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Jones Takes "Kindoll Classic" Finale at Perris; Kruseman Lands CRA Title |
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PERRIS, Calif. - Tony Jones of Norco, Calif., closed out the
2006 USAC/CRA season by winning Saturday’s 40-lap Jack Kindoll Classic at the
Perris Auto Speedway.
Jones’ Alexander Trucking / La Villa Restaurant No. 4 DRC blasted across the finish line comfortably ahead of second-place finish Cory Kruseman of Ventura, Calif, who was officially crowned the USAC/CRA Champion for the first time in his accomplished career. The victory capped-off the best season of Jones’ 12-year Sprint car career. Heading into the season, Jones was simply hoping to end his nearly three-year winless drought. Instead, Jones compiled eight wins at Perris and finished third in series points behind Kruseman and defending USAC/CRA Champion Damion Gardner, Concord, Calif. “I’d like to dedicate this season to my entire family who has to put up with me racing all year long. Sometimes it can be trying on a family, so I can’t thank them enough for sticking with me and supporting me,” Jones later said while also remember long-time team supporter “Big John” Stallmo, who passed away earlier this year. After turning the fastest lap in time trials, Jones was relegated to the eighth starting spot for the season finale. Kruseman started on the pole and led Jimmy Crawford into the first turn after the start. Showing his strength early, Jones made a beautiful two-car pass exiting Turn 4 on the second lap to move into the fifth position. The other Jones in the field, Levi Jones of Olney, Ill., was also fast early. Driving the Tony Stewart Racing / Mopar–Bass Pro Shops No. 21 Maxim from the fifth starting spot, Levi took over the second position on the fourth circuit. Through the first half of the race, the fastest car on the track might very well have been driven by Mike Spencer. Systematically passing cars on the bottom of the race track from the seventh starting spot, Spencer took the lead from Kruseman’s Glen Crossno / Agromin Soil No. 38 Bullet on 26th lap following a red flag period for Darren Hagen’s Turn 1 flip. With Tony Jones now up to second-place, the stage appeared to be set for a wild shootout between two of the hottest drivers on the tour. Instead, Spencer’s race ending unceremoniously after a rear end failure developed 10 laps from the finish. “I knew I was catching Spencer, so I started running different lines to see where my car was most comfortable when he started to slow. It was really unfortunate because we were going to have one heck of a race to finish the season,” Jones later said in victory lane. Kruseman – who announced after the race that he would be forming his own team for the 2007 season – finished in second-place ahead of the Kittle Motorsports / Pace Electronics No. 18 Stinger driven by Danny Sheridan of Santa Maria, Calif. Levi Jones was fourth ahead of the Ron Chaffin / Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply No. 50 Eagle driven by Gardner. Josh Ford was named the Hard-Charger of the race with his 21st to ninth-place drive. - By Robert Mayson, USAC/CRA PR Coordinator |
