USAC/CRA OPENS PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY SEASON ON SATURDAY NGHT!

Source: 06/logo_pas.gif
Date: 01/31/2007

A star studded field that includes Norco, California’s Tony Jones, Mike Spencer, 2004 USAC/CRA Champion Rip Williams, Marion, Indiana’s Scotty Weir, “Super” Rickie Gaunt, “Showtime” Danny Sheridan and “Dynamite” David Cardey will be on hand.

Jones, who turns 37 today (January 30th), is being tabbed by many as the man to beat for the 2007 USAC/CRA championship. The son of two-time CRA champion Bubby Jones, he led all drivers with eight USAC/CRA wins at The PAS last year. Jones won his first main in over two years when he finished first at The PAS on Memorial Day weekend. The popular driver humbled the competition winning 8 of the last 17 main events at the track including the Salute to Indy, Firecracker Derby, Labor Day 40 lapper, Oval Nationals preliminary and the Jack Kindoll Classic.

Spencer is considered by many as the other major contender for the 2007 crown. A 25 year-old Cal-Poly Pomona engineering graduate who resides in Temecula, California, he has some big shoes to fill as he takes over the wheel of the famous Ron Chaffin red #50 sprint car from 2005 USAC/CRA Champion Damion Gardner. Spencer ended up fourth in USAC/CRA points last season and scored his first ever 410-sprint car win at The PAS in early June. He scored another win at Jim Naylor’s Ventura Raceway in August and was third in the Budweiser Oval Nationals. Gardner left the ride at the end of 2006 and is moving to Indiana to race in the USAC National Sprint Car series for NASCAR Busch series driver Jason Leffler.

Williams, who will turn 51 in early May, is another of the heavy hitters gunning for the championship. The veteran driver ended up sixth in the points standings in 2006 with two main event wins and 14 top ten finishes. When the 1978 CRA Co-Rookie of the Year takes the green flag for qualifying on Saturday, it will mark the start of his 30th season racing 410 sprint cars.

Like Spencer, Weir, the 2006 USAC National Sprint Car Series Rookie of the Year, has big shoes to fill as well. He replaces 2006 USAC/CRA Champion Cory Kruseman in Glenn Crossno’s #38 car. Kruseman left the ride after the championship run to form his own team. Riverside, California’s Cardey will join Weir, as Crossno will field a two-car effort in 2007. The 2003 California Lightning Sprint Car Champion, Cardey, 31, had his best year with USAC/CRA in 2006 when he finished 9th in points.

Another top star changing teams in 2007 is “Super” Rickie Gaunt. The 2004 SCRA and Non Wing World Champion, Gaunt will drive for and be a teammate of Azusa, California police officer Nadine Keller. Gaunt and teammate Charles Davis Jr. have spent the past few seasons driving for the Tony Smiley team out of Arizona. Smiley is not fielding a team in 2007. Davis, the 1993 CRA Rookie of the Year, will be splitting time between the cars of James Massey and Warren Dorathy.

Sheridan, who makes his home in Santa Maria, California, will again be behind the wheel of the bright blue Kittle Plumbing #18 in 2007. Last year the popular driver had a breakout season finishing fifth in USAC/CRA points and scoring his first ever 410-sprint car win at the PAS on October 7th. The 1997 IMCA West Coast Sprint Car Champion, 1998 Bandit Series Champion and 1999 Santa Maria Track Champion, was recently voted the most popular USAC/CRA driver in a fan poll conducted by USAC.

In addition to the 410 racing action, The PAS will be introducing Big Wheel races for 5-8 year-olds every night. The Big Wheel race will take place during the break between the heat races and the B main event. Four children will have their names drawn and they will compete on the front straightaway. The winner of the Big Wheel race will present the USAC/CRA main event winner with the trophy at the end of the night.

Saturday’s season opening demonstration of clay pounding speed and grace will include qualifying, four heats races (10 laps each), a 12-lap B main and a 30 lap A main event.

On Friday, February 2nd, 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.

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