PERRIS, CA, May 12 --
Cory Kruseman continued his domination of the Sprint Car Racing Association
(SCRA) series Saturday at the Perris Auto Speedway. Having now won
half of the races this season, Kruseman has already posted five main event wins
on the year.
It's not unusual for Kruseman to win five races in a season. After all, he
is the only driver to have won at least five SCRA races in every season since
1995. What's unusual, is that Kruseman has been able to extend his streak
in
May.
"Usually, we're just barely squeaking out our fifth win at the end of the
year. To win five out of ten races is just incredible," Kruseman
humbly stated. "I'm living the charmed life right now.
There was even a rumor
floating around that I was going to be at the Brickyard today. Now, that would
be a charmed life. Hopefully, one day we'll be able to come up with the
funds to do something like that."
Kruseman earned the pole for the 30 lap ABC Sand & Rock main event by
winning his third JE Pistons Passing Masters Dash of the season. Although,
one might think that he would be delighted to start on the pole, Kruseman
admitted that he would prefer to start elsewhere. A unique strategy, but
not one without merit when you consider that the last time someone won an SCRA
race from the pole at Perris was on October 2, 1999.
"I really don't like starting on the pole," Kruseman said.
"I like starting on the second row because I like to follow for a little
while, let someone else figure out the race track, and come in and steal what
I've learned from them. But we ended-up being the rabbit tonight and it
worked out pretty good for us."
Kruseman played his role as the "rabbit" well, taking the lead from
Steve Ostling exiting turn two on the opening lap. Coming down to complete
the first circuit, Kruseman had his Mike Nigh prepared, Harlan Willis owned,
Omni Turn No. 45 TCR securely in front of Ostling, Alex Grigoreas and the Ron
Chaffin / Arizona Race Mart No. 50 Jon Boy driven by Richard Griffin.
Three laps into the race, Mike Kirby moved his Brad Geurin-Mark Alexander
/Statewide Towing No. 5 Stinger ahead of John Scott for fifth.
Now up to third, Griffin pressured a cushion-riding Ostling for second place.
As Griffin searched for a way by Ostling, a similar fight was taking place
behind him involving Gregoreas and Kirby. Both battles aided Kruseman's
ability to extend his lead. Griffin passed the Fischer Motorsports /
Stress Relief Engineering No. 29 driven by Ostling on lap ten, but found himself
a full set of corners behind Kruseman. Kirby ended his tussle with
Gregoreas
two laps later.
Kruseman reached lapped traffic for the first time just prior to the halfway
point of the race. Unfortunately for his competition, lapped traffic did
little to slow Kruseman's torrid pace. Griffin did, however, have a chance
to close-in thanks to Gregoreas who suddenly developed an engine problem and
coasted to a stop on lap 19. As it turned out, this would be the only
yellow flag of the race.
Although his sizable lead was negated, Kruseman did enjoy the luxury of having
two lapped cars between himself and Griffin. Even though he managed to
pass both lapped cars before reaching turn one, Griffin didn't have the
best restart of his career and lost considerable distance to Kruseman. As
if he had another gear, Kruseman methodically built his lead with each passing
lap and was running noticeably faster as the race progressed. In fact,
Kruseman was turning laps near the end of the race that were comparable to the
time that had earlier won Griffin the Sander Engineering Fast Time Award.
"That other gear is called the 50 car," laughed Kruseman.
"When you slow down (under a caution period) and look at the scoreboard and
see that Griffin is behind you, you know that you've got the best behind you.
I knew if I didn't get it in high gear that I was probably going to be in
trouble."
Kruseman completed the remainder of the race free of trouble and went on to
accept starter Lee Jaskowiak's checkered flag with a half straightaway to spare.
By leading all 30 laps, Kruseman has now led 130 laps of 310 feature laps run
this season. The win also marked the first time in 30 races that someone
has won an SCRA main event form the pole.
Griffin finished second ahead Kirby, Ostling, and the Gene Cowherd / GC Aero No.
48 Avenger piloted by Tony Jones. Danny Sheridan had an adventurous
evening. After flipping in qualifying, Sheridan had to transfer from the
C-Main just to make it into a heat race. Starting 22nd in the main event,
Sheridan finished ninth and won the TW Metals Hard Charger Award.
