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(FEBRUARY 15, 2005, PERRIS, CA) Perris Auto Speedway
will turn on the lights for the first time this season when Temecula Valley Pipe
& Supply presents the "Thunder & Lightning" of the Valvoline
USAC/CRA Sprint Cars this Saturday night.
The PAS kicked off its season two weeks ago when an impressive field of 48
sprints cars (47 signed in) showed up at the Riverside County clay oval for
their only day race of the 2005 campaign. The huge turnout caused promoter Don
Kazarian to comment, "This is a very strong series. Forty-eight cars
showing up at the pit gate for the opener confirms that. The quality of the
field was great as well. In addition to all of the top drivers from the west
coast, we had Indiana stars Dave Darland, Tracy Hines, Jon Stanbrough and Bill
Rose show up. We expect to see more of those guys throughout the season."
Concord's Damion Gardner won the season opener two weeks ago after a thrilling
battle with defending series champion Rip Williams of Yorba Linda. This Saturday
Gardner will attempt to become the first driver in series history to reach ten
wins while crowd favorite Williams will be seeking his 100th career victory.
Gardner came from the 8th place starting spot to win the hard fought main event
at the season opener while Williams started 15th. Ventura's Cory Kruseman
started 16th and finished 6th and Corona's Steve Ostling came from 18th to 9th.
However, the biggest mover in the main event was San Clemente's Seth Wilson. The
grandson of former Indy 500 driver Dempsey Wilson started 22nd and ended up 5th
at the checkered flag. It was the 30 year-olds best career sprint car finish at
the PAS.
The season opener may have been good for some drivers, but many of the crowd
favorites had a rough day. Rickie Gaunt, of Torrance, Temecula's Mike Spencer,
Santa Maria's Danny Sheridan, Tony Jones of Corona and Indiana's Tracy Hines
were all involved in grinding crashes in the 30-lap main. All with the exception
of Hines, who will be in Daytona, will be back this Saturday night. In addition,
Riverside's Josh Wise, who drives for Tony Stewart in the Midwest, is expected
to return to the track where he won the 360 Nationals in 2003. Joining him will
be 1999 USAC National Sprint Car champion Dave Darland of Lincoln, Indiana.
Darland opened the 2005 Valvoline USAC/CRA Series with a win at Manzanita
Speedway in Phoenix in January, but had mechanical problems and was the first
driver to drop out at the PAS season opener two weeks ago.
Two local drivers who missed The PAS season opener should be back in action this
week. Costa Mesa's Bobby Cody, who was named Most Improved Driver in the Series
in 2004, and longtime veteran Gary W. Howard of Fontana will be making their
2005 season debuts.
Heading into Saturday's event, Mike Kirby of Torrance and Buckeye, Arizona's
Charles Davis Jr. are tied for the lead in the point standings. Ironically, they
are also tied together in sprint car racing history. A dozen years ago when the
original CRA staged its final full season of racing in 1993, Kirby won the
series championship and Davis won the rookie of the year award.
Saturday's action packed program will consist of qualifying, the Snap-on Tools
3-lap Trophy Dash, four 10 lap heats races, C main, a 12 lap B main and a 30 lap
A main event.
Spectator gates will open at 5:00 PM.
Perris Auto Speedway is conveniently located on the freeway close Lake Perris
Fairgrounds, home of the Southern California Fair, approximately one hour east
of Los Angeles. Take the 215 Freeway, exit at the Ramona Expressway and go east
two and a half miles to the fairgrounds.
For more information on any event at Perris Auto Speedway, please call (951)
940-0134.
VALVOLINE USAC/CRA POINT STANDINGS
1. Mike Kirby - Torrance, CA - 109
1. Charles Davis, Jr. - Buckeye, AZ - 109
3. Rip Williams - Yorba Linda, CA - 94
4. Cory Kruseman - Ventura, CA - 93
5. Seth Wilson - San Clemente, CA - 83
6. Rick Williams - Castro Valley, CA - 82
7. Mike Spencer - Temecula, CA - 80
8. Damion Gardner - Concord, CA - 73
9. Rick Ziehl - Las Cruces, NM - 64
10. Jimmy Crawford - Ventura, CA - 60
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