The 1990 season started out the way 89 ended, on the asphalt. Ronnie Shuman
started the night out with a new 1 lap track record at Mesa Marin, John Redican set
a new 3 lap record and scored the Main event from the 3rd row. Weeks later it was Redican again at Ascot by a straightway, his second win of ten for the year.
Steve Kinser showed the world who was King at Eldora on the mid west tour.
'Ol Bub did the trick in Danville and McSpadden took all the marbles at
Knoxville.
Back from the tour and Shuman was out of the top 5 in points with no relief in sight.
Back to back wins at Ascot and the "Shu" was back in form. With Shuman,
Redican, Noffsinger, Williams, Jones and McSpadden, CRA was the envy of the
country.
Billy Boat sailed to his first ever Ascot victory in July and Rip Williams broke a 35
race winless streak the following week. In addition to the tour, nine races were held
in Arizona, CRA returned to Oildale for the first time in 6 years, Santa Maria
followed and Steve Ostling won his first ever CRA trophy dash, he also led 29 1/2 laps at Tucson, Billy Boat nipped him for the checkers.
Boat did the only 17 second lap at Ascot, Redican led the most feature laps with
358. Ascot was closed forever and the championship was still in the air, Jeff Gordon picked up the last two wins for the year at Mesa Marin, Shuman won the tittle over a very close Rip Williams.
On a sad note, the year was marred by the loss of corner flag man Dave Sanborn in September and Driver Billy Vukovich III in November.
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