CRA SPRINTS RETURN TO PERRIS APRIL 12;
“THE DEMON” CLAIMS SOKOLA SHOOTOUT
Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway, after hosting Saturday night’s “Sokola Shootout,” also hosts the next AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint race on April 12. Defending series champion Damion Gardner has emerged as the early point leader, 20 points ahead of 2013 third-place driver Nic Faas.
Gardner, of Concord, Calif., won Saturday’s 30-lapper. He took the lead in his Scott Sales Company/Advanced Racing Suspension Spike/J & D from Mike Spencer on lap 14 and led the final 16 laps to beat Spencer, Faas, Matt Mitchell and Ronnie Gardner, who led the first two laps before Spencer led laps 3-13.
The defending series champion was also the fastest qualifier and won his heat race. His victory extended his all-time USAC/CRA lead to 27 races, compared with Spencer’s 25.
2014 AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Standings: 1-Damion Gardner-142. 2-Nic Faas-122, 3-R.J. Johnson-108, 4-Mike Spencer-103, 5-Matt Mitchell-99, 6-Gary Taylor-92, 7-Jake Swanson-91, 8-Josh Pelkey-79, 9-Cody Williams-75, 10-Brody Roa-61.
WEST COAST SPRINTS EYE MARCH 23 AT BAKERSFIELD;
HOWELL TAKES TULARE THRILLER!
Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway hosts the next USAC West Coast Sprint race March 23. Austin Liggett will take a four-point lead over Markus Niemela into the race.
Liggett finished eighth in Friday night’s 30-lap race at Tulare (Calif.) Thunderbowl Raceway, a race won by Dennis Howell.
Howell, of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., earned his initial series victory at Tulare, beating Richard and Jace Vander Weerd to the checkered flag in one of the most exciting races in series history. Howell officially led all 30 laps although he withstood strong challenges in the closing laps from both Vander Weerds.
Howell, who became the second driver to score his initial series win this year, piloted the San Pedro Auto Body/Howell Meyer Racing Maxim/SRE to the win. Defending series champion Danny Faria Jr. finished fourth ahead of fifth-place finisher Bud Kaeding.
2014 USAC West Coast Sprint Car Standings: 1-Austin Liggett-110, 2-Markus Niemela-106, 3-Dennis Howell-97, 4-Troy Rutherford-91, 5-Richard Vander Weerd-90, 6-Jace Vander Weerd-88, 7-Matt Mitchell-82, 8-Danny Faria Jr.-78, 9-Landon Hurst-64, 10-J.J. Yeley-64.