###
SCRA RACE #10 - PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY, PERRIS, CA
Date of Race: 05/12/01
SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS
1. Richard Griffin, Silver City NM, Chaffin 50 , 17.110 2. Tony Jones,
Corona CA, Cowherd 48 , 17.241 3. Casey Shuman, Tempe AZ, Lake Mtrsprts 6
, 17.252 4. Troy Rutherford, Ojai CA, Gardner, Jr. 4 , 17.285 5. Cory
Kruseman, Ventura CA, Willis 45 , 17.290 6. John Scott, Hesperia CA, Scott
Mtrsprts 83 , 17.299 7. Michael Hinrichsen, (R) Lakeside CA, Lake Mtrsprts. 16 , 17.375 8. Charles Davis, Jr, Chandler AZ, Morales 94
,17.426 9. Hank Winter, Tucson AZ, Winter 33 , 17.460 10. Steve
Ostling, Corona CA, Fischer
Mtrspts 29, 17.463 11. Alex Grigareas, Chino CA, Keene 84 , 17.485
12. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance CA, Gardner Jr. 2 , 17.498 13. Mike Kirby,
Lomita CA, M&B Racing 5 , 17.524 14. Charlie Ekiss, La Mesa CA, Ball
78 , 17.576 15. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda CA., Jory 3 , 17.626 16.
Greg DeCaires, Elk Grove CA, Hasebe 17 , 17.627 17. Verne Sweeney, Lomita
CA, Sweeney 98 , 17.647 18. George Gervais, Mira Loma CA, Gervais 9 ,
17.650 19. Brian Venard, Tustin CA, Venard 47., 17.659 20. Rodney
Argo, Gardena CA, Argo 19 17.708 21. Mike English, Norwalk CA, Priestley 7
, 17.730 22. Jeremy Ellerton, Hermosa Beach CA, Ellerton 98X, 17.766
23. Gary W. Howard, Fontana CA, Ruth 25, 17.772 24. Jarrett Chaney, Clovis
CA, Chaney 69 , 17.790 25. Bobby Graham, Riverside CA, Silver State
14 , 17.802 26. Keith Williamson, Pomona CA, Williamson 95 , 17.815
27. Jimmy Gardner, (R) Garden Grove CA, Gardner Jr 96, 17.835 28. Mike
Spencer, (R) Temecula CA, Engstrom 44 , 17.856 29. Chris Rahe, Corona CA, Rahe
51, 17.891 30. Jack DeArmond, Jr., Corona CA, DeArmond, Sr. 24 , 17.903
31. Danny Ent, Redlands CA, Pratt 12, 17.915 32. Steve Venard, Silverado
CA, Glover 49 , 17.948 33. Kevin White, Anaheim CA, White 43X, 17.970
34. Lance Gremett, San Marcos CA, Gremett 85 , 18.000 35. Marc Hart,
Ventura CA, Hart 15, 18.035 36. John Franklin, Huntington Bch. CA, Franklin 20 ,
18.060 37. Rick Farron, Van Nuys CA, Farron 23, 18.081 38.
Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria CA, Sertich 92 , 18.096 39. Ronnie Clark, (R)
Tucson AZ, Winter 138, 18.147 40. Jimmy May, Ventura CA, Witherill 16X ,
18.220 41. Jeff Schildmeyer, (R) Alpine CA, Ball 87 , 18.228 42. Joe
Winston, Laguna Niguel CA, Winston, Sr. 58 , 18.295 43. Mel Murphy,
Riverside CA, Murphy 62 , 18.315 44. Matt Felio, Alpine CA, Felio 26 ,
18.341 45. Wiley Miller, (R) Yorba Linda CA, Miller 75X , 18.350 46.
Glenn Crossno, (R) Alta Loma CA, Crossno 38 , 18.423 47. Dan Hillberg,
Whittier CA, Hillberg 82 , 18.456 48. Bob Ferro, (R) Sherman Oaks CA,
Ferro 91X 18.599 49. Sid Carlson, San Diego CA, Carlson 73, 18.714
50. Austin Kreider, Arcadia CA, Kreider 8, 18.940 51. Ken Coulston, Jr,
Laquienta CA,
Coulston, Jr. 32 , 19.375 52. Adam Mitchell, Escondido CA, Mitchell 99, No
Time 53. Dan Tedrick, Hesperia CA, Tedrick 88X, No Time 54. Brian
Campbell, Minden NV, Campbell 8N, No Time
D FEATURE
1. Wiley Miller. 2. Matt Felio. 3. Mel Murphy. 4. Glenn
Crossno. 5. Bob Ferro. 6. Dan Hillberg. 7. Sid Carlson. 8. Ken Coulston, Jr.
