PERRIS, CA, March 3 -- For the majority of Saturday's
30 lap main event at the Perris Auto Speedway, it looked liked Cory Kruseman was
going to remain unbeaten in Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) competition
through the first three races of the 2001 season. That is, until Tony
Jones made a late race charge in lapped traffic to steal the win away from
Kruseman less than two laps from the finish.
Driving in the Gene Cowherd / GC Aero No. 48 Avenger, Jones aggressively rode
the cushion while the leader
Kruseman rode along the bottom groove nursing a motor that had lost cylinder.
Kruseman knew that utilizing the shortest way around the track was his
only hope for victory. But in the end, Kruseman's decision to stay low
would only be good enough for second place as he was forced to watch helplessly
as the high-flying Jones grabbed the checkered flag first.
"I saw Cory out front again on a couple of the yellows and thought that
between myself and Richard Griffin we couldn't let him stay undefeated this
season," Jones smiled. "Bob Harkins (crew chief) prepared my car
perfectly
tonight and we found a good line out there."
Pistons Dash winner Troy Cline and Troy Rutherford occupied the front row for
the main event with Jones starting seventh. Rutherford led at the end of
the opening lap and was followed back to the line by Kruseman, Cline, Rip
Williams, Griffin and Jones. The red flag was out on lap two after Jimmy
May and Lance Gremett tangled leaving May upside down in turn two.
Fortunately, both drivers were able to return to action.
Sander Engineering Fast Qualifier Rickie Gaunt saw his night come to an end on
the restart after he tapped Jones and slid sideways in front of Mike English who
had no place to go but into the side of Gaunt's car. English
survived the incident by somehow pushing Gaunt's car off the racing surface.
Gaunt sustained heavy front damage, while English was able to avoid stalling and
eventually finished sixth.
One lap after the restart, Kruseman slipped the Harlan Willis / Omni Turn No. 45
TCR under Rutherford in turn three to take the lead. Cline moved into
second place one circuit later in his Haas CNC No. 11 TCR with nice a outside
move exiting turn four.
John Scott grenaded a motor on lap six leaving a stream of oil and metal
fragments along the track. Interestingly, a tractor with a grater was used
during the clean-up process that may have inadvertently helped to bring in
the high groove in turn three.
Showing that the bottom was still good, Kruseman pulled away from Cline once
racing resumed forcing Cline to run the same line. Griffin may have been
the first driver to benefit from the track clean-up as he used the cushion to
pass Rutherford for third in turn four. Jones learned from watching
Griffin and moved into fourth after passing both Rutherford and Williams two
laps later.
It was suspected during a caution period just after the midway point of the race
that Kruseman had developed an engine problem. Nevertheless, Kruseman
maintained his lead on the restart. Second place Cline was not so lucky,
however, and fell victim to a beautiful crossover move by Griffin in turn two.
Engaged in a brief, but fierce battle with Jones on lap 19, Cline slid wide and
nearly collected the turn one wall. Cline lost third place, but must have
driven away from the corner happy that he saved his mount from hitting
the concrete.
As the laps continued to dwindle, it looked like another edition of the "Kruser
/ Gasman show" was about to be played out for the third time in as many
races. Much to everyone's surprise, Jones had other ideas.
Executing
a perfect turn three slide job, Jones moved ahead of Griffin on lap 27.
One lap later, Kruseman reached lapped traffic for the first time.
Kruseman was momentarily slowed on the bottom and Jones was poised to strike.
Using the cushion perfectly, Jones swooped around the outside of Kruseman for
the lead coming down to accept the white flag.
"When we started catching lapped traffic it reminded me of the Oval
Nationals, and like I said after that win I'd rather be running second or third
in lapped traffic because it's tougher to pick the right line when you're
leading," Jones reflected, but also reminded us that he's learned when to
be patient as well. "I've learned to know when to slow down a little bit
and take what's there for me just like my dad (Bubby Jones) and Ronnie Shuman
used to do. Those guys ran to finish races, although I still think I'm a
lot like Lealand McSpadden in that I like to gas her up around the top and try
to go out and win races whether it be running near the fence or off the
fence."
