PERRIS, CA, June 2 --
Cory Kruseman's bags are packed for the start of the Non-Winged World
Championship (NWWC) tour which will begin in Nebraska in just six days.
Before making the long tow east, Kruseman stopped off at the Perris Auto
Speedway Saturday and nonchalantly won yet another Sprint Car
Racing Association (SCRA) main event.
Dating back to last season, Kruseman has now won six of the last ten SCRA races
held at Perris. With one-third of the year now history, Kruseman is not
only running away with the SCRA points chase, but is on a pace to shatter the
SCRA record books. Having now won exactly 50% of the races run this year,
Kruseman made win number seven look effortless by leading all 30 laps."To
me, the easier win is the one where you start tenth and come from the back
because you get to run next to people an d get an idea of what they're doing.
It's hard when you're out front leading every lap because you have no idea where
they're coming from," Kruseman explained.
Kruseman, who won the 1999 NWWC title, is hoping to dethrone reigning SCRA
champion (1998-00) Richard Griffin. The similarities between Griffin's
championship run of a year ago and Kruseman's accomplishments this year are
remarkable. Last year, the NWWC series started after the 14th race of the
SCRA season. Griffin left for the NWWC tour last year with six wins and a
228 point lead. With the same number of starts, Kruseman has one more win
this year and enjoys a 213 point lead. Griffin went on to win the 2000
SCRA Championship virtually unchallenged as well as the NWWC title.
Kruseman is hoping for an identical outcome.
"Winning the Non-Winged World Championship means a lot to me and hopefully
we can go out and be the only two-time champion," Kruseman said
optimistically. "It just seems like we've been very lucky this year.
I've never won seven SCRA main events (in a season) before. We've got our
sights set on the record and hopefully we can win 13 or 14."
Outstanding all night long, Kruseman won his heat and the JE Pistons Dash to put
the Harlan Willis / Omni Turn No. 45 TCR on the pole for the feature.
Joining Kruseman on the front row was John Scott, who was starting on the front
row for the fourth consecutive race. Kruseman had the preferred line exiting
turn four at the drop of the green flag and comfortably led the field into turn
one. Kruseman pulled away on the opening lap as Scott, Charles
Davis, Jr., Troy Rutherford and the Mark Alexander-Brad Geurin / Statewide
Towing No. 5 Stinger driven by Mike Kirby tried to keep pace.
Owner / driver Adam Mitchell was on the move early. By the end of the
fifth lap, Mitchell was up to fifth after starting 12th in his Electro Tech
Powder Coating No. 99 Stinger. Meanwhile, Kruseman was building his lead
with each passing lap. Looking for a line to gain some ground on Kruseman,
Scott moved down to the bottom on lap ten. Kirby stayed on the cushion and
passed Scott for second place.
Last Sunday, Kruseman was leading on the white flag lap when he tangled with a
lapped car in turn two giving the eventual win to Kirby. Kruseman reached
his first back marker on lap 19 and slid wide exiting turn two and nearly
clipped the fence where he came to a stop less than a week ago.
Later that same lap, Scott shredded a left rear tire and brought out the first
caution flag of the race. Scott later speculated that a valve may have led
to his tire problem. Scott rejoined the fight, but would be relegated to
a 17th place finish. Enjoying the best run of his SCRA career, Mitchell
challenged Kirby for the runner-up spot on a couple of occasions after the
restart until the action was halted once more by Brian Venard who spun to a
stop in turn three. Prior to the yellow flags, Kruseman had been searching
for a better line. The two caution periods allowed Kruseman to get some
much needed signals from his car owner.
"We had that yellow on lap 21 and Harlan helped me out and definitely saved
my butt. I don't know if that's what won us the race, but it definitely
didn't hurt," Kruseman admitted. "With the circumstances
the way they were,
last (Sunday) was a little disappointing. I was impatient and let a lapped
car cost me a race. My guys did a great job and gave me the same race car
tonight and we were able to capitalize on it." Kirby never could mount a
challenge that might have prevented Kruseman from gathering his 44th career SCRA
win.
In fact, Mitchell passed Kirby after the restart. Kirby later slipped back
into the second spot on lap 24, but would then have to contend with a charging
Danny Sheridan. Coming from the 14th starting position, Sheridan
moved the Tom & Lauri Sertich / Jan's Health Bar No. 92 Buckley into the
second position on lap 29.
Kirby battled back and earned a second place finish after a nice move on the
last corner of the last lap. Either way, engine builder Richard Catton (RC
Performance) had to be pleased to see his motors occupy the top-three
positions. Mitchell came home fourth to earn his first top-five SCRA
finish. Rip Williams started 18th and powered the Sharon Jory / Vista
Paint No. 3 Gambler into fifth on lap 26. As good as Williams' drive was,
Jeremy Sherman's 22nd to sixth run won him the TW Metals Hard Charger Award.
