SCRAFAN.COM - Press Release

PERRIS, CA, FEBRUARY 9, 2002 - J.J. Yeley conserved his tires until the end of the race and went on to win the Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) season opener at the Perris Auto Speedway. Yeley's 25 lap win marked the third time in his career that he has won the first SCRA race of the year (1997-'98-'02).

The victory had some historical significance since it was the first scheduled daytime race in club history. Yeley's no stranger to making history at Perris having won three of the first five SCRA events ever held at the track, including the inaugural race. Of those three wins, the last one came in May of 1996. Since then, Yeley has been held without a main event win at Perris.

"It's been a long time since I've won a race here and it's a lot of fun to come out here and run with SCRA," Yeley said after collecting his 17th career SCRA win. "I was in town for an Indy car thing at Fontana (California Speedway) and I was actually supposed to drive for Rickie Gaunt, but he had some motor problems and couldn't get the car ready in time. I called Jimmy Gardner, but he had a full slate. Lucky enough for me, Jimmy called Dwight Cheney and told him that I was available."

Cheney called Yeley and was rewarded with his first main event win. The win was especially satisfying for Chaney who was a driver with the SCRA until he elected to hang up his helmet in 1999 after a pair of wicked flips within a five day span (at Terre Haute and Knoxville).

Even though the Gardner Motorsports Team didn't have a ride for Yeley, their two drivers had a good showing. Troy Rutherford won the Sander Engineering Fast Time Award and Tony Elliott won the JE Pistons Dash to earn the pole for the main event. Elliott won the race to the bottom of turn one and led Charles Davis, Jr., Mike English, Yeley and Rutherford at the end of the opening lap.

Throughout the day, heavy winds and bright sunlight tortured the normally tacky Perris clay. The result was an inordinate amount of caution flags during the qualifying races leading up to the main event. Unfortunately, the main event provided more of the same. The first caution flag of the race was a red one after Michael Hinrichsen flipped exiting turn four on lap three. Danny Sheridan was unaware that the red light was on and took a nasty tumble along the back straight away after climbing another car's tire. Neither driver was hurt.

Elliott continued to lead after racing resumed as English pulled within striking distance of Davis for second place. English took his shot on lap seven and tried to beat Davis under braking as they approached turn three. Davis tried to hold his line, but contact with English sent him spinning hard into the wall.

English made a slight miscue on the restart, allowing Rutherford to move into the second spot. With a pair of Gardner Motorsports Sled's occupying the first two positions, Richard Griffin had the Ron Chaffin / Arizona Race Mart No. 50 Jon Boy up to sixth after starting 13th. As Rutherford began to close on his teammate, English saw his afternoon end after he clipped the turn two wall on the 16th circuit.

Two laps after the restart, Griffin drove around the outside of the Ferreira Dairy No. 87 Avenger driven by Tony Jones for fourth. After another caution period, Rutherford bicycled on the restart giving second to Yeley.

Since he hadn't abused his tires early in the race, Yeley knew he was going to be good for the final laps. Elliott, on the other hand, knew his tires weren't that good. Losing the lead to Yeley six laps from the finish, Elliott would eventually have to settle for a tenth place finish.

"I knew that tire management was going to be the big thing," Yeley later said. "We were really tight in the beginning and I was just trying to keep the car real straight. SCRA only allows you to run a certain type of tire and I knew it wasn't hard enough to last an entire race running hard. So, we just took it easy in the beginning and loosened the car up during the last couple of red flags and it definitely paid off at the end."

The last of those red flags came on lap 21 after Jeremy Sherman flipped after sliding wide and hitting the turn three wall. Sherman was not injured. From there, Yeley was able to keep his TCR Chassis ahead of Rutherford and Griffin giving the Billy & Anne Wilkerson / Paul & Helen Bagley sponsored car a popular victory.

Jones finished fourth ahead of the PACE Electonics No. 83 TCR driven by John Scott. Scott started 17th, but lost the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award to Damion Gardner who, in his SCRA debut, finished sixth after starting 19th. Mike Kirby had a noteworthy performance as well coming from 22nd to ninth.
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SCRA Race #1 Perris Auto Speedway, Perris, CA 2/9/02

SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS
1. Troy Rutherford, Ojai CA, Gardner Jr 96 , 17.872 2. Tony Jones, Garden Grove CA, Vermeer/Jones 87,   18.074 3. J.J. Yeley, Phoenix AZ, Cheney 21J , 18,074 4. Levi Jones, Olney IL, Crossno 38, 18.156 5. Cary Faas, Yorba Linda CA.,Faas 37 , 18.273 6. Tony Elliott, Kokomo IN, Gardner Jr 96X , 18.295   7. Verne Sweeney, Lomita CA, Sweeney 98 , 18.340 8. Bobby Graham, Riverside CA, Lancaster 14 , 18.350 9. Charles Davis, Jr, Buckeye AZ, Davis 94 , 18.438 10. Mike English, Norwalk CA, Jory 3X .,18.550 11. Greg Taylor, Ojai CA, Taylor 7T , 18.559 12. Jeremy Sherman, Phoenix AZ, Priestley 7, 18.696 13. Jarrett Chaney, Clovis CA, Chaney 69 , 18.768 14. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda CA, Jory 3, 18.867 15. Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria CA, DiDonato 57, 19.010 16. Jason Yount, Fresno CA, Yount 25X , 19.105 17. Richard Griffin, Silver City NM, Chaffin 50 19,138 18. Dan Hillberg, Whittier CA, Hillberg 82 , 19.178 19. Adam Mitchell, Escondido CA, Mitchell 99 , 19.182 20. Tony Everhart, El Cajon CA, Everhart 55, 19.270 21. Mike Spencer, Temecula CA, Engstrom 44 , 19.380 22. Jack DeArmond, Jr., Corona CA, DeArmond, Jr. 24, 19.408 23. Michael Hinrichsen, Lakeside CA, Lake Mtrsprts. 16, 19.430 24. Bobby Cody, Costa Mesa CA, Cody 41, 19.462 25. Mark Nation, Los Olivos CA, Nation 3N , 19.463 26. Brain Stansberry, El Cajon CA, Stansberry 77X , 19.542 27. John Scott, Hesperia CA, Scott Mtrsprts 83 , 19.615 28. Rodney Argo, Gardena CA, Argo 19 , 19.629 29. Damion Gardner, Concord CA, Gardner 20X , 19.635 30. John Aden, (R) Apple Valley CA, Aden 77 , 19.637 31. Tony Smiley, Buckeye AZ, Smiley 2 , 19.654 32. Steve Venard, Silverado CA, Glover 49 , 19.784 33. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance CA, Alexander 4, 19.839 34. Andy Forsberg, Auburn CA, Forsberg 192, 19.840 35. Steve Ostling, Corona CA, Fischer Mtrspts 29 , 19.940 36. Jordan Hermansader, Long Beach CA, Pratt 12, 20.219 37. Cory Kruseman, Ventura CA, Willis 1, 20.600 38. Mel Murphy, Woodcrest CA, Murphy 62 , 20.644 39. Mike Kirby, Lomita CA.,Geurin 5 , 20.792 40. Keith Williamson, Pomona CA, Williamson 95, 20.803 41. Tony Lima, Industry CA, Lima 30 , 20.862 42. Jeremy Ellertson, Hermosa Beach CA, Ellertson 98X , 20.865 43. Mark Heidenreich, (R) Upland CA, Heidenreich 2X , 22.076 44. Ben Astenious, Tucson AZ, Astenues 23A , 22,161 45. David Sinsley, Torrance CA, Sinsley 69X .,25,287 45. 46. Gary W. Howard, Fontana CA, Ruth 25, No Time

C FEATURE
1. Rickie Gaunt. 2. Steve Ostling. 3.   Cory Kruseman. 4. Mike Kirby. 5. Jordan Hermansader. 6. Andy Forsberg. 7. Mel Murphy. 8. Keith Williamson. 9. Mark Heidenreich. 10. Tony Lima. 11. Jeremy Ellertson. 12. David Sinsley,

HEDMAN HEDDERS HEAT #1
1. Richard Griffin, 2. Troy Rutherford, 3. Damion Gardner, 4. Charles Davis, Jr, 5. Cary Faas, 6. Rickie Gaunt, 7. Jarrett Chaney, 8. Mike Spencer, 9. Mark Nation,

SHAVER ENGINES HEAT #2
1. Tony Jones, 2. Rip Williams, 3. Tony Elliott, 4. Mike English, 5. Jack DeArmond, Jr., 6. Dan Hillberg, 7. John Aden, 8. Brain Stansberry, 9. Steve Ostling,

SPIN TECH MUFFLERS HEAT #3
1. J.J. Yeley, 2. Tony Smiley, 3. Michael Hinrichsen, 4. John Scott, S. Cory Kruseman, 6. Danny Sheridan, 7. Greg Taylor, 8. Verne Sweeney, 9, Adam Mitchell,

STINGER CHASSIS HEAT #4
1. Rodney Argo, 2. Bobby Cody, 3. Levi Jones, 4. Jeremy Sherman, 5. Mike Kirby, 6. Bobby Graham, 7. Tony Everhart, 8. Jason Yount, 9. Steve Venard,

JE PISTONS DASH
1. Tony Elliott. 2. Charles Davis, Jr. 3. J,J. Yeley. 4. Mike English. 5. Troy Rutherford. 6. Tony Jones. 7. Levi Jones. 8. Jeremy Sherman.

B FEATURE
1. Cary Faas. 2. Bobby Graham. 3. Danny Sheridan. 4. Mike Kirby. 5. Cory Kruseman. 6. Dan Hillberg. 7. Greg Taylor, 8. Mike Spencer. 9. Rickie Gaunt. 10. Jack DeArmond, Jr., 11. John Aden. 12, Mark Nation. 13. Tony Everhart. 14. Steve Ostling. 15. Jason Yount. 16. Verne Sweeney. 17. Jarrett Chaney.