Griffin came across the line in third behind Kruseman, but a post-race
inspection determined that Griffin's car was under SCRA's minimum weight
requirement and he was subsequently disqualified. Cline was credited with
third ahead of the Sharon Jory / Vista Paint No. 3 driven by Williams and the
Jack Gardner No. 4 Sled piloted by Rutherford.
###
2001 SPRINT CAR RACING ASSOCIATION POINT STANDINGS
1. Cory Kruseman 219
2. Troy Cline 187
3. Troy Rutherford 175
4. Tony Jones 167
5. Rip Williams 161
6. Steve Ostling 146
7. Mike Kirby 131
8. John Scott 124
9. Richard Griffin 112
10. Mike English 111
SCRA RACE #3 - PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY - PERRIS, CA
Date of Race: 02/17/01
SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS
1. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance CA, Gardner Jr. 2 , 16.765 2. Alex Grigoreas, Chino
CA, Keene 84 , 16.825
3. John Scott, Hesperia CA, Scott Ntrsprts 83 , 16,835 4. Richard Griffin,
Silver City NM, Chaffin 50 , 16.845
5. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda CA, Jory 3 , 16.953 6. Cory Kruseman, Ventura CA,
Willis 45 , 16.963
7. Troy Cline, Santa Clarita CA, Cline 11 , 16.992 8. Jarrett Chancy, Clovis CA,
Chaney 69, 17.020
9. Hank Winter, Tucson AZ, Winter 33 , 17.031 10. Greg Taylor, Ojai CA,
Taylor 7T , 17.092 11. Troy Rutherford, Ojai CA., Gardner, Jr 4 , 17.094
12. Casey Shuman, Tempe AZ, Lake Mtrsprts 6 , 17.095 13. Tony Jones,
Corona CA, Cowherd 48, 17.138 14. Michael Hinrichsen, Lakeside CA, Lake
Mtrsprts., 16 ,
17.140 15. Mike Spencer, Temecula CA, Engstrom 44, 17.162 16. Danny
Sheridan, Santa Maria CA, Sertich 92 , 17.207 17. Gary W. Howard, Fontana
CA, Ruth 25 , 17.275 18. Jack DeArmond, Jr., Corona CA,
DeArmond, Sr. 24 , 17.292 19. Mike English, Norwalk CA, Priestley 7 ,
17.305 20. Verne Sweeney, Lomita CA, Sweeney 98 , 17.309 21.
Lance Gremett, San Marcos CA, Gremett 85 , 17.390 22. Charles Davis, Jr,
Chandler AZ, Morales 94 , 17.410 23. Bud Kaeding, Campbell CA, Witherill
61 , 17.412 24. Marc Hart, Ventura CA, Hart 15 , 17.454 25. Ronnie
Clark, Tucson AZ, Winter 138 , 17.478 26. Bobby Graham, Riverside CA.,
Silver State 14 , 17.487 27. Steve Ostling, Corona CA, Pratt 12 , 17.507
28. Mike Kirby, Lomita CA, M&B Racing 5 , 17.563 29. George
Gervais, Mira Loma CA, Gervais 9 , 17.580 30. Jimmy May,
Ventura CA, Witherill 61X, 17.590 31. Adam Mitchell, Escondido CA,
Mitchell 99 , 17.732 32. Greg DeCaires, Elk Grove CA, Hasebe 17, 17.740
33. Rodney Argo, Hawthorne CA, Argo 19 , 17.760 34. Glenn Crossno,
Alta Loma CA, Crossno 38, 17.775 35. Michael Smith, Trona CA, Fischer Mtrspts 29
, 17.777
36. Steve Koster, El Cajon CA, Koster 42 , 17.844 7. Dan Tedrick, Hesperia
CA, Tedrick 88X , 17.857 38. Steve Venard, Silverado CA, Glover 49 ,
17.874 39. Chris Wakim, Simi Valley CA, Pike 9W 17.907 40. Jimmy Gardner,
Garden Grove CA, Gardner Jr 96 , 18.023 41. Matt Felio, Alpine CA, Felio 26 ,
18.131
42. Rick Becker, Highland CA, Becker 67 , 18.173 43. Brian Venard,
Tustin CA.,Venard. 47 , 18.218 44. Charlie Ekiss, La Mesa CA, Ball
78 , 18.255 45. Tony Everhart, El Cajon CA, Everhart 55 , 18.293 46.
