LAST CALL FOR USAC SPRINTS THIS WEEKEND AT PERRIS' BUDWEISER OVAL NATIONALS
The stars of the AMSOIL National and CRA Sprint Car series have their eyes on the largest prize of any USAC race this season – this weekend’s $25,000-to-win Budweiser “Oval Nationals” presented by All Coast Construction at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.
The 21st running of the event begins with an open practice for “Oval Nationals” competitors on Wednesday, Nov. 9 that precedes three straight nights of racing at “The PAS” on Thursday-Friday-Saturday, Nov. 10-11-12.
The highest-paying dirt track race in the entire state of California features a total purse in excess of $130,000 throughout the three-night event and pays a minimum $1000 to start Saturday night’s main event - both the USAC National and CRA divisions' final event of the season.
The “Ovals” have hosted six different Saturday night finale winners in each of the last six years! Among the 48 drivers pre-entered for this year’s edition of the event are five former winners. They include the race’s only three-time winners, Campbell, California’s Bud Kaeding (2001-02-07) and Lincoln, Indiana’s Dave Darland (2005-06-13).
Additionally, the USAC/CRA series’ two most accomplished drivers in terms of feature wins and championships are entered for this weekend’s event. Five-time series champ Mike Spencer of Temecula, California won the “Ovals” back in 2012 while four-time USAC/CRA champion and current series point leader Damion Gardner of Concord, California won the prestigious event back in 2009 and 2011.
Chris Windom comes into this year’s “Oval Nationals” as arguably the hottest driver in the United States of America. Windom, the 2010 “Ovals” winner out of Canton, Illinois, has won three straight USAC National Sprint Car features – Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track in October as well as a complete sweep of last weekend’s two features in the 49th “Western World Championships” at Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek.
1997 “Ovals” winner Rip Williams will have three sons competing in this year’s event – Austin, Cody and Logan – who will pilot of a trio of Jory-owned cars. Austin has won twice at Perris this season in USAC/CRA competition – May’s “Salute to Indy” and September’s “Glenn Howard Classic.”
2014 winner Robert Ballou continues his recovery from injuries sustained in a USAC/CRA Sprint Car crash at Calistoga (Calif.) Speedway in September and will be unable to compete in this year’s event. Ballou won the first two preliminary feature of the 2015 “Oval Nationals.”
1999 “Oval Nationals” winner Rickie Gaunt has been tabbed as this year’s grand marshal for the event.
Additional past victors of the “Oval Nationals” include inaugural race winner Jimmy Sills (1996), Rodney Argo (1998), (1999), Tony Jones (2000), Cory Kruseman (2003-04), Jesse Hockett (2008) and 2015 winner, the late Bryan Clauson.
Brady Bacon brings a 257-point lead into the “Oval Nationals” and is a virtual lock to claim his second USAC National Sprint Car driving title, while also supplying the Hoffman Auto Racing team its series-record 11th USAC National Sprint Car Owner’s championship (1989-92-93-96-97-99-2002-04-08-14).
Special awards at Perris include the Tony Jones Hard Charger Award to the driver who passes the most cars in Saturday’s A Main, the Ray Sheetz Mechanic of the Race Award, and the Dean Thompson High Points Award for the driver accumulating the most points during the Thursday and Friday prelims. Thursday’s feature event is named in honor of longtime car owner Bill Pratt while Friday’s feature is named for his wife, longtime series official Evelyn Pratt.
Admission is free for spectators of Wednesday’s open practice at Perris that begins at 5pm.
For Thursday and Friday’s racing events, general admission tickets for children 6-12 are $10. Adult general admission is $30. The pit gates open at noon, front gates open at 4 and the drivers meeting begins at 4:30. Wheel packing begins at 5, with hot laps set for 5:30 and ProSource/Woodland Auto Display Qualifying scheduled to begin at 5:50. Pre-race ceremonies will begin at 7 with racing set to start at 7:10.
For Saturday’s finale, general admission tickets for children 6-12 are $10. Adult general admission is $35. The pit gate opens at noon with front gates opening at 3. An autograph session featuring the drivers competing in the “Oval Nationals” will be held on the front straightaway from 3 to 3:45. The drivers meeting will take place at 4:15 prior to cars hitting the track for wheel packing at 4:45. Hot laps commence at 5:10 leading into two-lap time trials. The Dean Thompson Award will be presented at 6:20, just prior to the beginning of the night’s pre-race ceremonies at 6:30 with racing to immediately follow.
