USAC/CRA SPRINTS RETURN TO PERRIS FOR 19TH ANNUAL BUDWEISER OVAL NATIONALS
By Lance Jennings

PHOENIX, AZ – NOVEMBER 4, 2014… This Friday and Saturday, the popular Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will return to Don Kazarian's Perris Auto Speedway for the "19th Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals, presented by All Coast Construction." Co-sanctioned with the USAC National Series, 52 entries from across the country have pre-entered for the prestigious $20,000-to-win event. The popular winged California Lightning Sprints and the PAS 360 Senior Sprints will join the action on Friday and the Seniors will return to "America's Premier Dirt Track" on Saturday. The Spectator Gates will open at 4:00pm on Friday and 3:00pm on Saturday. Time Trials at will start at 5:00pm on Friday and 5:35 on Saturday. Racing is scheduled to begin at 6:45pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.

The festivities will begin on Wednesday, November 5th with a special practice session. Admission to the grandstands is FREE and cars will be on the track between 5:00pm and 6:00pm. The concession stand will be open with $2 pizza and $2 beers for sale. The following night, Perris Auto Speedway will host the “360 Oval Nationals” featuring the USAC West Coast and SouthWest Sprint Cars. Several USAC National and USAC/CRA regulars are expected to compete in the “Grudge Series” finale that will pay $2,500-to-win and $300-to-start. A pre-entry list for Friday and Saturday’s “410 Oval Nationals” is posted at the end of this release and more drivers are expected.

This year, the Oval Nationals will honor the memory of Hall of Fame Crew Chief Bruce Bromme Jr. as Grand Marshall. Bromme won championships with CRA, SCRA, and USAC/CRA turning wrenches for Dean Thompson, Lealand McSpadden, “The Gasman” Richard Griffin, “The Demon” Damion Gardner, and Mike Spencer. For racers, there will be extra bonuses up for grabs. The Billy Wilkerson Fast Time Award, the annual Tony Jones Hard Charger Award, and the Ray Scheetz Mechanic of the Race Award will also be presented. In addition, racers are eligible for the USAC/CRA Contingency Awards, including certificates from VanLare Steering Repair for the 5th, 10th, 13th, and 20th place finishers in the A-Main events.

Heading into the Oval Nationals, “The Demon” Damion Gardner of Concord, California holds a 253-point advantage over the competition. Piloting Mark Alexander's #4A Scott Sales Company / J&D Performance Spike, Gardner earned his eleventh win of the season by claiming the September 13th “Glenn Howard Classic” at Perris. To date, the defending USAC/CRA Champion also has eight Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, fourteen heat race victories, seventeen top-10 finishes, and 205 feature laps led on the season. Damion won the Oval Nationals in 2009 & 2011 and will be one of the favorites to watch as he gets closer to his third USAC/CRA crown.

Temecula, California’s Mike Spencer is second in the Amsoil USAC/CRA point standings. Racing Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer ran third in the “Glenn Howard Classic.” Currently, the five-time champion has one feature win, five Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, two  heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main Win, one Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 91 feature laps led. Last year’s 360 Oval Nationals Champion won the 410 event in 2012 and will have his sights on adding another eagle trophy to his collection.

Brody Roa of Buena Park, California sits third in the championship points. Driving the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Burris Racing Maxim, the recently married driver scored eighth in the September 13th feature at Perris. To date, the former Wagsdash Champion has six heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main Win, one Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, and twelve top-10 finishes to his credit. Roa will be looking to earn his first “home track” victory at the Budweiser Oval Nationals.

Corona, California’s “The Cadillac” Cody Williams ranks fourth in the Amsoil USAC/CRA point chase. Piloting Jack Jory’s #44 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams placed sixth in the “Glenn Howard Classic.” Currently, the former National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Rookie of the Year has one feature win, one heat race victory, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, one Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, ten top-10 finishes, and 29 feature laps led on the year. “The Cadillac” will have his sights adding his name to the winner’s list of the Oval Nationals.

Matt Mitchell of Orange, California is fifth in the championship point standings. Driving his #37 Campbell Bros. Storage / Pit Boss Jacks Maxim, Mitchell took fourth in the Howard Classic at Perris. To date, the former USAC Western Midget Rookie of the Year has one feature win, two heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, ten top-10 finishes, and 35 feature laps led on the season. Matt will be looking to win his seventh USAC/CRA main event at the Oval Nationals.

Currently tenth in points, Yorba Linda, California’s Logan Williams leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Chris Gansen, Gary Taylor, and Cody Swanson are also in contention. Local 360 iron-block powered Sprint Cars are welcome to race with USAC/CRA. Per series rules, all fuel-injected 410 and 360 powered sprint cars must run the Hoosier 105/16 Medium Right Rear Tire and all four corners must be Hoosier. Cars must pass a tech inspection and one-way radios are mandatory for drivers.

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma’s Brady Bacon leads the Amsoil USAC National Sprint point standings. Bryan Clauson, “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland, Jon Stanbrough, Chase Stockon, Tracy Hines, Justin Grant, “The Bear” Chris Windom, “The Madman” Robert Ballou, and Hunter Schuerenberg round out the top-10 drivers.

Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California. Advance tickets are on sale and Friday General Adult tickets are $30 and $10 for Children (6-12). Saturday General Adult tickets are $30 and $10 for Children (6-12). 3-Day General Adult passes are $60 and $20 for Children (6-12). 3-Day Reserved Adult passes are $85 and $35 for Children (6-12). For more information, visit www.perrisautospeedway.com or call (951) 940-0134. Camping is available for $25 at the fairgrounds.

The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Engler Machine & Tool, Extreme Mufflers, Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, Saldana Racing Products, Weld Racing, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, email PR Director Lance Jennings at lwjennings@earthlink.net.

For more information on the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, visit www.usacracing.com or follow the series on another site (another site/pages/USAC-CRA-Sprint-Car-Series/167535183297971) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/USAC_CRA).
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410 BUDWEISER OVAL NATIONALS CHAMPIONS:
1996-Jimmy Sills, 1997-Rip Williams, 1998-Rodney Argo, 1999-Rickie Gaunt, 2000-Tony Jones, 2001-Bud Kaeding, 2002-Bud Kaeding, 2003-Cory Kruseman, 2004-Cory Kruseman, 2005-Dave Darland, 2006-Dave Darland, 2007-Bud Kaeding, 2008-Jesse Hockett, 2009-Damion Gardner, 2010-Chris Windom, 2011-Damion Gardner, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Dave Darland.

PERRIS USAC/CRA 1-LAP QUALIFYING RECORD: Nic Faas – 15.833 (02/25/12)