PERRIS, CA, JULY 27, 2002 - "Cowboy" Tony Jones led all 30 laps Saturday at the Perris Auto Speedway to pick up a much needed NAPA Auto Parts / Auto Trader Magazines SCRA main event win.

From a statistical standpoint, Jones' victory didn't pull him out of a winless drought.  In fact, it was his fourth of the year, which tied him with Richard Griffin and Cory Kruseman for the most 2002 wins on the season.  It did, however, give his car owners Johnny Vermeer and Bubby Jones a bit of hope that they may be able make the start of the Non-Winged World Championship (NWWC) series which kicks-off on August 6th in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Eyeing the $30,000 payday that accompanies a win at Southern Iowa Speedway, Jones' tour might be cut short depending on whether or not his team can find the extra financial backing they need to make the Ohio-Pennsylvania swing of the NWWC tour. 

"We've had some motor woes and got turned around a couple of times this year, but things like that happen and its just part of racing.  Tonight will hopefully give us a little trampoline spring for the tour," Jones said. "We're a little bit shy on going back and being able to run comfortable.  If we're able to do the tour it's going to be one of those deals where we're
really strapped.  Our sponsors have stepped up for the California part of the SCRA deal, but the NWWC tour goes all the way to Pennsylvania and it's going to be a tight tour for us.  There's a lot of luck in racing and if we run into any bad luck, we're going to be in trouble."

SCRA point leader Richard Griffin won his third JE Pistons Dash of the year to earn the pole for the main event.  Driving a brand new car, Jones was forced to manhandle his Ferreira Dairy No. 87 Avenger in the dash just to hang on to a front row starting spot.  Come main event time, it looked like Jones was driving a totally different car.  Jumping into the lead at the start, Jones was followed by Griffin, Rip Williams, John Scott and Mike
English at the end of the opening lap and proceeded to comfortably pace the field.

"This car is right out of the box," Jones said.  "I think these guys started building it on Wednesday.  We tinkered with it all night, and between my dad's (Bubby Jones) knowledge and what I learned, we were able to make all the right decisions. "

Pulling away from every car but the Ron Chaffin / Arizona Race Mart No. 50 Jon Boy driven by Griffin, Jones reached lapped traffic in just nine laps. Scott moved into the third spot on the second lap, but would have his night end in a stream of white smoke on lap 17.  Working heavy lapped traffic, Jones and Griffin bumped tires on lap 21 in turn three.  Both men quickly recovered and continued with their battle.  

"That's just tight racing, and I'm sure if Rip would have been close enough he would have ran into both of us," Jones said of the bump with Griffin. "Let me tell you, Richard Griffin is a true champion.  We got into each other with ten laps to go and he didn't try to drive through me.  Like I said, he handled himself like a champion."

Jones handled himself like a champion, as well, and all but closed out the race on lap 22 with a brilliant outside pass in turn two that put four lapped cars between himself and Griffin.  Continuing to blast his way past slower cars, Jones had already lapped the tenth place car when the only yellow flag of the race flew on lap 26.  Jones, who spent the last two nights racing in Indiana, was never challenged after the restart.  After the race, Jones made an emotional race dedication.

"I left my son Kyle Jones at 3 o'clock this morning in Indianapolis so I could catch a flight back to California.  I just want him to know that I dedicate all my wins to him."

Griffin, who was the top point earner on the night, finished second.  The Sharon Jory / Tomarco Fastener Systems team cars driven by Williams and English finished third and fourth respectively.  In time trials, Williams drove his Gambler chassis to his first Sander Engineering Fast Time Award of the season. 

Steve Ostling finished fifth to give his Fischer Motorsports ride its fifth consecutive top-five finish.  Sadly, Ostling, who runs second in series points, has been unable to secure a ride for the eastern portion of the NWWC tour. Granitize Products Rookie of the Year point leader, Bobby Cody, came across the finish line in sixth to earn his best career SCRA finish.  Another rookie, Randy Waitman, had a far less pleasant night.  Making only his fourth career SCRA start, Waitman flipped hard in qualifying and was reported to be
conscious and alert when transported to a local hospital for observation. 

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SCRA RACE #21 - PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY, PERRIS, CA
Date of Race: 07/27/02

SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS
1. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda CA, Jory 3, 16.685  2. Mike English, Norwalk CA,
Jory 6, 16.688 3. Richard Griffin, Silver City NM, Chaffin 50, 16.692  4. John Scott, Hesperia CA, Scott Mtrsprts 83, 16.820  5. Verne Sweeney, Lomita CA, Sweeney 98, 16.836  6. Bobby Cody, (R) Costa Mesa CA, Cody 41, 16.864  7. Tony Jones, Garden Grove CA, Vermeer/Jones 87, 16.888  8. Steve Ostling, Corona CA, Fischer Mtrspts 29, 16.908  9. Brian Venard, Tustin CA, Venard. 47, 16.988  10. Charles Davis, Jr, Buckeye AZ, Davis 94, 16.996  11. Adam Mitchell, Escondido CA, Mitchell 99, 17.004  12. Gary W. Howard, Fontana CA, Ruth 25, 17.020  13. Damion Gardner, Concord CA, Wilkerson 11A, 17.091  14. Bobby Graham, Riverside CA, Crossno 38, 17.132  15. Keith Williamson, Pomona CA, Williamson 95, 17.137  16. Mike Kirby, Torrance CA, Geurin 5, 17.195  17. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance CA, Alexander 4, 17.223  18. Casey Shuman, Tempe AZ, Pratt 12, 17.312  19. Jack DeArmond, Jr., Corona CA, DeArmond, Jr. 24, 17.347  20. Michael Hinrichsen, Lakeside CA, Lake Mtrsprts. 16, 17.362  21. Rodney Argo, Gardena CA, Argo 19, 17.573  22. Mel Murphy, Woodcrest CA, Murphy 62, 17.613  23. Jimmy Thornell, Riverside CA, Thornell 80, 17.628  24. Jarrett Chaney, Clovis CA, Robison 42R, 17.701  25. Tony Smiley, Buckeye AZ, Smiley 2, 17.843  26. Mike Spencer, Temecula CA, Engstrom 44, 17.848  27. Tony Lima, Industry CA, Lima 30, 17.904  28. Tony Everhart, El Cajon CA, Everhart 55, 17.905  29. Dan Hillberg, Whittier CA, Hillberg 82, 17.948  30. Randy Waitman, Ramona CA, Waitman Y69, 18.069  31. Mark Heidenreich, (R) Upland CA, Heidenreich 22, 18.195  32. Bob Ferro, Sherman Oaks CA, Ferro 91X, 18.555 33. Bill Goforth, (R) Apple Valley CA, Goforth 56, 20.311  34. Lance Gremett, San Marcos CA, Gremett 85, No Time  35. Mark Nation, Los Olivos CA, Nation 3N, No Time  36. Steve Venard, Silverado CA, Glover 49, No Time

HEDMAN HEDDERS HEAT 1
1. Rodney Argo, 2. Damion Gardner, 3. Rickie Gaunt, 4. Rip Williams, 5. Brian Venard, 6. Verne Sweeney, 7. Tony Smiley, 8. Dan Hillberg,

SHAVER ENGINES HEAT 2
1. Bobby Graham, 2. Mike Spencer, 3. Mike English, 4. Bobby Cody, 5. Charles Davis, Jr, 6. Casey Shuman, 7. Mel Murphy, 8. Mark Heidenreich,

SPIN TECH MUFFLERS HEAT 3
1. Tony Jones, 2. Richard Griffin, 3. Jimmy Thornell, 4. Keith Williamson, 5. Adam Mitchell, 6. Jack DeArmond, Jr., 7. Tony Lima, 8. Bob Ferro,

STINGER CHASSIS HEAT 4
1. Mike Kirby, 2. Steve Ostling, 3. John Scott, 4. Michael Hinrichsen, 5. Bill Goforth, 6. Tony Everhart, 7. Gary W. Howard, 8. Jarrett Chaney,

JE PISTONS DASH
1. Richard Griffin. 2. Tony Jones. 3. John Scott. 4. Rip Williams, 5. Bobby Cody. 6. Mike English. 7. Damion Gardner. 8. Steve Ostling.

B FEATURE 
1. Brian Venard. 2. Adam Mitchell. 3. Verne Sweeney, 4, Casey Shuman. 5. Jarrett Chaney. 6. Jack DeArmond, Jr. 7. Mel Murphy. 8. Tony Everhart. 9. Tony Lima. 10.  Bill Goforth. 11.  Tony Smiley. 12.  Bob Ferro. 13. Charles Davis, Jr. 14.  Gary W. Howard. 15.  Dan Hillberg.

A FEATURE (30 Laps)
1. Tony Jones. 2. Richard Griffin, 3. Rip Williams. 4. Mike English. 5. Steve Ostling. 6. Bobby Cody. 7. Damion Gardner. 8. Mike Kirby. 9. Bobby Graham. 10.  Rickie Gaunt. 11.  Brian Venard. 12.  Casey Shuman. 13. Rodney Argo. 14.  Verne Sweeney. 15, Adam Mitchell. 16.  Michael Hinrichsen, 17.  Jarrett Chaney. 18. Keith Williamson. 19.  Mike Spencer. 20.  Jack DeArmond, Jr.. 21.  Jimmy Thornell. 22.  John Scott.
Laps Led: Jones 1-30

SCRA DRIVER Point Standings as of: 07/27/02
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CAR            NAME                  HOMETOWN          STARTS/ POINTS
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    1.  50  Richard Griffin     Silver City NM          21  1278
    2.  29  Steve Ostling       Corona CA               21  1182
    3.  87  Tony Jones          Garden Grove CA     21  1159
    4.  3   Rip Williams        Yorba Linda CA          21  1068
    5.  83  John Scott          Hesperia CA         21  1008
    6.  1   Cory Kruseman       Ventura CA              19  999
    7.  20  Damion Gardner      Concord CA              20  949
    8.  4   Rickie Gaunt        Torrance CA         21  917
    9.  5   Mike Kirby          Torrance CA         19  916
    10. 7   Jeremy Sherman  Phoenix AZ              17  847
    11. 6   Mike English        Norwalk CA              21  795
    12. 38  Bobby Graham        Riverside CA            21  767
    13. 94  Charles Davis, Jr   Buckeye AZ          20  728
    14. 19T Troy Rutherford     Ojai CA                 14  609
    15. 19  Rodney Argo     Gardena  CA         19  548
    16. 25  Gary W. Howard  Fontana  CA         17  547
    17. 41  Bobby Cody      (R) Costa Mesa CA       21  429
    18. 44  Mike Spencer        Temecula CA         20  398
    19. 57  Danny Sheridan      Santa Maria CA          17  394
    20. 99  Adam Mitchell       Escondido CA            16  355