From USAC
Saturday night’s “Sokola Shootout” at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway extends the long-running battle for USAC/CRA AMSOIL Sprint Car supremacy between Gardner and Spencer, whose prowess at The PAS is unparalleled.
Gardner, of Concord, Calif., hopes to tie Spencer this year with a fifth series championship. Gardner earned his third in a row last year to go with his 2005 title, while Spencer, of Temecula, Calif., racked up five consecutive titles from 2008-2012. Between them they have amassed 62 Perris triumphs (Gardner 37 and Spencer 25) in USAC/CRA competition. In addition, the two have led a total of 1,559 feature laps at the half-mile oval (Gardner 844 and Spencer 715). Gardner will seek to lead his 50th race at Perris Saturday.
Challengers Saturday are expected to include 2015 USAC/CRA runner-up Richard Vander Weerd and his brother Jace, Jake Swanson, Brody Roa and the Williams brothers, Austin, Cody and Logan.
Saturday’s competitors also include USAC Triple Crown Champion Dave Darland, whose 57 career USAC National Sprint Car feature victories lead the all-time list, and Bryan Clauson, winner of last year’s “Budweiser Oval Nationals” at The PAS.
Spencer’s last Perris victory came in a 2013 West Coast/Southwest Sprint race, while Gardner has posted 11 wins there in the past two years. Vander Weerd was strong in 2015, capturing three early victories at The PAS.
The USAC/CRA AMSOIL Sprint Car Series is reeling from the weekend news of the passing of two of its iconic supporters. The series opens its 2016 calendar Saturday night with the “Sokola Shootout” at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.
Six-time car owner champion Ron Chaffin of Madera, Calif. passed away Saturday at the age of 77. He fielded the famed #50 car driven by five-time driver champion Mike Spencer. Long-time sponsor Ken Goecke, the owner of Scott Sales in Huntington, Calif., passed away Friday at the age of 64. Four-time series champion Damion Gardner pilots the #4 Scott Sales entry fielded by car owner Mark Alexander.
Saturday’s race honors the legacy of the Sokola family, whose contributions to the sport are well documented. Gary Sokola served as the chief steward for the both CRA and USAC National Sprint Series before his passing in 2000 and his son Mark was a frequent driving competitor in both series.