PERRIS, CA, September 22 --    Cory Kruseman established a new single season record Saturday at the Perris Auto Speedway when he drove the Harlan Willis / WorldGate Networks No. 45 TCR to his 14th Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) win of the year.

Kruseman set the new mark just 32 races into the season.  Along the way, "The Kruser" has led 364 main event laps and posted 27 top-five finishes, while leading the SCRA points standings since the first race of the year.  

"It's been a heck of a year for us," said Kruseman.  "My goal at the beginning of the year was to win seven main events, but once we got to six wins so quickly I made 14 my goal just because it was the record.  I really didn't think it would be possible, but it just goes to show how good of a job my guys do."

Kruseman's year long assault on the SCRA record books has been more like a year long assault on Rip Williams' records.  Saturday's win erased Williams' 1997 mark for SCRA victories in a season.  In winning his 11th SCRA race of the year at Perris, Kruseman broke another 1997 record held by Williams.  In addition, Kruseman now finds himself tied with Williams for all-time SCRA wins at Perris with 30.

With JE Pistons Dash winner John Scott and Danny Sheridan on the front row, Kruseman occupied the fifth starting spot on the grid for the 30 lap feature race.  Jockeying for an advantage, Scott and Sheridan were extremely close together, and may have actually touched, coming down to accept the green flag.  The initial started was scrubbed after last week's winner, Tony Jones, spun exiting turn four forcing a complete restart.  Still posturing for the best line to start the race, Scott tangled with Sheridan in turn three and spun to a stop even before the green had a chance to wave again.  Scott re-fired and eventually finished seventh after starting at the rear.

Williams assumed the pole position for the restart.  Kruseman benefited, as well, and moved up to the inside of the second row.  Sheridan beat Williams into turn one on the start giving the Tom & Lauri Sertich / Jan's Health Bar No. 92 Buckley the lead.  Kruseman passed Williams exiting two and ran second at the end of the opening lap ahead of Williams, Richard Griffin and Troy Rutherford.

One lap later, Griffin moved the Ron Chaffin / Madera Produce No. 50 Jon Boy ahead of Williams.  Sheridan appeared to miss his line heading into turn one on lap five and Kruseman was in perfect position to take advantage of it.  Kruseman's pass for the lead was negated, however, by another turn four yellow flag for an incident involving Jones, Mike Spencer and Steve Venard. Sheridan took back the lead for the restart only to have Kruseman pass him going down the back straight.                     

"He was missing it a little getting into turn one and was getting into the middle which was causing him to lose a little bit of time," Kruseman recalled.  "He was definitely fast at the end of the straight-aways and I wasn't real sure what I was going to do to get by him.  He just got in a little high, I had a good run, and it just kind of worked out for us."

The restart seemed costly for Williams after he hit the restart cone on the back straight.  Williams' two-car penalty, which dropped him to sixth, was enforced during a lap six caution period for a Lance Gremett spin.  On the restart, Steve Ostling was clipped by another car and flipped in turn three. Ostling was not hurt. 

As if the penalty lit a fire under him, Williams quickly worked his way forward once racing resumed.  By the 16th circuit, Williams had moved ahead of Sheridan for the second spot and appeared to be the only driver to have
anything for Kruseman. 

Overall, it has been a difficult season for Williams even though he's finished second in the last two events.  Williams saw his hard luck continue on lap 18 when a U-joint broke going down the back straight.  Fortunately, Williams was not hurt. 

With Williams in the pit area, Kruseman, completed the remainder of the race without a serious challenge.  In addition to winning his 51st career SCRA main event, Kruseman started the evening by winning his third Sander Engineering Fast Time Award of the year.  Sheridan had another impressive showing earning his third career SCRA runner-up finish.  Rutherford finished closely behind Sheridan giving the Jack Gardner, Jr. / Shaver Engines No. 4 Sled it's 14th top-five finish of the season. 

After starting tenth,  Rickie Gaunt passed Griffin coming down to accept the white flag and finished fourth in the Alexander-Geurin / Statewide Towing No. 5x Stinger.  Adam Mitchell finished sixth behind Griffin.  Australian Peter Murphy took the wing off his car and won the TW Metals Hard Charger Award with a 19th to eighth place run.
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SCRA RACE #32 - PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY, PERRIS, CA
Date of Race: 09/22/01

SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS
1. Cory Kruseman, Ventura CA, Willis 45 , 16.328 2. Troy Rutherford, Ojai CA, Gardner, Jr  4 , 16.347  3. Richard Griffin, Silver City NM, Chaffin 50, 16.363  4. Charles Davis, Jr, Chandler AZ, Morales 94 , 16.587  5. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance CA, M&B Racing 5X , 16.592  6. Mike English, Norwalk CA, Priestley 7, 16.603  7. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda CA, Jory 3 , 16.644  8. Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria CA, Sertich 92, 16.690  9. Tony Jones, Corona CA, Wall 37 , 16.693  10.  John Scott, Hesperia CA, Scott Mtrsprts 83 , 16.752 11. Lance Gremett, San Marcos CA, Gremett 85, 16.755  12. Gary W. Howard, Fontana CA, Ruth 25, 16.778  13. Adam Mitchell, Escondido CA, Mitchell 99, 16.832  14. Jarrett Chaney, Clovis CA, Chaney 69, 16.883  15. Mike Spencer, (R) Temecula CA, Engstrom 44 , 16.883  16. Verne Sweeney, Lomita CA, Sweeney 98, 16.938  17. Steve Ostling, Corona CA, Fischer Mtrspts 29 , 16.990 18. Brian Venard, Tustin CA, Venard. 47, 17.014  19. Michael Hinrichsen, (R) Lakeside CA, Lake Mtrsprts. 16, 17.095  20. Rodney Argo, Gardena CA, Argo 19 , 17.106  21. Mike Kirby, Lomita CA, M&B Racing 5, 17.126  22. Peter Murphy, Sidney Aus., Williams 0 , 17.168  23. Mark Nation, Los Olivos CA, Nation  3N, 17.183  24. Steve Venard, Silverado CA, Glover 49 , 17.207  25. Ronnie Clark, (R) Tucson AZ, Winter 33, 17.225  26. Jordan Hermansader, Long Beach CA, Pratt 12 , 17.227  27. Keith Williamson, Pomona CA, Williamson 95 , 17.295  28. Jack DeArmond, Jr., Corona CA, DeArmond, Sr. 24, 17.305  29. Bobby Graham, Riverside CA, Lancaster 14 , 17.331  30. Mel Murphy, Riverside CA, Murphy 62 , 17.467  31. Dan Hillberg, Whittier CA, Hillberg 82 , 17.474 32. Charlie Ekiss, La Mesa CA, Ball 78 , 17.569  33. Steve Koster, (R) El Cajon CA, Koster 42 , 17.780  34. Tony Everhart, El Cajon CA, Everhart 55 , 17.939  35. Glenn Crossno, (R) Alta Loma CA, Crossno 38 , 18.115  36. Jimmy Gardner, (R) Garden Grove CA, Gardner Jr 96 18.601  37. Rick Becker, (R) Highland CA, Becker 67, No Time 