###
SCRA RACE #14 - PERRIS AUTO
SPEEDWAY, PERRIS, CA
Date of Race: 06/02/01
SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS
1. Troy Rutherford, Ojai CA, Gardner, Jr 4 , 16.883 2, Mike English,
Norwalk CA, Priestley 7 , 16.927 3. Kevin White, Anaheim CA, White
43 , 16.944 4. Charles Davis, Jr, Chandler AZ, Morales 94, 16.960 5.
George Gervais, Mira Loma CA, Gervais 9, 17.085 6. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance
CA, M&B Racing 5X ,
17.145 7. Adam Mitchell, Escondido CA, Mitchell 99, 17.273 8. Verne
Sweeney, Lomita CA, Sweeney 98, 17.277 9. Rodney Argo, Hawthorne CA, Argo
19 , 17.302 10. Cory Kruseman, Ventura CA, Willis 45 , 17.308 11.
Jack DeArmond, Jr., Corona CA, DeArmond, Sr. 24 , 17.317 12. John Scott,
Hesperia CA, Scott Mtrsprts 83, 17.404 13. Mark Nation, Los Olivos CA,
Nation 3N , 17.417 14. Brian Venard, Tustin CA, Venard, 47 , 17.436
15. Keith Williamson, Pomona CA, Williamson 95 , 17.442 16. Richard
Griffin, Silver
City NM, Chaffin 50 , 17.465 17. Rick Becker, (R) Highland CA, Becker 67 ,
17.495 18. Bobby Graham, Riverside CA, Silver State 14 , 17.507 19.
Mike Kirby, Lomita CA, M&B Racing 5 , 17.565 20. Danny Sheridan, Santa
Maria CA, Sertich 92 , 17.609 21. Tony Everhart, El Cajon CA, Everhart 55,
17.656 22.
Steve Ostling, Corona CA, Fischer Mtrspts 29, 17.686 23. Lance Gremett,
San Marcos CA, Gremett 85, 17.690 24. Mike Spencer, (R) Temecula CA,
Engstrom 44, 17.715 25. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda CA, Jory 3, 17.724
26. Jeremy Ellerson, Hermosa Beach CA, Ellerton 98X, 17.808 27. Dan
Hillberg, Whittier CA, Hillberg 82, 17.822 28. Jeff
Schildmeyer, (R) Alpine CA, Ball 87 , 17.829 29. Jordan Hermansader, Long
Beach CA, Pratt 12 , 17.891 30. Wiley Miller, (R) Yorba Linda CA, Miller
75 , 17.903 31. Marc Hart, Ventura CA, Hart 15 , 17.920 32. Chris Rahe,
Corona CA, Rahe 51 , 17.931 33. John Franklin, Huntington Bch. CA.,
Franklin 20 , 17.938 34. Steve Venard, Silverado CA, Glover 49 , 17.948
35. Casey Shuman, Tempe AZ., Lake Mtrsprts 6 , 17.950 36. Michael
Hinrichsen, (R) Lakeside CA, Lake Mtrsprts. 16 , 17.953 37. Tony Jones,
Corona CA, Gardner Mtrspts 4X , 17.990 38. Charlie Ekiss, La Mesa CA, Ball
78 , 18.147 39. Jeremy Sherman, Phoenix AZ, Ellis 21 , 18.190 40.
Dan Tedrick, Hesperia CA, Tedrick 88 , 18.520 41. Glenn
Crossno, (R) Alta Loma CA, Crossno 38, 18.638 42. Joe Winston, Laguna
Niguel CA, Winston, Sr. 58 , 18.714 43. Jon Robertson, Torrance CA, Gaunt
Const. 40, 19.236 44. Jimmy Gardner, (R) Garden Grove CA, Gardner Jr 96,
No Time
C FEATURE
1. Steve Venard. 2. Jeremy Sherman. 3. Tony Jones. 4. Michael Hinrichsen. 5.
Charlie Ekiss. 6. Casey Shuman. 7. John Franklin. 8. Dan Tedrick. 9. Glenn
Crossno. 10. Joe Winston. 11. Jon Robertson.
HEDMAN HEDDERS HEAT 1
1. Rip Williams, 2. Jordan Hermansader, 3. Troy Rutherford, 4. Rodney Argo, 5.
George Gervais, 6. Mark Nation, 7. Rick Becker, 8. Steve Venard, 9. Tony
Everhart,
SHAVER ENGINES HEAT 2
1. Cory Kruseman, 2. Steve Ostling, 3. Brian Venard, 4. Jeremy Sherman, 5. Bobby
Graham, 6. Wiley Miller, 7. Jeremy Ellerson, 8. Rickie Gaunt, 9. Mike English,
KSE PRODUCTS HEAT 3
1. Marc Hart, 2. Mike Kirby, 3. Lance Gremett, 4. Tony Jones, 5. Adam Mitchell,
6. Dan Hillberg, 7. Kevin White, 8. Keith Williamson, 9. Jack DeArmond, Jr.,
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS HEAT 4
1. Danny Sheridan, 2. John Scott, 3. Richard Griffin, 4. Charles Davis, Jr, 5.
Michael Hinricbsen, 6. Mike Spencer, 7. Verne Sweeney, 8. Chris Rahe, 9. Jeff
Schildmeyer,
JE PISTONS DASH
1. Cory Kruseman. 2. John Scott, 3. Brian Venard. 4. Charles Davis, Jr. 5.
Rodney Argo. 6. Troy Rutherford. 7. Richard Griffin, 8. Mike Kirby.
