By Lance Jennings
OCTOBER 20, 2015… Starting this Friday, the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars are back in action at Peoria, Arizona’s Canyon Speedway Park for two nights of action. Promoted by Kevin Montgomery, the “15th Annual Sands Chevrolet Store Hall of Fame Classic” will also showcase Mini Sprints, Arizona Differential Pure Stocks, and Vintage Cars. The spectator gates will open at 4:00pm with racing at 7:00pm both days. In addition, the track will host an open practice on Thursday from 6pm to 9pm. For more event information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com.
Heading into the “Hall of Fame Classic,” Canyon Speedway Park has played host to eleven Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car events. Bryan Clauson leads all drivers with five victories and “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland holds the 1-lap qualifying record of 13.072, set on November 15, 2014.
A complete Canyon win list is at the end of this release.
A special autograph session will be held with many Arizona racing legends and Jerry McClung will serve as Grand Marshall. Johnny Turner, “Cactus” Jack Yeley, Lonnie Sherman, will be inducted into the Arizona Motorsports Hall of Fame and many more will be on hand to meet the fans.
NOTICE TO COMPETITORS: Per USAC/CRA rules, all fuel-injected 410 and 360 powered sprint cars must run the Hoosier 105/16 Medium Right Rear Tire and all four corners must be Hoosier. Cars must pass a tech inspection and one-way radios are mandatory for drivers. The series charges a $25 entry fee to all competitors and transponder rentals are extra. USAC/CRA follows the USAC National Series Rule Book, which can be found online at www.usacracing.com/assets/files/rules/2015/Appendix_C_National_Sprint_2015.pdf.
Entering the nineteenth point race, Mike Spencer of Temecula, California has a 40-point advantage over the competition. Piloting Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer ran second in the Perris “Glenn Howard Classic” on September 19th. To date, the five-time champion has one feature win, six Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, seven heat race victories, two Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi Main Wins, two DMI / Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Awards, seventeen top-10 finishes, and 23 feature laps led. Mike has thirty-six USAC/CRA triumphs and will be looking to add Canyon Speedway Park to his win list.
Concord, California’s “The Demon” Damion Gardner is second in the point standings. Racing Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / Weld Racing Spike, Gardner earned his seventh win of the year at Perris’ “Glenn Howard Classic.” Heading to Canyon, the three-time champion has two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, seven heat race victories, fourteen top-10 finishes, and 154 feature laps led to his credit. “The Demon” leads all series drivers with sixty-four wins and will have his sights on the “Hall of Fame Classic” and gaining valuable points.
Richard Vander Weerd of Visalia, California ranks third in the chase for the championship. Driving the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd charged from tenth to finish sixth at Perris Auto Speedway. To date, the 2011 USAC West Coast Champion has four feature wins, five heat race victories, one dash win, one DMI / Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Award, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 134 feature laps led. Richard has five career USAC/CRA wins and will be looking to add the “Hall of Fame Classic” to his resume.
Yorba Linda, California’s Austin Williams sits fourth in the USAC/CRA point chase. Piloting Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams scored third in the “Glenn Howard Classic.” Currently, the 2009 Rookie of the Year has two heat race victories, one DMI / Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Award, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 28 feature laps led on the season. Austin has three main event wins to his credit and will have his sights on adding Canyon Speedway Park trophies to his collection.
Jake Swanson of Anaheim, California is fifth in the championship point chase. Driving Tom & Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Ram-Bull Racing Victory, Swanson claimed ninth in the September 19th main event. To date, the 2012 Rookie of the Year has four Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, one heat race victory, two DMI / Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Awards, fourteen top-10 finishes, and 12 feature laps led. Jake will be looking for his first USAC/CRA victory at the “Hall of Fame Classic.”
Currently eleventh in the point standings, “The Flying Peanut” Parker Colston of Lake Elsinore, California leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. “Thunder” Tommy Malcolm, Anthony Lopiccolo, and Michael Curtis are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Brody Roa, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Logan Williams, Chris Gansen, A.J. Bender, “The Bear” Jeremy Ellertson, R.J. Johnson, Josh Pelkey, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, and more.
Canyon Speedway Park is located at 9777 West Carefree Highway in Peoria, Arizona. To get to the track, take Lake Pleasant Parkway, then 1.3 miles West on Carefree Highway. On race day, Adult Tickets will be $20 on Friday and $25 on Saturday. Kids Tickets (7-12) are $10 on Friday and Saturday, with Children (6 & under) are FREE. VIP Suite tickets are also available for $30 on Friday and $35 on Saturday. For more event information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or call (602) 258-7223 (RACE).
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Ultra Shield Race Products, 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 series, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC/CRA Facebook and Twitter pages. Loudpedal Productions has DVDs available for purchase that feature the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars and for more information, call 805.407.7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com.
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AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS:
2004-Rip Williams, 2005-Damion Gardner, 2006-Cory Kruseman, 2007-Tony Jones, 2008-Mike Spencer, 2009-Mike Spencer, 2010-Mike Spencer, 2011-Mike Spencer, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Damion Gardner, 2014-Damion Gardner.
PEORIA AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS:
5-Bryan Clauson, 1-Dave Darland, 1-Damion Gardner, 1-R.J. Johnson, 1-Tracy Hines, 1-Mike Martin, 1-Chase Stockon.
CANYON HALL OF FAME CLASSIC WINNERS:
2011-Bryan Clauson, 2012-Mike Martin, 2013-Chase Stockon, 2014-Bryan Clauson.
2015 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS:
7-Damion Gardner, 4-Richard Vander Weerd, 3-Ryan Bernal, 1-Rico Abreu, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Rickie Gaunt, 1-Mike Spencer.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT POINT STANDINGS:
- Mike Spencer-1052, 2. Damion Gardner-1012, 3. Richard Vander Weerd-958, 4. Austin Williams-904, 5. Jake Swanson-849, 6. Brody Roa-799, 7. Matt Mitchell-772, 8. Cody Williams-651, 9. Logan Williams-577, 10. Ryan Bernal-482, 11. Parker Colston-415, 12. Jace Vander Weerd-346, 13. Chris Gansen-340, 14. Danny Faria Jr.-334; 15. A.J. Bender-300, 16. Rickie Gaunt-250, 17. Tommy Malcolm-243, 18. Jeremy Ellertson-233, 19. David Bezio-181, 20. Brady Bacon-171.