By Lance Jennings
SEPTEMBER 27, 2016… After a hard fought “Glenn Howard Classic” at Perris, the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will invade Peoria, Arizona’s Canyon Speedway Park for two nights of action. Promoted by Kevin Montgomery, the annual “Hall of Fame Classic” starts this Friday, September 30th, and will also showcase the Allscapes IMCA Stock Cars vs. SCRA Stock Cars, Mini Sprints, Western ModLites, and Vintage Cars. The spectator gates will open at 5:00pm 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 or call (602) 258-7223 (RACE).
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, one-way radios are mandatory for drivers, and MUFFLERS ARE NOT REQUIRED for the upcoming “Hall of Fame Classic.” USAC/CRA charges a $25 entry fee to all competitors and the series rule book can be found online at www.usacracing.com.
Since November 28, 2011, Canyon Speedway Park has hosted twelve Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car events. Bryan Clauson leads all drivers with five victories and “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland set the 1-lap qualifying record of 13.072 on November 15, 2014. “The Shermanator” Jeremy Sherman, Bryan Clauson, and “The Demon” Damion Gardner are tied for the series lead with two “Hall of Fame Classic” victories and a complete series win list at Canyon is at the end of this release.
A special autograph session will be held with many Arizona racing legends and Jimmy Blanton will serve as Grand Marshall. Karl Korbacher, Corky Larson, Henry “Tex” Guthrie, Buddy Rice and “Big” Bob Moore will be inducted into the Arizona Motorsports Hall of Fame. Steve Chassey, Ricky Hood, Jerry McClung, “The Tempe Tornado” Lealand McSpadden, Jimmy Oskie, Buzz Rose, and “The Flying Shoe” Ron Shuman will join the inductees for a special autograph session and meet the fans.
Entering Friday’s event, “The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, California) leads the standings with a 104-point advantage. Piloting Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / Weld Racing Spike, Gardner scored fifth at last Saturday’s “Glenn Howard Classic.” The four-time champion enters the seventeenth point race with three feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, ten heat race victories, one Brown & Miller Racing Solutions Semi-Main win, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 86 feature laps led. “The Demon” leads all USAC/CRA drivers with 68 feature wins and will be looking for his third victory of the “Hall of Fame Classic.”
Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, California) ranks second in the chase for the USAC/CRA championship. Racing the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Richard led the opening laps of the “Glenn Howard Classic” before taking second at the checkered flags. To date, the 2011 USAC West Coast Champion has one feature win, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, twelve top-10 finishes, and 61 feature laps led. Richard has six career USAC/CRA victories and will have his sights on gaining valuable points with the “Hall of Fame Classic” triumph.
Jake Swanson (Anaheim, California) sits third in the USAC/CRA point standings. Driving Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Clackamas Rigging and Transfer XXX, Swanson finished seventh last Saturday night at Perris Auto Speedway. At press time, the 2012 Rookie of the Year has three Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, two heat race victories, two Brown & Miller Racing Solutions Semi-Main wins, and twelve top-10 finishes on the season. Jake will be looking to earn his first career USAC/CRA main event at Canyon Speedway Park.
Brody Roa (Garden Grove, California) is fourth in the USAC/CRA championship point chase. Piloting the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Lee & Norma Leonard Maxim, Roa scored fourth at in the “Glenn Howard Classic.” To date, the newly crowned USAC West Coast Series Champion has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, four heat race victories, ten top-10 finishes, and 36 feature laps led in the campaign. Brody has one career USAC/CRA triumph and will have his sights on adding the “Hall of Fame Classic” trophy to his collection.
“The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, California) ranks fifth in the point standings. Driving Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams won last Saturday’s “Glenn Howard Classic” at Perris Auto Speedway. At press time, the 2009 Rookie of the Year has posted two feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, one Brown & Miller Racing Solutions Semi-Main win, two BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Awards, eleven top-10 finishes, and 55 feature laps led in the campaign. Austin has five career USAC/CRA victories and will be looking for his first win at Canyon Speedway Park.
Currently ranked seventh in points, Max Adams (Loomis, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Andrew Sweeney (Lomita, California), Trent Williams (Victorville, California), and Mikey Lovas (Wildomar, California) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Mike Spencer, Jace Vander Weerd, Logan Williams, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Chris Gansen, Stevie Sussex, Ronnie Gardner, R.J. Johnson, Josh Pelkey, Matt Stewart, “The Magic Man: Mike Martin, Michael Curtis, 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, All Coast Construction, BR Motorsports, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Incorporated, DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Incorporated, 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.
HALL OF FAME CLASSIC WINNERS:
2000-Jeremy Sherman, 2001-Tony Jones, 2002-Damion Gardner, 2003-Charles Davis Jr., 2004-Mike Kirby, 2005-Damion Gardner, 2006-Jeremy Sherman, 2007-Danny Sheridan, 2008-Cancelled, 2009-Not Held, 2010-Not Held, 2011-Bryan Clauson, 2012-Mike Martin, 2013-Chase Stockon, 2014-Bryan Clauson, 2015-Mike Spencer.
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-Mike Spencer, 1-Chase Stockon.
2016 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS:
3-Damion Gardner, 2-Ryan Bernal, 2-Thomas Meseraull, 2-Austin Williams, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Bryan Clauson, 1-Josh Hodges, 1-Matt Mitchell, 1-Troy Rutherford, 1-Danny Sheridan, 1-Richard Vander Weerd.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
- Damion Gardner-1080, 2. Richard Vander Weerd-976, 3. Jake Swanson-958, 4. Brody Roa-915, 5. Austin Williams-883, 6. Mike Spencer-758, 7. Max Adams-688, 8. Jace Vander Weerd-602, 9. Logan Williams-595, 10. Cody Williams-552, … Jeremy Ellertson-552, 12. Chris Gansen-522, 13. Stevie Sussex-412, 14. Thomas Meseraull-383, 15. Tommy Malcolm-344, 16. Verne Sweeney-343, 17. Geoff Ensign-342, 18. A.J. Bender-325, … Chad Boespflug-325, 20. Danny Faria Jr.-314.