Perris Auto Speedway
August 15, 2015
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DAMION GARDNER GRABS PERRIS VICTORY & USAC/CRA POINT LEAD

by Lance Jennings
PERRIS, CA (August 15) - Taking the lead from polesitter R.J. Johnson on lap five, Concord California’s “The Demon” Damion Gardner claimed Saturday’s Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car feature at Perris Auto Speedway. For Gardner, the “California Racers Hall of Fame Night” victory marks his fifth win of the campaign as the series prepares for the “California Sprint Week.” Richard Vander Weerd, Brody Roa, Austin Williams, and fast qualifier Mike Spencer chased the defending champion to the checkered flags.

At the drop of starter Kevin Winter’s green flag, Arizona visitor R.J. Johnson grabbed the early lead. With Brody Roa and Matt Mitchell in pursuit, Damion Gardner was moving forward from sixth. By the third circuit, “The Demon” had taken over second and was gaining ground on Johnson. Taking command two laps later, Gardner quickly extended his lead to nearly half a straightaway. Passing slower traffic at will, Damion’s lead was erased by a caution flag on the 20th lap. On the restart, Jake Swanson took over second and set his sights on the leader. Unfortunately for Swanson, a steering issue ended his charge and another yellow flag flew over the speedway. On the restart, Gardner got an excellent jump with Richard Vander Weerd looking to mount a challenge. Vander Weerd inched closer to the leader but jumped the turn one cushion and had to regroup. Gardner escaped and put some distance between himself and the field. Slicing his way past the slower traffic, “The Demon” sailed to the checkered flags.

Special thanks to Chris Holt and everyone that contributed to the “California Racers Hall of Fame Night.” Holt raised an additional $11,000 in prize money and each heat race winner took home $300, courtesy of Mark Atchison and AMA Plastics. Other awards were given out and Jake Swanson won the $500 Agajanian / ascotmotorsports.com Mystery Award.

Piloting Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / Weld Racing Spike, Damion Gardner scored his 62nd career USAC/CRA triumph. “The World’s Fastest Sprint Car Driver” qualified second out of twenty-six racers, placed second in the dash, and ran second to Brody Roa in his heat race. To date, Damion has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, four heat race victories, ten top-10 finishes, and 115 feature laps led. With the victory, “The Demon” has taken over the point lead as the series heads to Calistoga’s “Louie Vermeil Classic.”

Richard Vander Weerd of Visalia, California ran second in the “California Racers Hall of Fame Night.” Driving the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd was fourth quick in time trials, won the “2,000 Randy Scofield Dash,” and won the 10-lap Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1. Heading to Calistoga, the 2011 USAC West Coast Sprint Champion is third in points with four feature wins, five heat race victories, one DMI / Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Award, nine top-10 finishes, and 120 feature laps led on the season.

Garden Grove, California’s Brody Roa took third in Perris 30-lap feature. Racing Lee & Norma Leonard’s #48 HD Industries / Burris Racing Maxim, Roa qualified fifth overall and won the 10-lap DJ Safety Heat Race #2. Leaving Perris ranked seventh in the standings, the former Wagsdash Champion has eight top-10 finishes in the campaign.

Austin Williams of Yorba Linda, California charged from fourteenth to fourth in the “California Racers Hall of Fame Night.” Driving Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams was fifteenth fast in time trials and won the Saldana Racing Products / Circle Track Performance Heat Race #3. Heading to Calistoga, the former Rookie of the Year has climbed to fourth in the point chase with two heat race victories and nine top-10 finishes.

Temecula, California’s Mike Spencer earned the night’s DMI / Keizer Wheels “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a fifth place run from twenty-third. Piloting Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer earned his sixty-second Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and an extra $500 from the Wilkerson Family. After running fourth in the dash, engine troubles caused an eighth place finish in his heat race. The team went to work on changing their engine and Mike used a provisional for the main event. The five-time champion left Perris ranked second in points with five fast time awards, five heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, ten top-10 finishes, and 17 feature laps led.

On Saturday, September 5th, the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will kickoff the “California Sprint Week” with the 2-day “Louie Vermeil Classic” at Calistoga Speedway.

USAC/CRA Sprint Cars

A-Main
1 4 Damion Gardner
2 10 Richard Vanderweerd
3 48 Brody Roa
4 2 Austin Williams
5 50 Mike Spencer
6 17V Danny Faira Jr
7 5 Logan Williams
8 12 Josh Plekey
9 37 Matt Mitchell
10 64 Parker Colston
11 21 AJ Bender
12 0k Kenny Perkins
13 5x Tom Malcom
14 4G Chris Gansen
15 98v Verne Sweeney
16 04 Mile Collins
17 98 Jeremy Ellertson
18 58 Ronnie Williams
19 51 RJ Johnson
20 92 Jake Swanson
21 88 Jace Vanderweerd
22 1 Terry Shank Jr
23 44 Cody Williams

B-Main
1 5 Logan Williams
2 21 AJ Bender
3 64 Parker Colston
4 98v Verne Sweeney
5 0k Kenny Perkins
6 88 Jace Vanderweerd
7 04 Mile Collins
8 98 Jeremy Ellertson
9 58 Ronnie Williams
10 12 Josh Plekey
11 3f Colton Slack
12 33 Austin Smith

Heat #1
1 10 Richard Vanderweerd
2 37 Matt Mitchell
3 17V Danny Faira Jr
4 5x Tom Malcom
5 88 Jace Vanderweerd
6 98 Jeremy Ellertson
7 58 Ronnie Williams
8 50 Mike Spencer
9 98v Verne Sweeney

Heat #2
1 48 Brody Roa
2 4 Damion Gardner
3 4G Chris Gansen
4 1 Terry Shank Jr
5 5 Logan Williams
6 3f Colton Pelkey
7 21 AJ Bender
8 0k Kenny Perkins
9 51T Eddie Tafoya

Heat #3
1 2 Austin Williams
2 51 RJ Johnson
3 44 Cody Williams
4 92 Jake Swanson
5 64 Parker Colston
6 12 Josh Plekey
7 33 Austin Smith
8 04 Mile Collins

Dash
1 10 Richard Vanderweerd
2 4 Damion Gardner
3 92 Jake Swanson
4 50 Mike Spencer


Senior Sprint Cars
1 Chris Wakim - Simi Valley
2 Bruce Douglass - Ventura
3 Bill Badger - Santa Clarita
4 Richard McCormick - Canyon Country
5 Ed Schwarz - Santa Fe Springs
6 Will Perkins - Hesperia
7 Jim Giardina - Riverside
8 Dan Lancaster - Imperial Beach
9 Jack Hawley - Menifee
10 Mike Collins - Lake Forest
11 Tony Lima - Rowland Heights
12 Rick Hendrix - Palmdale
13 Ed Tafoya - Chino Hills

Young Guns
1 Maylssa Perkins - Oak Hills
2 George Morris - Holtville
3 Courtney Crone - Corona


- results unofficial