“FIRECRACKER 40” AT THE PAS, CRA ALSO AT SANTA MARIA

USAC United States Auto Club CRA California Racing Association Logo tease

By Dick Jordan

 USAC United States Auto Club CRA California Racing Association Logo tease

            It’s time for some fireworks in the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, literally!

            This Friday’s race at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway joins in the celebration of America’s independence, while continuing the fireworks which have spiced the 2014 series competition. The event will conclude with the “Firecracker 40,” a 40-lap feature on the half-mile dirt oval.

            Austin Williams of Yorba Linda, Calif. and Austin Liggett finished 1-2 in Saturday night’s 30-lap AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint race at Petaluma (Calif.) Speedway. Williams emerged the winner in a wild scramble at the finish!

            Williams stole the lead on the final corner from Liggett and sped to the win in his John Jory Corporation/AMA Plastics Spike/Shaver. Liggett, who assumed the lead when Jake Swanson and Ryan Bernal tangeled a lap earlier, finished second, ahead of Damion Gardner, Mike Spencer and Cory Kruseman in what ended up as one of the most competitive finishes in recent series memory!

            Five-time AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Champion Mike Spencer of Temecula, Calif. returned to victory lane Friday night at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif., leading all 30 laps of the main event. Richard Vander Weerd took second ahead of Michael Pickens, Nic Faas and Matt Mitchell, while series point leader Damion Gardner was 14th.

            The win was Spencer’s first of the year and 35th in his USAC/CRA career, tying him with Cory Kruseman for second all-time. He piloted the Ron Chaffin Grubstake Mini Storage/Madera Produce Maxim/Shaver.

2014 AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Standings: 1-Damion Gardner-581, 2-Nic Faas-493, 3-Mike Spencer-472, 4-Matt Mitchell-412, 5-Richard Vander Weerd-384, 6-Brody Roa-354, 7-Austin Williams-352, 8-Cody Williams-336, 9-Cory Kruseman-335, 10-Jake Swanson-321.