By Lance Jennings
MAY 4, 2016… This Saturday, May 7th, the popular Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will make their only appearance of the year at Jim Naylor’s Ventura Raceway. Located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds, the third point race will also feature the VRA Senior Sprints and Focus Midgets. The Pit Gates will open at Noon, the Front Gates will open at 3:00pm, with Racing scheduled for 5:30pm at “The Best Little Dirt Track in America.”
NOTICE TO USAC/CRA COMPETITORS: The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is the ONLY legal right rear tire and all four corners must be Hoosier tires. The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is also the current legal tire with the USAC West Coast, USAC SouthWest, and VRA Sprint Cars. Cars must pass a tech inspection and one-way radios are mandatory for drivers. USAC/CRA charges a $25 entry fee to all competitors and the series rule book can be found online at www.usacracing.com.
Ventura Raceway has a strict mandated sound rule and the track legal mufflers are Extreme (Part #6014-3535 180 Degree, Part #3615-3535), Coast Fabrication (350x625x17-2sVRA), Spintech (180 Degree, 1545P Super Stock Series), B&B Performance (FRAC-0375-S, 180 Degree, with side outlet), Flowmaster (Hushpower, Suitcase- Part 53545-USAC.), and Schoenfeld (14272735). The Flowmaster “Suitcase” is also the legal muffler for Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway, Petaluma Speedway, and Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway. Failure to comply with the Ventura muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
Since May 22, 2004, the Ventura County Fairgrounds has held seventeen USAC/CRA Sprint Car races. “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman leads all drivers with six victories and “The Bullet” Blake Miller set the 1-lap qualifying record of 11.675 on October 25, 2008. When the series last battled at Ventura on May 9, 2015, Richard Vander Weerd bested Matt Mitchell in a photo finish to claim the “All Coast Challenge” victory. A complete series Ventura win list is at the bottom of this release.
After starting fifteenth and winning the April 16th “So-Cal Showdown” at Perris with a last corner pass, Josh Hodges (Tijeras, New Mexico) is tied for the USAC/CRA point lead. Racing the family owned #74X Jackson Compaction / Mesilla Valley Transportation Maxim, Hodges also has one heat race victory, one BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Award, two top-ten finishes, and 1 feature lap led to his credit. At press time, it is unknown if the young driver will be in action at Ventura.
Brody Roa (Garden Grove, California) is tied for the championship point lead. Driving the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Lee & Norma Leonard Maxim, Roa raced to third at Perris Auto Speedway after starting sixth. Entering the third point race, the 360 Western World Champion has two top-10 finishes on the season. Fresh off last Saturday’s Ventura 360 sprint win, Brody will be looking for his second career USAC/CRA triumph.
Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, California) sits third in the USAC/CRA point chase. Piloting the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Richard led the first nine laps of the “So-Cal Showdown” before scoring fourth. Heading to Ventura, the 2011 USAC West Coast Champion has two heat race victories, two top-10 finishes, and 21 feature laps led on the year. This Saturday, Vander Weerd will have his sights on the sixth USAC/CRA win of his career.
R.J. Johnson (Tempe, Arizona) is currently fourth in the chase for the championship. Racing Bobby Martin’s #51 Weiler Farms / Pecon Builders entry, Johnson scored fifth in the Perris 30-lap main event. To date, the three-time USAC SouthWest Champion has one heat race victory and two top-10 finishes in the campaign. At press time, R.J. might skip the Ventura show to compete in the USAC SouthWest race at Queen Creek, Arizona.
Jake Swanson (Anaheim, California) is tied for fifth in the USAC/CRA point standings. Driving Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Clackamas Rigging & Transfer Victory, Swanson placed ninth in the April 16th main event. The 2012 Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory, one Brown & Miller Racing Solutions Semi-Main win, and two top-10 finishes on the season. This Saturday, Jake will be looking to earn his first USAC/CRA feature win at Ventura Raceway.
Mike Spencer (Temecula, California) is tied for fifth in the championship points. Piloting Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92M Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Clackamas Rigging & Transfer Victory, Spencer ran tenth in the “So-Cal Showdown.” With two top-10 finishes, it has been announced that the five-time champion has left Moose Racing and will debut for Gansen Engineering Motorsports at the May 28th Perris “Salute to Indy.” A rumor is circulating that Mike will race a local Ventura car this Saturday night.
Currently ranked eighth in points, Max Adams (Loomis, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Andrew Sweeney (Lomita, California) and Mikey Lovas (Wildomar, California) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, “The Demon” Damion Gardner, Austin Williams, Logan Williams, A.J. Bender, “The Flying Peanut” Parker Colston, Chris Gansen, “The Bear” Jeremy Ellertson, “Thunder” Tommy Malcolm, “Hollywood” Danny Faria Jr., Jace Vander Weerd, and more.
Ventura Raceway is located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 West Harbor Blvd. in Ventura, California. Adult tickets are $25, Senior tickets (60 and older) are $15, Active Military tickets (ID Required) are $15, Student tickets (with ID) are $15, Kids tickets (7-12) are $10, and Children’s tickets (6 and under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.venturaraceway.com or call 805.648.RACE.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, All Coast Construction, BR Motorsports, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Incorporated, DJ Safety, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Stand 21 Racer Goes Safer Foundation, surfnsprint.com, 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 USAC/CRA, 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 USAC/CRA DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
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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, 2015-Damion Gardner.
2016 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS:
1-Bryan Clauson, 1-Josh Hodges.
VENTURA AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS:
6-Cory Kruseman, 2-Damion Gardner, 2-Rip Williams, 1-Alan Ballard, 1-Tyler Brown, 1-Mike Kirby, 1-Blake Miller, 1-Mike Spencer, 1-Richard Vander Weerd, 1-Scotty Weir.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
- Josh Hodges-146, –. Brody Roa-146, 3. Richard Vander Weerd-144, 4. R.J. Johnson-122, 5. Jake Swanson-117, –. Mike Spencer-117, 7. Cody Williams-104, 8. Max Adams (R)-103, 9. Damion Gardner-100, 10. Austin Williams-99, 11. Logan Williams-84, 12. A.J. Bender-83, 13. Bryan Clauson-82, 14. Parker Colston-81, 15. Chris Gansen-74, —. Jeremy Ellertson-74, 17. Tommy Malcolm-63, 18. Danny Faria Jr.-58, 19. Verne Sweeney-54, 20. Jace Vander Weerd-38.