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DAMION GARDNER ROLLS SNAKE EYES
AT MANZY FOR 12th WIN |
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September 24, 2005...Who drives a “little red sucker”, qualifies quickest 65% of the time and wins sprint car races 45% of the time? The Demon, Damion Gardner, who was the quick timer for the 18th time and won his 12th Valvoline USAC/CRA event of the season this week at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, AZ. Driving the Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply – Arizona Race Mart, Eagle, Shaver, red # 50, the Demon put on a high speed clinic that forced his car owner to say it looked like Richard Griffin in the car just like old times! Richard won several championships in this Ron Chaffin owned car prior to Damion taking over the reins last season. In winning his 33rd west coast victory, Damion pulled into a tie with Eddie Wirth and Mike Sweeney on the all time list and to with-in 20 points of point leader Rip Williams to boot. Before Damion mesmerized the crowd with his high speed antics, it looked like one of three other drivers might get their first ever win with the club. J Hicks, 99’ Wagsdash winner, led the first five laps before Danny Sheridan took the lead on a restart and kept it until lap 23 when Josh Ford stuck his nose in the battle and passed him. Ford was fast and running the low groove while the Demon was fast and running the high groove. This after crew chief Bruce Bromme Jr told him to get up top and get the win on a red flag stop late in the race. Josh held on until Damion flashed by with three laps to go and it was history for the Demon once again. Josh Ford finished second with Danny Sheridan, Troy Rutherford and hometown favorite, Jeremy Sherman, following in that order. Jeremy started 16th and was the hard charger of the night in his first time in the Alexander Trucking car that Mike Kirby drove to victory here in March. Kirby’s new team will debut October 1st after leaving the Alexander ride last week and then missing two events. Birthday boy Charles Davis Jr was not hurt seriously when another car slammed hard into his cage on the left side in a bone jarring crash on the front stretch in the main event. Two others were involved in the incident as Nadine Keller and Shon Deskins both flipped hard also. Shon went to the hospital for observation after getting knocked unconscious, but is expected to recover quickly. Charles will have a sore arm next week but vows to be back at Perris for the next race. Nadine was all smiles as she weathered at least five sideways flips and visited with fans in the pits afterwards. Rip Williams suffered a flat tire late in the main event and lost 35 points off his point lead as he came back to get 13th. Seth Wilson was nudged over on his head on the first start of the feature, but the soft rollover didn’t hurt the car and he recovered to run eighth by race end in front of a packed house. Well known driver, Ricky Hood, tried on the wingless USAC/CRA for the first time in years and came from 21st to 12th at race end. VALVOLINE
USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES RACE RESULTS: September 24, 2005 – Phoenix, Arizona
– Manzanita Speedway |
