By Dick Jordan
Calistoga (Calif.) Speedway’s “Louie Vermeil Classic” is next up for the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint cars August 31-September 1 and Damion Gardner, fresh from a record 194-mph run at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, continues to enjoy a comfortable point lead.
Gardner, who became the fastest Sprint Car driver in history with his land speed run in Utah Friday, finished second in Saturday night’s 30-lap USAC/CRA feature at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.. That left him with a 131-point lead over teammate Nic Faas in the latest standings going into the two-night Calistoga spectacular.
Cory Kruseman of Ventura, Calif. scored his 50th career victory at Perris Saturday night, taking the lead on lap 28 when Matt Mitchell’s engine expired, then led the final three laps in his Roy Miller Freightlines/Sander Engineering Bullet/Priestley. Trailing the second-place Gardner were Nic Faas, Rip Williams and Cody Williams.
Earlier in the night Gardner earned a $1,500 bonus for emerging as the winner of the “Last Man Standing Dash” over Faas, Ronnie Gardner and fast qualifier Mike Spencer.
2013 AMSOIL USAC CRA SPRINT CAR STNDINGS: 1-Damion Gardner-957, 2-Nic Faas-826, 3-Mike Spencer-766, 4-Matt Mitchell-645, 5-Cody Williams-591, 6-Bud Kaeding-564, 7-Austin Williams-564, 8-Brody Roa-530, 9-Ryan Bernal-491, 10-Richard Vander Weerd-415.