Three-day general admission passes are available on http://www.perrisautospeedway.com/ or by calling 1-800-595-4849 - $20 for children 6-12 and $75 for adults. Three-day reserved tickets are $35 for children 6-12 and $85 for adults.
All three nights of the 2016 “Oval Nationals” from Perris will be streamed LIVE on http://www.SpeedShiftTV.com/!
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UPCOMING USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP & CRA SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT:
DATE: Wednesday, November 9, 2016
SERIES: USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship & USAC/CRA AMSOIL Sprint Car Championship
TRACK: Perris Auto Speedway (Perris, California) – 1/2-mile dirt oval
EVENT: 21st Budweiser “Oval Nationals” (Practice Night) featuring the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship with the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars.
STARTING TIMES: 9:00 Pits Open for Hauler Parking, Camp Ground Opens. 5:00 Oval Nationals Cars Only Practice.
TICKETS: FREE! $2.00 pizza, soda and beer)
TRACK ADDRESS: 18700 Lake Perris Drive, Perris, CA 92571
TRACK PHONE: (951) 940-0134
TRACK WEBSITE: http://www.perrisautospeedway.com/
MEDIA COVERAGE: Live updates on https://www.facebook.com/usacracing/ and https://twitter.com/USACNation and available on the Race Monitor app on your phone.
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UPCOMING USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP & CRA SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT:
DATE: Thursday, November 10, 2016
SERIES: USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship & USAC/CRA AMSOIL Sprint Car Championship
TRACK: Perris Auto Speedway (Perris, California) – 1/2-mile dirt oval
EVENT: 21st Budweiser “Oval Nationals” (Night #1) featuring the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship with the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars.
STARTING TIMES: 12:00 Pit Gate Opens, 4:00 Front Gate Opens, 4:30 Drivers Meeting, 5:00 Wheel Packing, 5:30 Hot Laps, 5:50 Qualifying, 7:00 Invocation and National Anthem, 7:10 C Main, 7:35 Heat #1, 7:45 Heat #2, 7:55 Heat #3, 8:05 Heat #4, 8:15 Heat #5, 8:45 B Main, Intermission and Track Prep, 9:20 A Main.
TICKETS: General admission tickets for children 6-12 are $10. Adult general admission is $30. Three-day general admission passes are available on http://www.perrisautospeedway.com/ or by calling 1-800-595-4849 - $20 for children 6-12 and $75 for adults. Three-day reserved tickets are $35 for children 6-12 and $85 for adults.
TRACK ADDRESS: 18700 Lake Perris Drive, Perris, CA 92571
TRACK PHONE: (951) 940-0134
TRACK WEBSITE: http://www.perrisautospeedway.com/
MEDIA COVERAGE: Race will be streamed live on http://www.SpeedShiftTV.com/. Live updates on https://www.facebook.com/usacracing/ and https://twitter.com/USACNation and available on the Race Monitor app on your phone.
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UPCOMING USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP & CRA SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT:
DATE: Friday, November 11, 2016
SERIES: USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship & USAC/CRA AMSOIL Sprint Car Championship
TRACK: Perris Auto Speedway (Perris, California) – 1/2-mile dirt oval
EVENT: 21st Budweiser “Oval Nationals” (Night #2) featuring the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship with the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars.
STARTING TIMES: 12:00 Pit Gate Opens, 4:00 Front Gate Opens, 4:30 Drivers Meeting, 5:00 Wheel Packing, 5:30 Hot Laps, 5:50 Qualifying, 7:00 Invocation and National Anthem, 7:10 C Main, 7:35 Heat #1, 7:45 Heat #2, 7:55 Heat #3, 8:05 Heat #4, 8:15 Heat #5, 8:45 B Main, Intermission and Track Prep, 9:20 A Main.
TICKETS: General admission tickets for children 6-12 are $10. Adult general admission is $30. Advance tickets are available on http://www.perrisautospeedway.com/ or by calling 1-800-595-4849.
