PERRIS, California -- When Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply presents the Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Cars at Perris Auto Speedway this Saturday night, a former regular will be returning to his old haunts to challenge his friends and foes once again. Troy Cline, who moved to Moorseville, North Carolina to pursue a career in NASCAR, will be making an appearance driving for Temple City, California car owner Anne Wilkerson.
The former Hawthorne, California resident, who is known as “Hotfoot” to the fans, was the CRA Sprint Car Rookie of the Year in 1992. He was the first driver to ever set a tire to The PAS clay oval at a practice session three days prior to the track opening in March of 1996. He went on to win seven main events with SCRA at The PAS before heading to North Carolina.
In early December of 2004, Cline, 35, was named driver for the for LR2 Motorsports entry in NASCAR Busch Series competition. The new team planned to compete in nine races in 2005 and in early March they hired Bill Ingle as crew chief. In the past, Ingle had worked with the likes Michael & Darrell Waltrip, Alan Kulwicki, Ricky Rudd, Elliot Sadler and Ward Burton. However, on April 7th, the team owners dissolved their partnership and Cline is still waiting to take his first Busch Series ride of the year. The veteran dirt tracker did make three starts in the NASCAR Busch Series in 2002 and two starts in 2003.
Cline’s appearance will throw him into the middle of the weekly knock down drag em’ out sprint car wars known as Valvoline USAC/CRA. Two weeks ago when the highly competitive series made its last appearance at Don Kazarian’s Perris Auto Speedway, Concord, California’s Damion Gardner was on an incredible four race take no prisoner’s winning streak. He had closed to within 20 points of series point leader Rip Williams of Yorba Linda, California. However, Gardner’s luck has headed south the past two races with a pair of DNF’s. Coupled with a second and third by Williams in those two races, Williams has inflated his lead to 70 points over Gardner.
Ventura’s Cory Kruseman, who dazzled the crowd going from his 14th place starting spot to first when he won the main at The PAS two weeks ago, has jumped to third in the standings and is now only 14 points behind Gardner. Fourth spot, just nine markers behind Kruseman is 1993 CRA Champ Mike Kirby of Torrance, California.
One driver who is turning heads in a big way as of late is 18-year old star in the making R.J. Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona. As of two weeks ago, his best finish all season was a ninth (twice). On Thursday, May 26th, he graduated from High School. Two nights later, he shocked and mesmerized the large crowd at The PAS by continually fighting off both Kirby and Williams to take second in the 50-lap Salute to Indy behind Kruseman. To prove that podium effort was not a fluke, the two-time Arizona Midget Champion came back last Saturday night and finished third behind Visalia, California’s Ricci Faria and Williams in the 30 lap USAC/CRA main at King’s Speedway in Hanford.
Saturday’s high speed, slide job festooned show will consist of qualifying, the Snap-on Tools Trophy Dash for the four fast qualifiers, four 10-lap heat races a B main and the 50-lap Salute to Indy A main event.
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.