Tony Lima, Industry CA, Lima 30 , 18.385 47. John Franklin, Huntington
Bch. CA, Franklin 20, 18.470 48. Jeff Schildmeyer, Alpine CA, Ball
87 , 18.491 49. Sid Carlson, San Diego CA, Carlson 73 , 18.528 50. Mel
Murphy, Riverside CA, Murphy 62 , 18.552 51. Jim Scribellito, El Cajon CA,
Scribellito 57X , 18.707 52. Arie
Prins, Glen Avon CA, Wall 37X , 19.695 53. J.J. Ercse, Lakewood CA, Peck
81, No Time
D FEATURE
1. Tony Everhart. 2. Tony Lima, 3. Charlie Ekiss. 4. John Franklin.
5. Jeff Schildmeyer. 6. Sid Carlson.
7. Mel Murphy. 8. Jim Scribellito. 9. Arle Prins.
C FEATURE
1. Glenn Crossno. 2. Michael Smith. 3. Rick Becker. 4. Brian Venard. 5. Steve
Koster. 6. Chris Wakim.
7. Matt Felio. 8. Rodney Argo. 9. Dan Tedrick. 10. Steve Venard. 11.
Jimmy Gardner. 12. Tony Everhart.
HEAT 1
1. Rickie Gaunt, 2. Tony Jones, 3. Lance Gremett, 4. Rip Williams, 5. George
Gervais, 6. Hank Winter,
7. Ronnie Clark, 8. Glenn Crossno, 9. Gary W. Howard,
HEAT 2
1. Jimmy May, 2. Cory Kruseman, 3. Charles Davis, Jr, 4. Bobby Graham, 5.
Michael Hinrichsen, 6. Michael Smith, 7. Alex Grigoreas, 8. Greg Taylor, 9.
Jack DeArmond, Jr.,
HEAT 3
1. Mike English, 2. Troy Cline, 3. Troy Rutherford, 4. Steve Ostling, 5. John
Scott, 6. Bud Kaeding,
7. Adam Mitchell, 8. Rick Becker, 9. Mike Spencer,
HEAT 4
1. Richard Griffin, 2. Greg DeCaires, 3. Marc Hart, 4. Mike Kirby, 5. Verne
Sweeney, 6. Casey Shuman,
7. Danny Sheridan, 8. Jarrett Chaney, 9. Brian Venard,
DASH
1. Troy Cline. 2. Troy Rutherford. 3. Rip Williams. 4. Cory
Kruseman. 5. Richard Griffin. 6. Rickie Gaunt. 7. Tony
Jones. 8. Mike English.
B FEATURE
1. John Scott. 2. Alex Grigoreas. 3. Jarrett Chaney. 4. Casey Shuman, 5. Adam
Mitchell. 6. Greg Taylor. 7. Hank Winter. 8. Bud Kaeding, 9. Ronnie Clark, 10.
George Gervais, 11. Michael Smith. 12. Rick Becker.
13. Verne Sweeney. 14. Michael Hinrichsen, 15. Mike Spencer, 16.
Glenn Crossno. 17. Danny Sheridan.
18. Jack DeArmond, Jr.. 19. Gary W. Howard, 20. Brian Venard.
A FEATURE
1. Tony Jones. 2. Cory Kruseman. 3. Troy Cline. 4. Rip Williams, 5. Troy
Rutherford. 6. Mike English.
7. Marc Hart. 8. Charles Davis, Jr. 9. Alex Grigoreas. 10. Casey
Shuman. 11. Steve Ostling. 12. Mike Kirby.
13. Greg DeCaires. 14. Greg Taylor. 15. Jarrett Chaney. 16.
Lance Gremett. 17. Jimmy May. 18. Bobby Graham. 19. Adam Mitchell.
20. John Scott, 21, Rickie Gaunt.
Laps Led: Rutherford 1-2, Kruseman 3-28, Jones 29-30
*Note: Richard Griffin finished third, but a post race inspection
determined that his car did not meet SCRA's minimum weight requirements and he
was later disqualified.