A FEATURE (25 Laps)
1. J.J. Yeley, 2. Troy Rutherford. 3. Richard Griffin. 4, Tony Jones. 5. John Scott. 6. Damion Gardner. 7. Levi Jones. 8. Bobby Graham. 9. Mike Kirby. 10. Tony Elliott. 11. Rip Williams. 12. Bobby Cody. 13. Tony Smiley. 14. Dan Hillberg, 15. Cory Kruseman. 16. Cary Faas. 17. Jeremy Sherman. 18. Rodney Argo. 19. Michael Hinrichsen. 20. Mike English. 21. Charles Davis, Jr, 22. Danny Sheridan.
Laps Led: Elliott 1-19, Yeley 20-25

SCRA DRIVERS points as of 2/9/02
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CAR     NAME             HOMETOWN                       STARTS/ POINTS
    1. 21J J.J. Yeley Phoenix AZ 1   78
    2. 96 Troy Rutherford Ojai CA 1   76
    3. 87 Tony Jones Garden Grove CA 1   70
    4. 50 Richard Griffin Silver City NM 1   64
    5. 38 Levi Jones Olney IL    1   57
    6. 83 John Scott Hesperia CA 1   55
    7. 14 Bobby Graham    Riverside CA    1   43
    8. 96X Tony Elliott    Kokomo IN   1   41
    9. 3   Rip Williams    Yorba Linda CA 1   40
    10. 5   Mike Kirby Lomita CA   1   38
    11. 41 Bobby Cody Costa Mesa CA   1   38
    12. 2   Tony Smiley Buckeye AZ 1   36
    13. 19 Rodney Argo Gardena CA 1   27
    14. 7   Jeremy Sherman Phoenix AZ 1   26
    15. 37 Cary Faas   Yorba Linda CA 1   26
    16. 82 Dan Hillberg    Whittier CA 1   26
    17. 1   Cory Kruseman   Ventura CA 1   24
    18. 16 Michael Hinrichsen Lakeside CA 1   23
    19. 3X Mike English    Norwalk CA 1   20
    20. 94 Charles Davis, Jr   Buckeye AZ 1   18
    21. 57 Danny Sheridan Santa Maria CA 1   12
    22. 7T Greg Taylor Ojai CA 1   10
    23. 44 Mike Spencer    Temecula CA 1   9
    24. 4   Rickie Gaunt    Torrance CA 1   8
    25. 24 Jack DeArmond, Jr. Corona CA   1   7
    26. 77 John Aden   (R)Apple Valley CA 1   6
    27. 3N Mark Nation Los Olivos CA   1   5
    28. 55 Tony Everhart   El Cajon CA 1   4
    29. 29 Steve Ostling   Corona CA   1   3
    30. 98 Verne Sweeney   Lomita CA   1   1

SCRA OWNERS points as of 2/9/02
    1. 96 Jack Gardner Jr Orange CA   76
    2. 87 Vermeer/Jones   Glen Avon CA    70
    3. 50 Ron Chaffin Madera CA   64
    4. 38 Carol Crossno   Alta Loma CA    57
    5. 83 John Scott Mtrsprts Hesperia CA 55
    6. 14 Linda Lancaster Las Vegas NV    43
    7. 3   Sharon Jory Villa Park CA   40
    8. 41 Bobby Cody Costa Mesa CA   38
    9. 5   Brad/Nancy Geurin   Lomita CA   38
    10. 2   Tony Smiley Buckeye AZ 36
    11. 19 Don Argo    El Segundo CA   27
    12. 37 Cary Faas   Yorba Linda CA 26
    13. 82 Rhonda Hillberg Whittier CA 26
    14. 7   Mark Priestley Yorba Linda CA 26
    15. 1   Harlan Willis   Ojai CA 24
    16. 16 Lake Mtrsprts.. Lakeside CA 23
    17. 94 Gayle Davis Chandler AZ 18
    18. 57 Ron DiDonato    Mission Viejo CA    12
    19. 44 Hal Engstrom    Valley Center CA    9
    20. 4   Mark Alexander Torrance CA 8
    21. 24 Jack DeArmond, Jr. Corona CA   7
    22. 77 John Aden   Apple Valley CA 6
    23. 55 Tony Everhart   El Cajon CA 4
    24. 29 Fischer Mtrspts Costa Mesa CA   3
    25. 98 Verne Sweeney   Lomita CA   1     0

JE PISTONS PASSING MASTERS DASH Point Standings as of: 02/09/02
CAR          NAME                 HOMETOWN                   POINTS

    1. 3X Mike English        Norwalk CA      7
    2. 2IJ J.J. Yeley      Phoenix AZ      3
    3. 96X Tony Elliott        Kokomo IN       3
    4. 96 Troy Rutherford     Ojai CA         3
    5. 7   Jeremy Sherman      Phoenix AZ      1
    6. 87 Tony Jones      Garden Grove CA 1
    7. 94 Charles Davis, Jr Buckeye AZ      1
    8. 38 Levi Jones      Olney IL        1