JONES HOPES TO REPEAT SALUTE TO INDY 40-LAP VICTORY AT PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY THIS SATURDAY!

Source: PAS Media Relations
Date: 05/22/2007

PERRIS, California -- Perris Auto Speedway will host a longtime tradition this Saturday night, May 26th, when Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply presents the Lucas Oil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars in the Annual Salute to Indy with a 40-lap main event. Spectator gates will open at 5:00 PM with racing at 7:00.

The Salute to Indy has a long, rich tradition that dates back to the days of J.C. Agajanian’s legendary Ascot Park in Gardena. Tony Jones of Norco, California, whose Hall of Fame Father Bubby Jones won the race at Ascot in 1986, heads the field for Saturday’s race and hopes to make it a tradition by winning the Salute to Indy for the second year in a row.

The Salute to Indy is annually the first extra distance (most main events are 30-laps) race at The PAS every year. Jones triumph in the 2006 race was his first ever win for car owner Mark Alexander. And, he proceeded to win three (July 4th Firecracker Derby, Jeff Bagley Classic and the Jack Kindoll Classic) of the other four 40-lappers on the Riverside county clay oval during the season. In fact, Jones was the “Big Dog on Porch” winning eight of the last 17 main events at the track in 2006.

Jones, an affable 37-year old who always entertains the fans with a word or 2,000 words at every race, has continued his fine run in the 2007 campaign. Heading into this week’s showdown at The PAS, he holds an 82-point advantage over Temecula, California speedster Mike Spencer in the championship standings. Jones won the main event when the Lucas Oil Series last stopped at The PAS two weeks ago. In scoring that win, Jones became only the second repeat winner in the first 15 races of the highly competitive series in 2007. His first win came in Las Vegas on March 8th. The only other driver with more than one victory in 2007 is the 2006 USAC National Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Scotty Weir of Marion, Indiana.

Last week on the big Manzanita Speedway half-mile in Phoenix, Arizona, Jones ended up fourth in the main event after beginning the night as the fast qualifier. Surprise, Arizona’s Jeremy Sherman beat Santa Maria, California’s Danny “Showtime” Sheridan (currently 3rd in USAC/CRA points), Spencer, Jones and Weir to the main event checkered flag.

The prelude to Saturday’s 40-lap slug out will include qualifying, four slide job filled 10-lap heat races and a 12 lap get er’ done or explain to the car owner why you did not get er’ done B main.

After Saturday’s race at The PAS, the Lucas Oil USAC/CRA contingent will head to the 1/3 mile Thunderbowl in Tulare, California on Sunday for the only time in 2007.

On Friday, the red-hot drag racing action at the Street Legal Strip at The PAS will continue. Friday’s gates will open at 5:00 PM with racing at 6:00.

Anyone wishing more information can contact Perris Auto Speedway at (951) 940-0134.

Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of the Southern California Fair), approximately one hour east of Los Angeles and one hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, exit at the Ramona Expressway and go two miles east to the fairgrounds.

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

USAC/CRA SERIES SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS

1. Tony Jones – Norco, CA – 818

2. Mike Spencer – Temecula, CA - 736

3. Danny Sheridan – Santa Maria, CA – 648

4. Rickie Gaunt – Torrance, CA – 638

5. Scotty Weir – Marion, IN – 614

6. Rip Williams – Yorba Linda, CA – 537

7. R. J. Johnson – Phoenix, AZ - 510

8. Darren Hagen – Riverside, CA – 460

9. Cory Kruseman – Ventura, CA – 428

10. Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA - 388

11. David Cardey – Riverside, CA – 356

12. Tyler Brown – Norco, CA - 338

13. Jason York – Chico, CA – 308

14. Josh Ford – Camarillo, CA – 301

15. Rodney Argo – Gardena, CA – 276

16. Charles Davis Jr. – Buckeye, AZ – 268

17. Michael Trimble – San Jose, CA – 259

18. Damion Gardner – Concord, CA – 240

19. Matt Rossi – Peoria, AZ – 231

20. Josh Wise – Riverside, CA - 201

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