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SPOTLIGHT REMAINS ON WILLIAMS AS USAC/CRA SERIES RETURNS TO PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY ON SATURDAY!
by Scott Daloisio

(APRIL 25, 2005, PERRIS, CA) For those who though the constant spotlight that has been chasing veteran Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Car superstar Rip Williams for the past nine months was going to grow dim, think again. That light will be shining brighter than ever when Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply presents the popular series at Perris Auto Speedway this Saturday night and Williams closes in on becoming the all time 410 traditional sprint car victory leader on the west coast.

Over the past nine months, Williams, who will turn 49 on May 5^th, has been in constant focus of the world sprint car media as he chased down and won his first ever series championship in 2004 and two weeks ago when he won his 100^th lifetime main event. Now the father of three is just three wins shy of tying National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Dean Thompson’s record of 103 lifetime wins on the west coast.

When Williams scored win #100 at The PAS on April 16^th, the fans watched an emotional scene after the final checkered flag. The Yorba Linda, California resident took an extra slow down lap around the track and then slid his car to a sideways stop on the front straightaway. As soon as he unbuckled his belts, he shot through the top of the cage and pumped both arms in the air as the huge crowd showered him with cheers. More than two hours after the checkered fell for win 100, Williams still had a line of well-wishers and autograph seekers at the John Jory Corporation hauler.

It was not always that way with the likeable veteran and the fans at The PAS. In fact, as recent as 2001, Williams was the villain at The PAS, much as Thompson was for a time at Ascot, for winning too many main events. The mere mention of his name used to bring a cascade of boos from the stands. However, over the past three or four years that has changed. Williams is now arguably the most popular driver at the track and the mention of his name draws loud cheers from the appreciative fans.

It was only appropriate that Williams would win #100 at The PAS as nearly half of his victories have come there. Since the track opened in 1996, he has won 44 mains on the brightly lit clay oval. Second on his victory chart is J.C. Agajanian’s legendary Ascot Park in Gardena, California where he scored 19 victories. Ascot was also the scene of Williams first ever win nearly 22 years ago when he emerged victorious in annual 50-lap “Salute to Indy” on Memorial Day weekend in 1983.

Ironically enough, even though he watched his father Bob race three-quarter and micro midgets as a youngster, “The Ripper” did not race quarter-midgets as a youth like so many of the sports top west coast stars. In fact, he did not race anything until he jumped in a three-quarter midget in 1975 at 19 years of age. Williams won the Rookie the Year award with NMRA and was CRA co-Rookie of the Year three years later. Nearly as amazing as his 100 victories is the fact that since he began his career in 1978, he has finished in the top ten in points with CRA, SCRA and USAC/CRA in all but three years.

Williams, who seems to be like a fine wine, as gets better with age, will begin taking the next historic step in his Hall of Fame career this Saturday when he tries to close within two wins of Thompson. Be sure you are on hand to be a part of sprint car racing history.

Saturday’s thrill a lap racing show will consist of qualifying, the three lap Snap-on Tools Trophy Dash, 4 heat races, 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.

racesatthepas@aol.com is the only authorized Internet address to issue official media news released from The Perris Auto Speedway or Oval Entertainment

VALVOLINE USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS

1. Rip Williams – Yorba Linda, CA – 463

2. Charles Davis Jr. – Buckeye, AZ – 433

3. Mike Kirby – Torrance, CA – 417

4. Damion Gardner – Concord, CA - 385

5. Cory Kruseman – Ventura, CA – 378

6. Rickie Gaunt – Torrance, CA – 351

7. Josh Ford – Camarillo, CA – 310

8. Seth Wilson – San Clemente – 233

9. Tony Jones – Orange, CA – 207

10. Mike Spencer – Temecula, CA – 205

11. Alan Ballard – Bakersfield, CA – 204