TRACK ADDRESS: 18700 Lake Perris Drive, Perris, CA 92571
TRACK PHONE: (951) 940-0134
TRACK WEBSITE: http://www.perrisautospeedway.com/
MEDIA COVERAGE: Race will be streamed live on http://www.SpeedShiftTV.com/. Live updates on https://www.facebook.com/usacracing/ and https://twitter.com/USACNation and available on the Race Monitor app on your phone.
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UPCOMING USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP & CRA SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT:
DATE: Saturday, November 12, 2016
SERIES: USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship
TRACK: Perris Auto Speedway (Perris, California) – 1/2-mile dirt oval
EVENT: 21st Budweiser “Oval Nationals” (Final Night) featuring the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship with the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars.
STARTING TIMES: 12:00 Pit Gate Opens, 3:00 Front Gate Opens, 3:00 – 3:45 Autograph Session On Front Straightaway, 4:15 Drivers Meeting, 4:45 Wheel Packing, 5:10 Hot Laps, 5:25 Super Six Hot Laps, 5:35 Qualifying, 6:20 Dean Thompson Award Presentation, 6:30 Invocation and National Anthem, 6:35 USAC Heat #1, 6:50 USAC Heat #2, 7:05 USAC Heat #3, 7:20 USAC Heat #4, 7:35 Super Six Dash, 7:50 Grand Marshal Presentation, 8:05 B Main #1, 8:25 B Main #2, Intermission and Track Prep, 9:15 A Main Driver Introduction on Front Straightaway, Oval Nationals, Ray Scheetz and Tony Jones Trophy Presentation.
TICKETS: General admission tickets for children 6-12 are $10. Adult general admission is $35. Advance tickets are available on http://www.perrisautospeedway.com/ or by calling 1-800-595-4849.
TRACK ADDRESS: 18700 Lake Perris Drive, Perris, CA 92571
TRACK PHONE: (951) 940-0134
TRACK WEBSITE: http://www.perrisautospeedway.com/
MEDIA COVERAGE: Race will be streamed live on http://www.SpeedShiftTV.com/. Live updates on https://www.facebook.com/usacracing/ and https://twitter.com/USACNation and available on the Race Monitor app on your phone.
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PAST “OVAL NATIONALS” WINNERS:
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, 2014: Robert Ballou, 2015: Bryan Clauson
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2016 USAC/CRA AMSOIL SPRINT CAR DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10):
1. (1443) Damion Gardner (Corona, CA)
2. (1285) Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, CA)
3. (1220) Jake Swanson (Anaheim, CA)
4. (1170) Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA)
5. (1127) Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, CA)
6. (993) Mike Spencer (Temecula, CA)
7. (869) Max Adams (Loomis, CA)
8. (744) Logan Williams (Yorba Linda, CA)
9. (729) Cody Williams (Yorba Linda, CA)
10. (665) Chris Gansen (Verdemont Heights, CA)
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2016 USAC/CRA AMSOIL SPRINT CAR OWNER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10):
1. (1443) Mark Alexander #4
2. (1285) Ron Vander Weerd #10
3. (1220) Tom & Laurie Sertich #92
4. (1170) BR Racing #91R
5. (1127) John Jory #2
6. (869) Max Adams #5m
7. (804) Gansen Racing #4s
8. (744) John Jory #5
9. (729) John Jory #44
10. (665) Chris Gansen #4G
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2016 USAC/CRA AMSOIL SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & RESULTS:
Mar 5: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
WINNER: Bryan Clauson
Apr 16: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
WINNER: Josh Hodges
May 7: Ventura, CA – Ventura Raceway
WINNER: Troy Rutherford
May 28: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
WINNER: Austin Williams
Jun 11: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
WINNER: Richard Vander Weerd
Jul 1: Santa Maria, CA – Santa Maria Raceway
WINNER: Ryan Bernal
Jul 2: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
WINNER: Danny Sheridan
Jul 30: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
