Competition Suspension Inc. Spike, Faas scored fifth in the “Salute To Indy.” To date, the former Rookie of the Year has one feature win, three Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, one heat race victory, nine top-10 finishes, and 12 feature laps led on the season. Nic will be looking to gain valuable points with victories at Watsonville and Santa Maria.
Sitting third in championship points is Mike Spencer of Temecula. Driving Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer had a sixth place run in the “Salute To Indy” after starting twenty-first. Currently, the 5-time champion has one feature win, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 17 feature laps led. Mike has overcome some bad luck and will be one of the favorites to watch in both main events.
Campbell’s Bud Kaeding is fourth in the point chase. The pilot of Junior Bowman’s #29 Buster & Ziggy Enterprises / Kaeding Performance Bullet placed fourth in the Perris “Salute To Indy.” To date, the 3-time Oval Nationals Champion has 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. Kaeding will be looking for his first USAC/CRA feature wins at Watsonville and Santa Maria.
After winning his second “Salute To Indy,” Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda has climbed to fifth in the point standings. Racing his #37 MPD Racing / ART Enterprises entry, Mitchell has two heat race victories, five top-10 finishes, and 30 feature laps led in the campaign. The former USAC Western Midget Rookie of the Year will have his sights on keeping his winning streak alive at the Watsonville-Santa Maria swing.
Among the other USAC/CRA drivers expected to be in action are “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Austin Williams, Brody Roa, Ryan Bernal, “The Ripper” Rip Williams, “Dynamite” David Cardey, Seth Wilson, “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman, “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr., and more.
After winning at Watsonville and Placerville, Ryan Bernal leads the point chase with the USAC Western Classic Racing Series. Bernal is followed by D.J. Johnson, Tony Hunt, Colton Slack, Matt Streeter, Jim Richardson, Shauna Hogg, Gordon Rodgers, James Sweeney, and Tanner Swanson. Other WCRS drivers expected to compete are Nathan Washam, Klint Simpson, Scott Hall, and Tom Baker.
All competitors must run quiet mufflers at the Watsonville and Santa Maria events. Ocean Speedway has a strict muffler rule and asks competitors to run the Extreme Ventura Legal (4615-3535-8), FlowMaster Suitcase, Spintech Suitcase, or Extreme (6014-3530) and Spin Tech 180 degree mufflers. Santa Maria Speedway has a standard track rule (95dB at 100 feet), similar to those used at California Fairgrounds. Local track sound standards must be met in order to compete and failure to do so risks disqualification.
Per USAC/CRA rules, 360 iron-block powered Sprint Cars can run their local track or series approved Hoosier tires on all four corners. Cars must pass a tech inspection and one-way radios are mandatory for drivers. USAC/CRA charges a $25 entry fee to all competitors, which includes a transponder rental. Aluminum block 410 powered cars must run either a Hoosier HT2, HTW (105x18x15), DT3, or F55 Right Rear tire. USAC Western Classic Racing entries must follow series rules to earn championship points.
Ocean Speedway is located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, California at 2601 E. Lake Avenue. Adult Tickets are $20, Senior Tickets (over 65) are $19, Kid Tickets (12-6) are $15, and Family Passes (2 Adults & 2 Kids) are $55. For more information, visit the track’s website at www.oceanspeedway.com or call (831) 662-9466 (WINN).
Santa Maria Speedway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo, California. Adult Tickets are $20, Military and Senior Tickets are $18, Kid Tickets (12-6) are $6, and Kids Tickets (5 & Under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.racesantamariaspeedway.com or call (805) 315-2023.
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 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; 11-Rip Williams-233; 12-Charles Davis Jr.-232; 13-David Cardey-228; 14-Seth Wilson-224; 15-Rickie Gaunt-215; 16-Bryan Clauson-210; 17-Richard Vander Weerd-196; 18-Mike Martin-191; 19-David Bezio-132; —Jace Vander Weerd-132.
USAC WESTERN CLASSIC SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1-Ryan Bernal-140; 2-D.J. Johnson-114; 3-Tony Hunt-102; 4-Colton Slack-93; –Matt Streeter-93; 6-Jim Richardson-81; 7-Shauna Hogg-74; 8-Gordon Rodgers-68; 9-James Sweeney-67; 10-Tanner Swanson-62; 11-Max Adams-61; 12-Jimmy Trulli 58; 13-Marc Mackay-53; 14-Nathan Washam-52; 15-C.J. Humphreys-42; 16-Klint Simpson-40; —Scott Hall-40; 18-Justin Johnson-37; 19-Tom Baker-28; 20-A.J. Kirkpatrick-27.
2013 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
June 14: Ocean Speedway – Watsonville, CA
June 15: Santa Maria Speedway – Santa Maria, CA
July 4: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Firecracker 30)
August 9: Ocean Speedway – Watsonville, CA
August 10: Santa Maria Speedway – Santa Maria, CA
August 17: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (California Racers Hall of Fame Night)
August 31: **Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 1: **Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 14: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
October 5: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Southern California Fair Race)
October 25: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
October 26: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
November 1: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
November 2: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC National Sprints.
** = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC Western Classic Racing Series.
This schedule is subject to change.