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PERRIS, CA -Blake Miller drove Jack Gardner's car
to become “Rookie of the Year” in the USAC/CRA series in 2006.
At the end of the season Miller and Gardner parted company. After
missing the early races of 2007 Jack and Blake made up and Blake has
been in a position to win for the past three races at Perris. Maybe
he was waiting for the first big 40 lap feature of the year as he
was the winner of the “Salute to Indy” at
Perris Auto Speedway. Blake Miller got to 'Drink the Milk' at his
first USAC/CRA victory celebration.
Starting in fifth position, the 20
year old Miller bided his time while Danny Sheridan lead most of the
early laps after taking the lead from Josh Ford on lap four.
Sheridan lead the next ten laps while Miller worked his way into
second place on lap six. Sheridan had built a lead but a caution for
series points leader Mike Spencer who had jumped the cushion in turn
one and banged the wall allowed Miller to close. Another caution was
called on the restart for a spin by Cory Kruseman in the first turn.
Kruseman had been running in seventh when he spun.
Rip Williams had started the race in 17th place but was having a
great time and had worked his way up to tenth place on lap 14 when
Jason York got his car sideways in the first turn. York avoided
spinning it but he slowed so much that he was hit by Rip who was hit
by David Cardey. York never stopped but Rip and David did and they
had to restart from the back of the field. It was tough for both
drivers but a treat for the fans as both Rip and David passed almost
the whole field.
A restart with 27 laps left failed as Seth Wilson jumped the cushion
and tapped the wall in turn one. Seth was pushed off with a flat
tire, fired his engine and pulled directly into the work area to
change a tire. Then he was told he had now made two stops and he was
sent to the pits, a very frustrated racer.
When the green flag fell Miller took it to Sheridan and passed him
on lap 15. less then one lap later caution stopped racing once more
when Josh Ford got into the wall in the first turn and limped his
way around to the fourth turn before stopping. That canceled the
lead change. A restart failed as Ross Millar flipped in turn one. It
was of the tip-over variety and Millar continued in the race.
Finally the flagman got a good restart and Miller passed Sheridan to
take the lead on lap 15. Danny wasn't done though as he and Miller
continued to wrestle over the lead which Sheridan got back on lap 18
and held for eleven more laps. On lap 29 Miller took the lead back
for the last time as Sheridan jumped the cushion and fell back
several positions.
Rodney Argo's car stopped on the track on lap 31 and drew another
yellow flag. The green flag fell and one more lap was completed when
Brian Camarillo and Brian Venard crashed together in turn four. Yet
another yellow flag flew.
With nine laps to go Rip Williams was back up to sixth place while
Cardey was in eighth. Both of these drivers were moving really well
and had their eyes on the front of the field as the green came out
again. Three laps later Williams went into fifth place but that was
not fast enough for David Cardey who bumped Rip and and spun him on
lap 39. That put Rip out and put Cardey in fifth with two laps to
go. It also setup a four way fight for second place with Rickie
Gaunt, Danny Sheridan and Tony Jones.
Jones got past Sheridan on the restart and tried to take second from
Gaunt but they bumped and Sheridan got back into the fight and
Cardey surprised everyone by going under all three and taking second
at the line by a half a nose. If the cars had been any closer it
would have been the biggest crash in sprint car history!
Actually Scotty Weir did flip on the last lap and was hit by Ross
Millar who also flipped, but the leaders had already finished.
The finish order was Miller, Cardey, Gaunt, Sheridan and Tony Jones.
Cardey also won the B feature. Blake
Miller, Danny Sheridan, Rodney Argo and Jason York. Garrett Hansen
took the fast time in qualifying with a 16.723 second lap and then
went on to flip on the eighth lap of the heat while fighting Michael
Trimble for second place. Garrett Hansen was transported to a
hospital with complaints of pain in an ankle but was
released before the night was over.
It was announced that Tyler Brown, who had flipped two weeks ago at
Perris suffered a fractured clavicle (collar bone) and will be out
for at least two more weeks.
The USAC/CRA series travels to Tulare, California for it's next race
tomorrow night, May 27th .
QUOTES:
Blake Miller; “I gotta catch my breath! I don't even know what to
think.” “We might have won our first main event the last time we
were here, but a bolt broke unfortunately. I just can't say enough
about my guys. Black Widow Racing, Roy Miller Freightlines,
Simpson.”
David Cardey; “That was everything we had! Guess it was good
enough for second. We got hit in the beginning and bent the axle
back about four inches. It wasn't very good in the beginning and all
of a sudden it kept getting better and better. I don't know, we
might have found something. It was tough out there, we definitely
drove our butt off just like
everybody else but it was tough!”
Rickie Gaunt; “There at the end I was trying 'what ever' to try
and make it happen a little bit and got hit in the ass there at the
end of the race. They'll be a day when I'm faster than the guy in
front of me and, maybe we'll give him a tap huh?”
Story Courtesy http:motorsportsforum.com
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