C FEATURE
1. Lance Gremett. 2. Danny Sheridan. 3. Marc Hart. 4. Jimmy May, 5. Kevin White.
6. Ronnie Clark. 7. Matt Felio. 8. Wiley Miller. 9. Jeff Schildmeyer. 10.
Rick Farron. 11. John Franklin. 12. Joe Winston.
HEDMAN HEDDERS HEAT 1
1. Mike English, 2. Cory Kruseman, 3. Richard Griffin, 4. Mike Kirby, 5. Bobby
Graham, 6. Verne Sweeney, 7. Hank Winter, 8. Lance Gremett, 9. Chris Rahe,
SHAVER ENGINES HEAT 2
1. Tony Jones, 2. Steve Ostling, 3. Danny Sheridan, 4. John Scott, 5. George
Gervais, 6. Keith Williamson, 7. Jack DeArmond, Jr., 8. Jeremy Ellerton, 9.
Charlie Ekiss,
KSE PRODUCTS HEAT 3
1. Rip Williams, 2. Gary W. Howard, 3. Brian Venard, 4. Alex Grigoreas, 5.
Michael Hinrichsen, 6. Marc Hart, 7. Casey Shuman, 8. Jimmy Gardner, 9. Danny
Ent,
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCT HEAT 4
1. Rodney Argo, 2. Mike Spencer, 3. Rickie Gaunt, 4. Jarrett Chaney, 5. Charles
Davis, Jr, 6. Troy Rutherford, 7. Greg DeCaires, 8. Jimmy May, 9. Steve Venard,
JE PISTONS DASH
1. Cory Kruseman, 2. Steve Ostling. 3. Richard Griffin. 4. Alex Grigoreas. 5.
John Scott. 6., Mike Kirby. 7. Rickie Gaunt. 8. Tony Jones.
JB ENTERPRISE B FEATURE
1. Troy Rutherford. 2. Casey Shuman. 3. Charles Davis, Jr. 4. Michael
Hinrichsen. 5. Hank Winter, 6. Verne Sweeney. 7. Greg DeCaires. 8. George
Gervais. 9. Charlie Ekiss. 10. Keith Williamson. 11. Chris Rahe. 12. Lance
Gremett. 13. Jimmy May. 14. Marc Hart. 15. Danny Ent. 16. Jack DeArmond,
Jr.. 17. Jimmy Gardner. 18. Jeremy Ellerton. 19. Steve Venard.
A FEATURE presented by ABC SAND & ROCK (30 laps)
1. Cory Kruseman. 2. Richard Griffin. 3. Mike Kirby. 4. Steve Ostling. 5. Tony
Jones. 6. Charles Davis, Jr. 7. Rip Williams. 8. John Scott. 9. Danny Sheridan.
10, Casey Shuman. 11. Troy Rutherford. 12. Hank Winter. 13.
Rodney Argo. 14. Mike English. 15. Brian Venard. 16. Michael
Hinrichsen, 17, Gary W. Howard. 18. Rickie Gaunt. 19. Mike Spencer. 20.
Jarrett Chaney. 21. Verne Sweeney, 22. Alex Grigoreas.
Laps Led: Kruseman 1-30
--------------------------------------- -----------------------------
DIVISION: SCRA
Point Standings as of: 05/12/01
CAR
NAME
HOMETOWN STARTS POINTS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 45 Cory Kruseman
Ventura CA 10 694
2. 4 Troy Rutherford
Ojai CA
10 540
3. 83 John Scott
Hesperia CA 10 530
4. 50 Richard Griffin
Silver City NM 10 519
5. 48 Tony Jones
Corona CA 10
519
6. 29 Steve Ostling
Corona CA 10
457
7. 5 Mike Kirby
Lomita CA 10
437
B. 3 Rip Williams
Yorba Linda CA 10 424
9. 7 Mike English
Norwalk CA 10 414
10. 11 Troy Cline
Santa Clarita CA 7 341
11. 94 Charles Davis, Jr Chandler AZ
10 321
12. 92 Danny Sheridan
Santa Maria CA 10 276
13. 2 Rickie Gaunt
Torrance CA 10 271
14. 21 Jeremy Sherman Phoenix AZ
5 269
15. 19 Rodney Argo Hawthorne CA
10 248
16. 17 Greg DeCaires
Elk Grove CA 10 205
17. 6 Casey Shuman
Tempe AZ 10 204
18. 33 Hank Winter Tucson AZ
10 191
19. 84 Alex Grigoreas
Chino CA
7 167
20. 14 Bobby Graham
Riverside CA 9 158