PERRIS, CA, Nov. 11 - Tony Jones stole the show and the
$25,000 prize that went with winning Saturday's 5th Annual Budweiser Oval
National at the Perris Auto Speedway. The win also marked
Jones' second career Non-Winged World Championship (NWWC) victory.
In many ways, this season has been a roller coaster ride for Jones.
Entering the weekend with three SCRA wins on the season, Jones has suffered
through more than his share of rough rides this year as well. Although
some of his critics may have dwelled on his accidents, the reality is that Jones
really hasn't had all that much seat time in a sprint car when you consider his
accomplishments.
"This is actually my fourth full season in a sprint car," Jones
reminded us. "I've been with Gene Cowherd for three of those four
years and we've had our ups and our downs. This may not make-up for all
the downs, but it sure
helps. If you're going fast, you're going to crash sometimes. The
crashes just go with the territory. But tonight we beat the best sprint
car drivers in the country and I'm just in awe to be standing here."
Make no mistakes, it's been a breakthrough season for Jones. His ability
to be patient on a slick track, his decision making in lapped traffic and even
his approach to winning the richest non-winged sprint car race in the world of
dirt is proof that Jones' learning curve is quickly diminishing.
"We really pumped ourselves up for this race. I tried to think of
this as just another race, but it's difficult when Budweiser and the Temecula
Valley Pipe and Supply are putting up this kind of money," Jones said
shortly after
sliding the GC Aero No. 48 Avenger into victory lane. "I like these
dry-slick tracks a lot better than I like a tacky track. On a tacky track
everyone is running the middle of the race track and everyone is fast. On
a dry-slick track you really have to pick your spots."
Mike Kirby dominated most of the evenings racing. With Friday night's
preliminary feature postponed due to rain, Kirby started the night by giving the
Brad & Nancy Geurin / Statewide Towing No. 5 Stinger a 25 lap wire-to-wire
victory. Relatively unchallenged in the preliminary feature, Kirby
proceeded to win the trophy dash and earn the pole for the 50 lap championship
race.
Like he had done in the two prior events, Kirby easily jumped into the lead at
the drop of the green flag. Despite his team having to make an engine
change after the dash, NWWC point leader Richard Griffin had Ron Chaffin /
Arizona Race Mart No. 50 Jon Boy in second place and ahead of Rip Williams,
Jones and defending Oval Nationals Champion Rickie Gaunt at the end of the
opening lap.
Like a carbon copy of the 25 lapper, Kirby instantly pulled away from the rest
of the field. Meanwhile, Jones made a nice pass on Williams in turn four
for the third position seven laps into the race. Kirby held nearly a full
straightaway advantage over Griffin when he reached lapped traffic for the first
time on lap 16. Once into traffic, Griffin and Jones immediately cut into
Kirby's lead.
Kirby's minimal lead would be erased anyway when the red flag flew on lap 19 for
Bud Kaeding who flipped after contact with Danny Sheridan. Despite also be
struck by Mike English's car, Kaeding was able to return to action and
eventually collect a 15th place finish.
USAC Champion Tony Elliott was running in the eleventh position prior to the red
flag, but was forced to watch Kirby take control of the race from the work area
after his car failed to fire for the restart. By the end of the 30th
circuit, Kirby had built comfortable lead until he was once again faced with a
heavy traffic. Kirby dispensed with everyone in big pack of lapped cars
except for Kaeding. The task of passing Kaeding proved to be more
challenge than Kirby might have liked. As Kirby battled to put Kaeding a
lap down, Jones slid ahead of
Griffin on lap 37. Kaeding pulled down from the cushion one lap later
letting Kirby go by along with Jones and Griffin who were now running
nose-to-tail with the leader.
Lap 42 saw Robbie Flock touch wheels with Steve Ostling exiting turn four with
the leaders directly behind them. Even though Flock's car shot down across
the race track in front of him, Kirby somehow avoided hitting him.
Flock did manage to get control of his mount before bring out a caution flag.
Kirby momentarily gained some breathing room in lapped traffic, but Jones was
able to close back in. With five lapped cars immediately ahead of him,
Kirby could only watch as the three-wide battle before him resulted in contact
on the 48th lap. As the slower cars in front of him scrambled to regain
their composure, Kirby had no option but to lift off the throttle for an
instant. That instant was all the help Jones needed to take the lead in
turn three. "I knew Kirby was going to be tough to beat and that
lapped cars were going to play a big part in this race," Jones said with a
smile. "Kirby was kind of taking it easy in lapped traffic and like
I've said before it's a heck of
a lot easier running second than it is running first when you get into lapped
traffic and it really paid off for us tonight."
