PERRIS, CA, July 28 --   Cory Kruseman won his tenth Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) main event of the season Saturday at the Perris Auto Speedway.  The evening  was marred by an earlier accident that critically injured George Gervais.  

Gervais was battling hard with Jordan Hermansader for the final transfer spot in the second heat race when the two drivers touched wheels on the final lap vaulting the popular 40 year-old driver into a vicious series of flips along the backstraight.  Still unconscious when he arrived at Moreno Valley Hospital, Gervais' condition was listed as critical, but was said to be stable.  

"Our thoughts right now are with George and his family," Kruseman said. "He's one of our true racers and part of our family.  No one likes to see anyone crash,  especially a guy like George, who's always out here shaking hands and doing anything he can to help people.  Our hearts are pretty heavy right now."

Mike Kirby and Charles Davis, Jr. shared the front row for the start of the 30 lap main event with Kruseman starting in the third position.  After a big wheelie coming down to accept the green flag, Davis and dove low hoping to win the race to the bottom of turn one.  Not anticipating Davis' move, Kirby was forced to pitch the car sideways in an attempt to scrub off speed.  Even though contact was unavoidable at this point, both men recovered quickly enough that they did not trigger a bigger mishap amongst the 20 cars behind them.  

The opening lap was scored with Davis out front followed by Kirby, Kruseman, Jarrett Chaney and Rickie Gaunt.  Davis and Kirby nearly tangled again on the front straight coming down to complete lap two.  Less than a lap later, Kirby passed Davis going down the back straight to put the Alexander-Geurin / Statewide Towing No. 5 Stinger into the lead.  One lap later, Davis switched to the top and was passed by Kruseman and Chaney.      

"I didn't really know what all happened there because it all happened so fast," Kruseman recalled of the start.  "Unfortunately, we kind of lost some ground there, but we ended up getting into second pretty quick.  Kirby was fast and he figured the track out quicker than I did.  Luckily, I was able to follow him for a while and figure out where I was good.  I knew everything would change, anyway, once we got into lapped traffic, so we just kind of waited."

Using several different lines, Kruseman slowly nipped away at Kirby's once comfortable lead.  Kruseman took his first stab at the lead on lap 13, but Kirby was able to keep the Harlan Willis / WorldGate Networks No. 45 TCR in the runner-up spot.  Three circuits later, Kirby slipped a little wide exiting turn four and Kruseman pounced on the opportunity to take the lead. 

Kruseman reached heavy lapped traffic ten laps from the finish and found himself stuck behind several lapped cars jostling for position.  Although he had patiently waited for his opening, Kruseman seemed to sense that Kirby was now on his tail tank.  Deciding that he was done waiting for an opening, Kruseman aggressively made one for himself on the 25th lap.     

"We had been running back east all week and things hadn't been going too good, so I figured it was time to get some elbows up and say excuse me we're going to the front," Kruseman said referring to the moves he used to put himself ahead of a few slower cars.  "We didn't touch anybody, but they ran a lot of laps side-by-side and looked like they were going to keep doing it.  I know they're racing for position, but so am I and we just had to get in there and do what we had to do."     

Kruseman went on to score his fourth straight SCRA win at Perris as Kirby came across the line in second place.  Substituting for SCRA Champion Richard Griffin, who was injured in a work related accident ten days ago, Tony Jones started seventh and drove the Ron Chaffin / Arizona Race Mart No. 50 Jon Boy to a third place finish. 
In victory lane, Kruseman praised Jones for his performance and shared some of his feeling about the man who had been challenging him the closest for this year's SCRA driving title.     

"Tony Jones did a great job in the 50 car.  It's too bad for the fans that Richard Griffin had that accident and that he'll miss some races because he's probably the best guy out here.  I'm disappointed for Richard because he's not only a great race car driver and someone we look up too, but he's a friend."

Gaunt finished fourth ahead of Sander Engineering Fast Qualifier Troy Rutherford who was driving a brand new Gardner Motorsports built Sled chassis.  Danny Sheridan earned his fifth T.W. Metals Hard Charger Award of the year with his 18th to ninth place drive. 