JB ENTERPRISE B FEATURE
1. Rickie Gaunt. 2. Mike English. 3. Kevin White. 4. Adam
Mitchell. 5. Verne Sweeney. 6. Mike Spencer. 7. Bobby Graham. 8. Michael
Hinrichsen. 9. Keith Williamson. 10. Chris Rahe. 11. Rick Becker.
12. Jeff Schildmeyer. 13. Dan Hillberg. 14. Steve Venard. 15. Wiley
Miller. 16. Mark Nation. 17. Tony Everhart. 18. Jack DeArmond,
Jr. 19. Jeremy Ellerson. 20. George Gervais.
A FEATURE (30 Laps)
1. Cory Kruseman, 2. Mike Kirby, 3. Danny Sheridan, 4. Adam Mitchell. 5. Rip
Williams. 6, Jeremy Sherman. 7. Steve Ostling. 8. Richard Griffin. 9, Rodney
Argo. 10. Troy Rutherford. 11. Mike English. 12. Charles
Davis, Jr. 13. Rickie Gaunt. 14. Kevin White. 15. Tony Jones. 16.
Lance Gremett, 17. John Scott. 18. Jordan Hermansader. 19.
Brian Venard. 20. Marc Hart. 21. Mike Spencer. 22. Verne
Sweeney.
Laps Led: Kruseman 1-30
Point Standings as of: 06/02/01
1. 45 Cory Kruseman
Ventura CA 14 992
2. 50 Richard Griffin
Silver City NM 14 779
3. 4 Troy Rutherford
Ojai CA 14 775
4. 83 John Scott
Hesperia CA 14 713
5. 5 Mike Kirby
Lomita CA 14 711
6. 4X Tony Jones
Corona CA 14 710
7. 29 Steve Ostling
Corona CA 14 678
8. 3 Rip Williams
Yorba Linda CA 14 631
9. 7 Mike English
Norwalk CA 14 608
10. 5X Rickie Gaunt
Torrance CA 14 510
11. 94 Charles Davis, Jr Chandler AZ 14
500
12. 92 Danny Sheridan
Santa Maria CA 14 444
13. 19 Rodney Argo Hawthorne CA
13 388
14. 11 Troy Cline
Santa Clarita CA 7 341
15. 21 Jeremy Sherman Phoenix AZ
7 335
16. 6 Casey Shuman
Tempe AZ 14 288
17. 17 Greg DeCaires
Elk Grove CA 12 283
18. 99 Adam Mitchell
Escondido CA 14 247
19. 33 Hank Winter Tucson AZ
13 234
20. 85 Lance Gremett
San Marcos CA 14 220
21. 16 Michael Hinrichsen (R) Lakeside CA14
215
22. 47 Brian Venard
Tustin CA 12 212
23. 9 George Gervais
Mira Loma CA 13 194
24. 84 Alex Grigoreas
Chino CA 9 188
25. 14 Bobby Graham
Riverside CA 12 173
26. 98 Verne Sweeney
Lomita CA 11 157
27. 15 Marc Hart
Ventura CA 9 135
28. 8 Bob Ream Jr
Glendale AZ 4 131
29. 16X Jimmy May
Ventura CA 8 127
30. 44 Mike Spencer
(R) Temecula CA 14 120
31. 69 Jarrett Chaney
Clovis CA 7 115
32. 25 Gary W. Howard Fontana CA
8 107
33. 138 Ronnie Clark
(R) Tucson AZ 13 100
34. 7T Greg Taylor
(R) Ojai CA 6 99
35. 43 Kevin White
Anaheim CA 6 97
36. 62 Tracy Hines
New Castle IN 2 90
37. 60A J.J. Yeley
Phoenix AZ 3 89
38. 26 Derek Davidson
Lafayette IN 2 86
39. 12 Jordan Hermansader Long Beach CA
6 81
40. 5X Tony Elliott
Kokomo IN 2 69
41. 7X Jay Drake
Val Verde CA 2 64
42. 12A Jerry Coons, Jr Tucson AZ
2 58
43. 95 Keith Williamson Pomona CA
7 54
44. 35 Rick Ziehl
Las Cruces NM 4 48
45. 29 Michael Smith
Trona CA 6 44