That it did. Jones went on to score the biggest win of his career with
Kirby finishing a visibly disappointed second. "It just didn't work
in our favor," Kirby later said. "Lapped cars just didn't want
to move. They pointed to the
bottom but there wasn't any race track down there. But, my hats off to
Tony he did a good job tonight."
Griffin finished third ahead of the Sharon Jory / Vista Paint No. 3 Stinger
driven by Rip Williams. John Scott, who was the fastest of 71 qualifiers
on Friday, drove his Pace Electronics No. 83 TCR to a fifth place finish.
Brent
Kaeding earned the honor of posting the best passing job of the race driving
from 15th to 6th.
###
BUDWEISER OVAL NATIONALS PRELIM (NWWC)
PERRIS, CA
Date of Race: 11/10/00
TIME TRIALS
1. John Scott, Hesperia CA, Scott Mtrsprts 83 , 16.595 2. Cory Kruseman, Ventura
CA, Willis 45, 16.632 3. Tony Elliott, Kokomo IN, Walker 66 , 16.671 4. Brad
Noffsinger, Concord NC, Gardner Jr. 16, 16.695 5. Troy
Rutherford, Ojai CA, Gardner, Jr 6 , 16.741 6. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance CA,
Gardner Jr. 96 , 16.755 7. Tony Jones, Corona CA, Cowherd 48 , 16.770
8. Richard Griffin, Silver City NM, Chaffin 50 , 16.775 9. Jarrett Chaney,
Clovis CA, Chaney 69, 16.806 10. Troy Cline, Santa Clarita CA, Cline 11 ,
16.808 11. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda CA, Jory 3, 16.809 12. Marc
Hart, Ventura CA, Hart 15 , 16.865 13. Mike English, Norwalk CA.,
Priestley 10 , 16.878 14. Michael Smith, Trona CA, Fischer Mtrspts
29 , 16.918 15. Jeremy Sherman, Phoenix AZ., Lloyd 41 , 16.922 16.
Mike Kirby, Lomita CA, Geurin 5 , 16.959 17. Derek Davidson, Lafayette IN,
G.T. Racing 76, 16.975 18. Casey Shuman, Tempe AZ, Lake Mtrsprts. 2 ,
17.022 19. Bobby Graham, Riverside CA, Silver State 14, 17.025
20. Michael Hinrichsen, Lakeside CA, Lake Mtrsprts 22 , 17.085 21. Jimmy
May, Santa Paula CA.,Witherall 61, 17.087 22. John Franklin, Huntington
Bch. CA, Franklin 20 , 17.088 23. Greg DeCaires, Elk Grove CA,
Hasebe 17 , 17.106 24. Tracy Hines, New Castle IN, BWB Racing 62 , 17.126
25. Jordan Hermansader, Long Beach CA, Acosta 77 , 17.155 26. Kevin
Doty, Milan IL, Lloyd 34 , 17.159 27. Steve Ostling, Corona CA, Pratt 12 ,
17.188 28. Gary W. Howard, Fontana CA, Ruth 25 , 17.193 29.
Peter Murphy, Sidney AUS., Williams 0 , 17.200 30. Bud Kaeding,
Campbell CA, Yeley. 2J ,
17.203 31. Adam Mitchell, Escondido CA, Mitchell 99, 17.230 32.
