IT’S SHOWTIME FOR DANNY SHERIDAN AT PERRIS “FIRECRACKER 30”
Surviving two last lap “slide jobs” from teammate Ryan Bernal, “Showtime” Danny Sheridan (Santa Maria, California) won last Saturday’s “Firecracker 30” at Perris Auto Speedway. Becoming the seventh different winner in seven races, Sheridan claimed the $2,500 Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car feature in his second start of the campaign. Bernal, “The Demon” Damion Gardner, Richard Vander Weerd, and Mike Spencer rounded out the top-five drivers.
Racing Keith Ford’s #73 Walker Filtration Systems / Sun Valley AG Transport Spike, Danny Sheridan qualified fifth out of twenty-four racers, scored fourth in his heat race, and started the main event on the outside of the front row. Inheriting the top spot on lap 13 after a lapped car spun and knocked out leader Stevie Sussex and front runners Damion Gardner, Brody Roa, and Austin Williams from contention, Sheridan led the rest of the way. The former Wagsdash champion scored the eighth USAC/CRA triumph and second “Firecracker” win of his career.
Starting ninth in the feature, Ryan Bernal (Hollister, California) challenged Sheridan for the lead several times before settling for second. Piloting Keith Ford’s #73X Walker Filtration Systems / Sun Valley AG Transport Spike, Bernal was ninth fast in time trials and won the 10-lap Circle Track Performance / Keizer Aluminum Wheels Heat Race #3. Winning the previous night at Santa Maria, the two-time USAC Western Classic Champion had a successful return to racing after an eight-month layoff.
“The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, California) rebounded from the lap 12 tangle to score third in the “Firecracker 30.” Driving Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / Weld Racing Spike, Gardner qualified fourth overall, won the Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1, started third in the main event, and led the first seven laps. The defending and four-time champion has climbed to second in points on the strength of four heat race victories, six top-10 finishes, and 28 feature laps led.
Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, California) charged from tenth to claim fourth at Perris Auto Speedway. Racing the family owned #10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Richard was tenth quick in time trials and placed third in his heat race. The 2011 USAC West Coast Champion has taken over the points lead with one feature win, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 51 feature laps led to his credit.
Mike Spencer (Temecula, California) placed fifth in the “Firecracker 30” after starting seventh. Piloting the Gansen Engineering Motorsports’ #4S Trench Shoring / Sander Engineering Maxim, Spencer qualified sixth overall and scored fifth in his heat race. At press time, the five-time champion sits fifth in the standings with seven top-10 finishes and 17 feature laps led on the season.
Chris Dyson (Pleasant Valley, New York) earned his first career BR Motorsports / King Racing Products “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a twelfth place run from twenty-first. Racing the Kruseman Motorsports’ #16K Racer Magazine / Lucas Oil Spike, Dyson was twenty-third quick in time trials and scored seventh in his heat race. In limited starts, Chris is twenty-ninth in the championship standings.
Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, California) earned the third Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award of his career. Piloting Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams place fourth in his heat race and rebounded to claim seventh in the main event after restarting at the back. The 2009 Rookie of the Year heads to Perris on July 30th ranked sixth in points with one feature win, one Brown & Miller Racing Solutions Semi-Main win, one BR Motorsports / King Racing Products Hard Charger Award, five top-10 finishes, and 30 feature laps led.
Brody Roa (Garden Grove, California) raced to victory in the 10-lap DJ Safety Heat Race #2. Driving the BR Performance owned #91R HD Industries / Lee & Norma Leonard Maxim, Roa qualified eighth overall and scored nineteenth after suffering problems in the lap twelve tangle. The two-time Wagsdash Champion has dropped to third in the standings with one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, six top-10 finishes, and eight feature laps led on the year.
The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will take a break in the schedule before returning to action at Don Kazarian’s Perris Auto Speedway on July 30th. Located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds in Perris, California, more event information can be found at www.perrisautospeedway.com or calling 951.940.0134.
The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, All Coast Construction, BR Motorsports, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Incorporated, DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Stand 21 Racer Goes Safer Foundation, surfnsprint.com, Ultra Shield Race Products, 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
For more information on USAC/CRA, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC/CRA Facebook and Twitter pages.
Loudpedal Productions has Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
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AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Richard Vander Weerd-481, 2. Damion Gardner-462, 3. Brody Roa-455, 4. Jake Swanson-452, 5. Mike Spencer-429, 6. Austin Williams-386, 7. Jeremy Ellertson-291, -- Max Adams-291,
9. Chris Gansen-281, 10. Cody Williams-279, 11. Logan Williams-278, 12. A.J. Bender-254, 13. Jace Vander Weerd-248, 14. Verne Sweeney-229, 15. Tommy Malcolm-217, 16. Trent Williams-183, 17. Andrew Sweeney-157, 18. Anthony Lopiccolo-147, 19. Josh Hodges-146, 20. Stevie Sussex-140.
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2016 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
July 30: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
August 27: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (California Racers Hall of Fame Night)
September 3: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 4: Calistoga Speedway - Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 5: Petaluma Speedway - Petaluma CA (California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 8: Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA (Gold Cup Race of Champions / California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 9: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, CA (California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 10: Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds - Hanford, CA (California Sprint Week presented by All Coast Construction)
September 24: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
September 30: Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
October 1: Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
October 15: Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA
November 4: *Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 5: *Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 10: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
November 11: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
November 12: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with Amsoil USAC National Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
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ATTACHED PHOTOS/IMAGES:
Perris Podium. Ryan Bernal (2nd), Danny Sheridan (Winner), and Damion Gardner (3rd) – Photo by Doug Allen.