C FEATURE
1. Mel Murphy. 2. Bobby Graham. 3. Dan Hillberg. 4. Tony Everhart, 5. Steve Koster. 6. Jimmy Gardner. 7. Glenn Crossno.

HEDMAN HEDDERS HEAT 1
1. Mike Kirby, 2. Steve Ostling, 3. Adam Mitchell, 4. Cory Kruseman, 5. Rickie Gaunt, 6. Tony Jones,  7. Mel Murphy,  8. Ronnie Clark, 

SHAVER ENGINES HEAT 2
1. Peter Murphy, 2. Jordan Hermansader, 3. John Scott, 4. Troy Rutherford, 5. Jarrett Chaney, 6. Mike English, 7. Bobby Graham, 8. Brian Venard,

KSE PRODUCTS HEAT 3 
1. Rip Williams, 2. Richard Griffin, 3. Mike Spencer, 4. Mark Nation, 5. Michael Hinrichsen, 6. Lance Gremett, 7. Dan Hillberg, 8. Keith Williamson,

SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS HEAT 4 
1. Rodney Argo, 2. Steve Venard, 3, Danny Sheridan, 4. Gary W. Howard, 5. Charlie Ekiss, 6. Jack DeArmond, Jr., 7. Charles Davis, Jr, 8. Verne Sweeney,
 

JE PISTONS DASH
1. John Scott, 2. Danny Sheridan. 3. Rip Williams. 4. Richard Griffin. 5. Cory Kruseman. 6. Troy Rutherford.  7. Gary W. Howard.  8. Adam Mitchell.

JB ENTERPRISE B FEATURE
1. Rickie Gaunt. 2. Tony Jones, 3. Jarrett Chaney. 4. Mike English. 5. Charles Davis, Jr, 6. Lance Gremett. 7. Brian Venard. 8. Michael Hinrichsen. 9. Bobby Graham. 10.  Ronnie Clark. 11. Keith Williamson. 12. Dan Hillberg. 13. Mel Murphy. 14. Charlie Ekiss. 15. Verne Sweeney. 16. Jack DeArmond, Jr.

A FEATURE (30 Laps)
1. Cory Kruseman. 2. Danny Sheridan. 3. Troy Rutherford. 4. Rickie Gaunt, 5. Richard Griffin. 6. Adam Mitchell. 7. John Scott.  8. Peter Murphy. 9. Mike English. 10.  Mike Kirby. 11.  Lance Gremett, 12.  Rodney Argo. 13. Mark Nation. 14.  Steve Venard. 15.  Charles Davis, Jr. 16.  Jarrett Chaney. 17. Rip Williams. 18. Gary W. Howard. 19. Steve Ostling. 20.  Jordan Hermansader. 21.  Tony Jones. 22, Mike Spencer. 
Laps Led: Sheridan 1-4, Kruseman 5-30

SCRA DRIVER POINT STANDINGS as of 9/22/01
CAR            NAME                   HOMETOWN            STARTS POINTS
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    1.  45  Cory Kruseman       Ventura CA          32  2219
    2.  50  Richard Griffin     Silver City NM      30  1910
    3.  4   Troy Rutherford     Ojai CA             32  1872
    4.  5   Mike Kirby          Lomita CA           32  1727
    5.  83  John Scott          Hesperia CA     32  1656
    6.  5X  Rickie Gaunt        Torrance CA     32  1472
    7.  3   Rip Williams        Yorba Linda CA      32  1470
    8.  29  Steve Ostling       Corona CA           31  1359
    9.  7   Mike English        Norwalk CA          31  1330
    10. 94  Charles Davis, Jr   Chandler AZ     31  1202
    11. 92  Danny Sheridan      Santa Maria CA      31  1101
    12. 37  Tony Jones          Corona CA           21  1055
    13. 21J Troy Cline          Santa Clarita CA    19  870
    14. 19  Rodney Argo     Gardena CA      24  820
    15. 85  Lance Gremett       San Marcos CA       32  667
    16. 99  Adam Mitchell       Escondido CA        28  641
    17. 16  Michael Hinrichsen  (R) Lakeside CA 32  593
    18. 69  Jarrett Chaney      Clovis CA           17  501
    19. 14  Bobby Graham        Riverside CA        23  477
    20. 33  Ronnie Clark        (R) Tucson AZ       31  458