WINNER: Matt Mitchell
Aug 27: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
WINNER: Damion Gardner
Sep 3: Calistoga, CA – Calistoga Speedway
WINNER: Ryan Bernal
Sep 4: Calistoga, CA – Calistoga Speedway
WINNER: Thomas Meseraull
Sep 5: Petaluma, CA – Petaluma Speedway
WINNER: Damion Gardner
Sep 8: Chico, CA – Silver Dollar Speedway
WINNER: Damion Gardner
Sep 9: Watsonville, CA – Ocean Speedway
WINNER: Thomas Meseraull
Sep 10: Hanford, CA – Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds
WINNER: Brady Bacon
Sep 24: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
WINNER: Austin Williams
Sep 30: Peoria, AZ – Canyon Speedway
WINNER: Jake Swanson
Oct 1: Peoria, AZ – Canyon Speedway
WINNER: R.J. Johnson
Oct 15: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
WINNER: Damion Gardner
Nov 4: Queen Creek, AZ – Arizona Speedway
WINNER: Chris Windom
Nov 5: Queen Creek, AZ – Arizona Speedway
WINNER: Chris Windom
Nov 10: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
Nov 11: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
Nov 12: Perris, CA – Perris Auto Speedway
Races noted with @@@ represent California Sprint Week
Races noted with ### represent a co-sanctioned event with the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship
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2016 USAC/CRA AMSOIL SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS:
1. (4) Damion Gardner (Perris Auto Speedway on Aug. 27, Petaluma Speedway on Sept. 5, Silver Dollar Speedway on Sept. 8 & Perris Auto Speedway on Oct. 15)
2. (2) Ryan Bernal (Santa Maria Raceway on July 1 & Calistoga Speedway on Sept. 3)
(2) Thomas Meseraull (Calistoga Speedway on Sept. 4 & Ocean Speedway on Sept. 9)
(2) Austin Williams (Perris Auto Speedway on May 28 & Perris Auto Speedway on Sept. 24)
(2) Chris Windom (Arizona Speedway on Nov. 4 & Arizona Speedway on Nov. 5)
6. (1) Brady Bacon (Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds on Sept. 10)
(1) Bryan Clauson (Perris Auto Speedway on March 5)
(1) Josh Hodges (Perris Auto Speedway on April 16)
(1) R.J. Johnson (Canyon Speedway Park on Oct. 1)
(1) Matt Mitchell (Perris Auto Speedway on July 30)
(1) Troy Rutherford (Ventura Raceway on May 7)
(1) Danny Sheridan (Perris Auto Speedway on July 2)
(1) Jake Swanson (Canyon Speedway Park on Sept. 30)
(1) Richard Vander Weerd (Perris Auto Speedway on June 11)
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ALL-TIME USAC/CRA AMSOIL SPRINT CAR DRIVER FEATURE WINS:
1. [69 wins] Damion Gardner
2. [37 wins] Mike Spencer
3. [35 wins] Cory Kruseman
4. [20 wins] Tony Jones
5. [12 wins] Bryan Clauson
6. [10 wins] Nic Faas, Mike Kirby & Rip Williams
9. [9 wins] David Cardey
10. [8 wins] Ryan Bernal, Rickie Gaunt & Danny Sheridan
12. [7 wins] Dave Darland & Matt Mitchell
15. [6 wins] Robert Ballou, Levi Jones, Bud Kaeding, Blake Miller & Richard Vander Weerd
20. [5 wins] Garrett Hansen & Austin Williams
22. [4 wins] Darren Hagen, Kevin Swindell & Chris Windom
25. [3 wins] Brady Bacon, Jerry Coons Jr., Charles Davis, Jr., Jesse Hockett, R.J. Johnson, Jeremy Sherman, Scotty Weir & Josh Wise
33. [2 wins] Rico Abreu, Tyler Brown, Kyle Larson & Thomas Meseraull
37. [1 win] Alan Ballard, Jayme Barnes, Christopher Bell, Greg Bragg, Daron Clayton, Shane Cottle, Danny Faria, Jr., Ricci Faria, Josh Ford, Marty Hawkins, Tracy Hines, Kyle Hirst, Josh Hodges, Tim Kaeding, Mike Martin, Adam Mitchell, Brody Roa, Johnny Rodriguez, Troy Rutherford, Jon Stanbrough, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Chase Stockon, Jake Swanson, Cole Whitt, Cody Williams & Jason York
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ALL-TIME USAC/CRA AMSOIL SPRINT CAR DRIVER CHAMPIONS:
2004: Rip Williams, 2005: Damion Gardner, 2006: Cory Kruseman, 2007: Tony Jones, 2008: Mike Spencer, 2009: Mike Spencer, 2010: Mike Spencer, 2011: Mike Spencer, 2012: Mike Spencer, 2013: Damion Gardner, 2014: Damion Gardner, 2015: Damion Gardner