Kevin White set the tone for what would be a crash marred evening when his spectacular flip in time trials resulted in his car precariously hanging from the top of the turn one catch fence.  White was shaken, but managed to unbuckle himself and climb down from the fence that was still suspending an estimated 20 feet in the air.     
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SCRA RACE #24 - PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY, PERRIS, CA
Date of Race: 07/28/01

SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS
1. Troy Rutherford, Ojai CA, Gardner, Jr 4 , 16.640 2. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance CA, M&B Racing, 5X , 16.851 3. Jarrett Chaney, Clovis CA, Chaney 69 , 17.013 4. Cory Kruseman, Ventura CA, Willis 45 , 17.153 5. John Scott, Hesperia CA.,Scott Mtrsprts 83 , 17.198 6. Charles Davis, Jr, Chandler AZ, Morales 94 , 17.202  7. Mike Kirby, Lomita CA.,M&B Racing 5 , 17.293  8. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda CA, Jory 3 17.320  9. Mike Spencer, (R) Temecula CA., Engstrom 44 , 17.328  10. Tony Jones, Corona CA, Chaffin 50 17.385  11. Larry Brown,
Bakersfield CA., Brown 36 , 17.385 12. Charlie Ekiss, La Mesa CA, Ball 78 , 17.490 13. Troy Cline, Santa Clarita CA, Cheney. 21J , 17.494 14.  Verne Sweeney, Lomita CA, Sweeney 98 , 17,515 15.  Alex Grigoreas, Chino CA, Keene 84, 17.552  16. Michael Hinrichsen, (R) Lakeside CA, Lake Mtrsprts. 16, 17.573  17.  Keith Williamson, Pomona CA, Williamson 95 , 17.574 18.  Jordan Hermansader, Long Beach CA, Pratt 12 , 17.595 19. Tom Downing, Lakewood CA, Downing 90 , 17.655  20. Lance Gremett, San Marcos CA, Gremett 85, 17.696 21.  Gary W. Howard, Fontana CA, Ruth 25., 17.743  22. Jeff Schildmeyer, (R) Alpine CA, Ball 87 , 17.765  23. Adam Mitchell, Escondido CA, Mitchell 99, 17.794  24. Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria CA, Sertich 92 , 17.807  25. Glenn Crossno, (R) Alta Loma CA, Crossno 38, 17.897  26. Hank Winter, Tucson AZ,
Winter 33 , 17.897  27.  Tony Lima, Industry CA, Lima 30 , 17.900  28. Jimmy Gardner, (R) Garden Grove CA, Gardner Jr 96 , 17.908  29. Marc Hart, Ventura CA, Hart 15 , 17.942  30. Ronnie Clark, (R) Tucson AZ, Winter 138 , 17.983 31. Rodney Argo, Gardena CA, Argo 19 , 17.997  32. Steve Venard, Silverado CA. ,Glover 49, 18.011  33. Dan Tedrick, Hesperia CA, Tedrick 88 , 18.122 34. Jeremy Ellerson, Hermosa Beach CA., Ellerton 98X , 18.138   35. Bobby Graham, Riverside CA, Silver State 14 , 18.252  36. Cal Smith, Montclair CA.,
Pratt 39, 18.265  37. Danny Miller, Yorba Linda CA, Miller 75 , 18.290 38. Chris Rahe, Corona CA,  Rahe 51 , 18.333  39. Brian Venard, Tustin CA, Venard. 47 , 18.403 40.  Bobby Cody, Costa Mesa CA, Cody 41 , 18.424   41. Steve Ostling, Corona CA, Fischer Mtrspts 29 , 18.433  42. Greg Giardina, Riverside CA, Giardina 59 , 18.437  43. Mel Murphy, Riverside CA, Murphy 62 , 18.478  44. George Gervais, Mira Loma CA, Gervais 9 , 18.633   45. Tony Everhart, El Cajon CA, Everhart 55 , 18.738  46. Steve Koster, (R) El Cajon CA, Koster 42 , 18.827  47. Jack DeArmond, Jr., Corona CA, DeArmond, Sr. 24 , 19.272  48. Kevin White, Anaheim CA, White 43, No Time