Keith Williamson, Pomona CA, Williamson 95 , 17.235 33. Danny Sheridan,
Santa Maria CA, Sheridan 18 17.237 34. J Hicks, Torrance CA,
Alexander 89 , 17.239 35. Jack DeArmond, Jr., Corona CA, DeArmond,
Sr. 24 , 17.249 36. Brent Kaeding, Campbell CA, M&M Racing 2M , 17.253
37. Brian Venard, Tustin CA, Venard. 47, 17.255 38. Bill Rose, Plainfield
IN, Gardner Jr 93 , 17.267 39. Rodney Argo, Hawthorne CA, Argo 19, 17.270
40. Cary Faas, Yorba Linda
CA, Faas 37 , 17.274 41. Andy Forsberg, Auburn CA, Forsberg 92X , 17.332
42. Tom Downing, Lakewood CA, Downing 90 , 17.348 43. Jay Drake, Val Verde
CA, Kunz 67 , 17.355 44. Cal Smith, Montclair CA., Pratt 39 , 17.388
45. Terry Pletch, Frankfort IN, Pletch 29P, 17.425 46. Dave Darland,
Kokomo IN, Sertich 92, 17.448 47. George Gervais, Mira Loma CA, Gervais 9
, 17.471 48. Lance Gremett, San Marcos CA, Gremett 85, 17.483
49. Robbie Flock, Murrieta CA, DiDonato 57 , 17.490 50. Verne Sweeney,
Lomita CA, Sweeney 98 , 17.598 51. Ronnie Clark, Tucson AZ, Winter 33 ,
17.606 52. Will Perkins, Victorville CA, Perkins 70 , 17.662 53.
Austin Kreider, Arcadia CA, Kreider 8 , 17.685 54. Joe Devin, Speedway IN,
Devin 57X , 17.687 55. Bob Ream Jr, Glendale AZ., Brat Racing 87 , 17.693
56. Frank Hanrahan, Costa Mesa CA, Weber 46 , 17.697 57. Charles
Davis, Jr, Chandler AZ., Morales 94 , 17.710 58. Tony Smiley, Phoenix AZ,
Smiley 60 , 17.727 59. Eric Rossi, Gilroy CA, Family Auto Service
98X , 17.752 60. Tony Lima, Industry CA, Lima 30 ,
17.808 61. Glenn Crossno, Alta Loma CA, Crossno 38 , 17.835 62.
Steve Venard, Silverado CA, Glover 86 , 17.861 63. Tony Everhart, El
Cajon CA, Everhart 55, 17.912 64. David Boice, Anahiem Hills CA, Boice 28
, 18.106 65. Don Herman, San Diego CA, Herman 777, 18.151 66. Ed
Carpenter, Jr., Indianapolis IN, Ellis 21 , 18.187 67. Bob Ferro, Sherman
Oaks CA, Ferro 91X , 18.188 68. Sid Carlson, San Diego CA, Carlson 73,
18.213 69. Davey Bateman, Phoenix AZ, Marshall 98A, 18.232 70. Dan
Tedrick, Hesperia CA, Tedrick 88X 18.340 71. Mike Boat, Glendale AZ,
Carsten 91, No Time
HEAT 1
1. Jordan Hermansader, 2. Mike English, 3. Adam Mitchell, 4. Tony Jones, 5.
Bobby Graham, 6. Jay Drake, 7. Brian Venard, 8. Robbie Flock, 9. Ronnie Clark,
10. John Scott,
HEAT 2
1. Cory Kruseman, 2. Kevin Doty, 3. Richard Griffin, 4. Michael Smith, 5. Keith
Williamson, 6. Bill Rose,
7. Bob Ream Jr, 8. Cal Smith, 9. Eric Ross!, 10. Michael Hincrichsen,
HEAT 3
1. Danny Sheridan, 2. Steve Ostling, 3. Jeremy Sherman, 4. Tony Elliott, 5.
Jimmy May, 6. Terry Pletch, 7. Jarrett Chaney, 8. Rodney Argo, 9. Charles
Davis, Jr, 10. Glenn Crossno,
HEAT 4
1. J Hicks, 2. Troy Cline, 3. Mike Kirby, 4. Gary W. Howard, 5. Cary Faas, 6.
Brad Noffsinger, 7. Dave Darland, 8. Will Perkins, 9. Verne Sweeney, 10. John
Franklin,
***Rain canceled the remainder of the 11/10 program. Racing resumed on
11/11 with Heat 5
HEAT 5
1. Rip Williams, 2. Peter Murphy, 3. Troy Rutherford, 4. Derek Davidson, 5. Greg
DeCaires, 6. George Gervais, 7. Jack DeArmond, Jr., 8. Andy Forsberg, 9. Tony
Smiley, 10. Joe Devin,
HEAT 6
1. Bud Kaeding, 2. Brent Kaeding, 3. Rickie Gaunt, 4. Tracy Hines, 5. Casey
Shuman, 6. Lance Gremett, 7. Marc Hart, 8. Ed Carpenter, Jr., 9. Tom Downing,
10. Frank Hanrahan,
B FEATURE
1. Tony Elliott. 2. Tony Jones. 3. John Scott. 4. Jimmy May. 5. Derek Davidson.
6. Tracy Hines. 7. Brad Noffsinger. 8. Bobby Graham. 9. Jarrett Chaney. 10.
Casey Shuman. 11. Michael Hinrichsen. 12. Bill Rose. 13. Michael Smith. 14.
