PERRIS, California — This Saturday night, August 1st, the Lucas Oil USAC/CRA Sprint Series brings one of the tightest championship fights in memory to Perris Auto Speedway. The top three drivers in the standings are separated by only 13 points and a fourth place driver is only 37 points out of the lead. In addition to the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, the USAC Ford Focus Midgets, USAC Jr. Focus Midgets and the WRA Vintage Cars will also be in action. Spectator gates will open at 5 PM and the first race will begin at 7:00.
Heading into Saturday's race, Blake Miller, a 22-year-old second-generation driver out of Yorba Linda, holds a precarious four-point advantage over deafening series champion Mike Spencer of the Temecula in the championship standings. If that is not tight enough, third-place driver David Cardey of Riverside is only 13 points behind Miller. Garrett Hansen, who resides in Manhattan Beach, is fourth in the standings, only 37 points behind the leader. Miller, Spencer and Hansen each have one USAC/CRA victory in 2009. Cardey, with two wins, is the only driver in the series with more than one triumph this year.
The series’ last race was at The PAS on July 4th. 2006 USAC/CRA Champion Cory Kruseman of Ventura won that race over Miller, Spencer and Hansen. Cardey, who came into that event as the point leader, sheered the teeth off the pinion gear and ended up 21st and thus dropped to third in the standings.
Miller, who won the sprint car main event last Saturday night at the Victorville Auto Raceway, Spencer, Hansen, Cardey and Kruseman will all be in action at The PAS this Saturday. Among the other stars joining them will be past California Lightning Sprint Car Champion Greg Bragg of Visalia, Santa Maria's Danny Sheridan, who finished second last Saturday night at Santa Maria Speedway, Hall of Famer Rip Williams and Tulare winner Matt Mitchell both of Yorba Linda, 2007 USAC/CRA Champion Tony Jones & Tyler Brown of Norco and 2004 SCRA and Non-Wing World Champion “Super” Rickie Gaunt, of Torrance.
They USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will be in action on the half-mile, while the Focus Midgets and Jr. Focus Midgets will race on the quarter-mile. Teenager Brody Roa leads the points in the Focus Series with Kyle Edwards tops the title chase in the Jr. division.
Saturday's open wheel extravaganza will feature qualifying, heats a “B” and “A” main for the USAC/CRA Series. The Focus Midgets, JR Focus Midgets and WRA will contest heats and main events.
Advance tickets for this Saturday are available 24 hours a day by calling 1-800-595-4849. They can also be ordered on the Internet at tix.com or perrisautospeedway.com.
For more information call The PAS at: (951) 940-0134.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of October’s 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 on the Ramona Expressway and go three miles east to the fairgrounds.
LUCAS OIL USAC/CRA
1. Blake Miller -- Yorba Linda, CA -- 471
2. Mike Spencer – Temecula, CA -- 467
3. David Cardey -- Riverside, CA -- 458
4. Garrett Hansen -- Manhattan Beach, CA -- 434
5. Greg Bragg -- Visalia, CA -- 369
6. Danny Sheridan -- Santa Maria, CA -- 335
7. Cory Kruseman -- Ventura, CA -- 301
8. Rip Williams -- Yorba Linda, CA -- 286
9. Matt Mitchell -- Yorba Linda, CA, CA -- 275
10. Tyler Brown -- Yorba Linda, CA – 218