C  FEATURE
1. Bobby Graham. 2. George Gervais. 3. Dan Tedrick. 4. Steve Ostling. 5. Cal Smith. 6. Jeremy Ellerson. 7. Brian Venard. 8. Chris Rahe. 9. Jack DeArmond, Jr.. 10.  Mel Murphy. 11.  Bobby Cody. 12.  Danny Miller.  13. Tony Everhart. 14. Steve Koster. 15.  Greg Giardina

HEDDMAN HEADERS HEAT 1 
1. Marc Hart, 2. Gary W. Howard, 3. Troy Rutherford, 4. Troy Cline, 5. Mike Spencer, 6. John Scott, 7. Glenn Crossno, 8. Bobby Graham, 9. Keith Williamson,

SHAVER ENGINE HEAT 2 
1. Charles Davis, Jr, 2. Rickie Gaunt, 3. Tony Jones, 4. Verne Sweeney, 5. Hank Winter, 6. Jordan Hermansader,
7. Ronnie Clark, 8. George Gervais, 9. Jeff Schildmeyer,

KSE PRODUCTS HEAT 3 
1. Rodney Argo, 2, Mike Kirby, 3. Adam Mitchell, 4. Jarrett Chaney, 5. Larry Brown, 6. Alex Grigoreas, 7. Tom Downing, 8. Tony Lima, 9. Dan Tedrick,

SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS HEAT 4
1. Cory Kruseman, 2. Danny Sheridan, 3. Steve Venard, 4. Michael Hinrichsen, 5. Charlie Ekiss, 6. Steve Ostling, 7. Jimmy Gardner, 8. Lance Gremett, 9. Rip Williams,

JB ENTERPRISE B FEATURE
1. John Scott. 2.   Larry Brown. 3. Jordan Hermansader. 4. Mike Spencer. 5. Bobby Graham. 6. Lance Gremett. 7. Ronnie Clark. 8. Alex Grigoreas. 9. Keith Williamson. 10.  Tony Lima. 11. Tom Downing. 12.  Jimmy Gardner.
13. Glenn Crossno. 14. Rip Williams, 15.  Hank Winter. 16.  Jeff Schildmeyer. 17.  Steve Ostling, 18. Charlie Ekiss. 19. Dan Tedrick,

A FEATURE (30 Laps)
1. Cory Kruseman. 2. Mike Kirby. 3. Tony Jones, 4. Rickie Gaunt. 5. Troy Rutherford. 6. Troy Cline. 7. Charles Davis, Jr.  8. Jarrett Chaney.  9. Danny Sheridan. 10. Jordan Hermansader,  11. Marc Hart, 12. Mike Spencer.  
13. Larry Brown. 14.  Michael Hinrichsen. 15.  Rodney Argo. 16.  Gary W. Howard. 17.  Verne Sweeney.  18. Steve Venard. 19. Adam Mitchell,  20. Lance Gremett.  21. John Scott.  22. Bobby Graham.
Laps Led: Davis 1-2, Kirby 3-15, Kruseman 16-30

SCRA DRIVER POINT STANDINGS as of 7/28/01

    1.  45  Cory Kruseman           Ventura CA          24  1668
    2.  50  Richard Griffin         Silver City NM          23  1447
    3.  5   Mike Kirby              Lomita CA                24  1339
    4.  4   Troy Rutherford         Ojai CA                  24  1339
    5.  83  John Scott              Hesperia CA             24  1146
    6.  3   Rip Williams            Yorba Linda CA       24  1064
    7.  5X  Rickie Gaunt            Torrance CA          24  1047
    8.  29  Steve Ostling           Corona CA              24  1041
    9.  7   Mike English            Norwalk CA             23  1010
    10. 94  Charles Davis, Jr       Chandler AZ          24  895
    11. 92  Danny Sheridan          Santa Maria CA    24  863
    12. 50  Tony Jones              Corona CA              16  828
    13. 2IJ Troy Cline              Santa Clarita CA       15  662
    14. 19  Rodney Argo         Gardena CA              17  534
    15. 99  Adam Mitchell           Escondido CA        23  490
    16. 85  Lance Gremett           San Marcos CA      24  428
    17. 9   George Gervais          Mira Loma CA        23  426
    18. 12X Casey Shuman            Tempe AZ            19  419
    19. 16  Michael Hinrichsen  (R) Lakeside CA       24  397
    20. 17  Greg DeCaires           Elk Grove CA        14  368