Brian Venard. 15. Gary W. Howard. 16. John Franklin. 17. Keith Williamson. 18.
Marc Hart. 19. Jack DeArmond, Jr. 20. Greg DeCaires.
PRELIMINARY FEATURE (25 Laps)
1. Mike Kirby. 2. Cory Kruseman. 3. Rip Williams. 4. Richard Griffin. 5. Tony
Jones. 6. Jeremy Sherman. 7. John Scott. 8. Tony Elliott. 9. Troy
Rutherford. 10. Rickie Gaunt. 11. Mike English. 12. Derek Davidson. 13. Danny
Sheridan. 14. Bud Kaeding. 15. Brent Kaeding. 16. Jordan Hermansader. 17. Adam
Mitchell. 18. Brad Noffsinger. 19. Steve Ostling. 20. Tracy Hines. 21. Peter
Murphy. 22. Jimmy May. 23. Kevin Doty. 24. J Hicks.
Laps Led: Kirby 1-25
DASH
1. Mike Kirby. 2. Rip Williams. 3. Richard Griffin, 4. Tony Jones, 5. Rickie
Gaunt, 6. Jeremy Sherman. 7. Cory Kruseman. 8. John
Scott. 9. Troy Rutherford, 10. Tony Elliott,
LAST CHANCE RACE #1
1. Cary Faas. 2. Michael Smith. 3. Jarrett Chaney. 4. Lance Gremett. 5. Bill
Rose. 6. Gary W. Howard. 7. Dave Darland, 8. Cal Smith, 9. Tom Downing. 10.
Verne Sweeney. 11. John Franklin, 12. Joe Devin. 13. Frank
Hanrahan. 14. Tony Lima. 15. Don Herman. 16. Bob Ferro. 17. Tony Smiley. 18.
Davey Bateman. 19. Tony Everhart. 20. Bobby Graham, 21. Jack
DeArmond, Jr.. 22. Will Perkins.
LAST CHANCE RACE #2
1. Rodney Argo. 2. Casey Shuman. 3. Jay Drake, 4. Brian Venard, 5. Robbie Flock.
6. Terry Pletch. 7. Bob Ream Jr. 8. Ed Carpenter, Jr.. 9. Keith Williamson. 10.
Dan Tedrick. 11. Sid Carlson. 12. Glenn Crossno. 13. Eric Rossi. 14. Marc Hart.
15. Andy Forsberg. 16. Ronnie Clark. 17. Michael Hinrichsen. 18. George Gervais.
19. Charles Davis, Jr.
B FEATURE (25 Laps)
1. Tracy Hines, 2. Steve Ostling, 3. Jarrett Chaney. 4. Derek Davidson. 5. Brent
Kaeding. 6. Mike English. 7. Danny Sheridan. 8. Jay Drake. 9. Brad Noffsinger.
10. Casey Shuman. 11. Bud Kaeding. 12. Jimmy May. 13. Robbie Flock.
14. Cary Faas. 15. Jordan Hermansader. 16. Peter Murphy. 17. Adam Mitchell. 18.
Brian Venard. 19. Bill Rose. 20. Rodney Argo. 21. Lance Gremett. 22. Michael
Smith.
A FEATURE (50 Laps)
1. Tony Jones. 2. Mike Kirby. 3. Richard Griffin. 4. Rip Williams, 5, John
Scott. 6. Brent Kaeding. 7. Rickie Gaunt. 8. Cory Kruseman. 9. Jeremy Sherman.
10. Jay Drake. 11. Tracy Hines. 12. Steve Ostling. 13. Troy
Rutherford. 14. Derek Davidson. 15. Bud Kaeding. 16. Casey Shuman. 17. Jarrett
Chaney. 18. Mike English. 19. Jimmy May. 20. Robbie Flock. 21. Brad
Noffsinger. 22. Danny Sheridan. 23. Tony Elliott. 24. Cary Faas.
Laps Led: Kirby 1-47, Jones 48-50
