PERRIS, CA, MAY 18, 2002 - In case you haven't noticed, Tony Jones has evolved into one of the top non-winged sprint car drivers in the country. Further evidence of this statement was provided Saturday at the Perris Auto Speedway after Jones methodically drove to his third NAPA Auto Parts / Auto Trader Magazines SCRA main event win of the season.

Starting seventh, Jones fell behind early, but maintained his composure. Steadily working his way to the front, Jones took the lead five laps from the finish and went on to score a victory that his famous father (who co-owns Jones' car along with Johnny Vermeer) would have been proud to call his own during his days as driver.

"Bubby Jones puts a great car together; he massages this thing all week long and you just can't beat having him on your team.  He teases me and tells that its 90% car and 10% driver, and I believe him because this is a good race car," Jones said with a smiled.

After finishing one-two in the JE Pistons Dash, Richard Griffin and Rip Williams started on the front row for the 30-lap feature.  Griffin took the lead at the start, but Williams would go on to lead the opening lap after a nice run off the turn four cushion. 

SCRA's newest star in the making, Damion Gardner, showed his power early. Moments after passing Griffin in turn four; Gardner dove down to the bottom of turn two and took the lead on lap six.  Despite slapping the wall one lap later Gardner continued to set the pace. 

Charles Davis, Jr. passed Griffin for fourth on lap eleven.  Griffin tried to take back the position on the following lap only to make contact with Davis. Griffin avoided a spin, but would have to stop on the racing surface with a flat right front tire.  Taking advantage of his own caution period, Griffin returned with a new tire and went on to finish tenth.

Trying to give his new sponsor, Tomarco Fasteners, a victory in their first race with the Sharon Jory team, Williams passed Gardner three laps after the restart.  Once out front, Williams pulled away from Gardner.  Steve Ostling started 10th in the Fischer Motorsports / Watt Enterprises No. 29 Okie and was pressuring Gardner for second when fifth place Bobby Graham hooked the turn one cushion and flipped on lap 19.  Graham was not hurt.

"The red flag gave us an opportunity to get caught up," said Jones, who was running fifth at the time.  "We started seventh and I think we fell back to 12th and it's hard to get caught back up.  We had great restarts tonight, and we had a lot of breaks tonight, and we were able to pull another win off for the Ferreira Dairy / Avenger Chassis car."

During the stoppage, Gardner's crew made some needed repairs resulting from his earlier brush with the wall.  Shortly after those repairs were made, Gardner had another scare when a push truck struck his right rear tire. Fortunately, there was no damage to Gardner's Coy Construction No. 20 Eagle and he was ready to challenge for his first SCRA win when racing resumed.  

Jones, however, proved to be even more ready to grab his 13th career SCRA win.  With ten laps to go, Jones was up to third.  Two circuits later, Jones gave Gardner one of his crowd pleasing slide jobs in turn three to take over the second position.  Coming down to complete lap 24, Jones tapped Williams on his rear nerf bar before taking the lead one lap later. 

Jones was less than a half a lap from a comfortable win when the yellow light appeared for debris.  Even though Jones was less than pleased with the decision to go yellow for debris on the final lap, he showed his maturity and sped away to victory after the restart. 

Williams was not as lucky and would finish fourth behind Ostling and Sander Engineering Fast Time Award winner Gardner.  Jeremy Sherman and Cory Kruseman, who were taking a red-eye flight to Indiana together after the race, finished fifth and sixth respectively.  Rickie Gaunt won the KSE Hard Charger Award with a 17th to eighth place run.
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SCRA RACE #11 - PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY, PERRIS, CA
Date of Race: 05/18/02

SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS
1. Damion Gardner, Concord CA, Gardner 20, 16.640 2. John Scott, Hesperia CA,
Scott Mtrsprts. 83, 16.728  3. Gary W. Howard, Fontana CA, Ruth 25 , 16.797 4. Charles Davis, Jr, Buckeye AZ, Davis 94, 16.860  5. Steve Ostling, Corona CA, Fischer Mtrspts 29, 16.903 6. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda CA, Jory 3, 16.939  7. Jeremy Sherman, Phoenix AZ, Priestley 7 , 16.980 8. Richard Griffin, Silver City NM, Chaffin 50,  16.982  9. Cory Kruseman, Ventura CA, Willis 1, 17.032  10. Tony Jones, Garden Grove CA, Vermeer/Jones 87, 17.056  11. Mike English, Norwalk CA, Jory. 6, 17.097  12. Bobby Graham, Riverside CA, Crossno 38, 17.117  13. Mike Kirby, Torrance CA, Geurin 5, 17.120  14. Adam Mitchell, Escondido CA, Mitchell 99, 17.128  15. Rodney Argo, Gardena CA, Argo 19, 17.190  16.  Verne Sweeney, Lomita CA, Sweeney 98, 17.200  17. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance CA, Alexander 4, 17.240  18. Mel Murphy, Woodcrest CA, Murphy 62, 17.290  19. Cal Smith, Montclair CA, Pratt 39, 17.292  20. Keith Williamson, Pomona CA, Williamson 95, 17.303  21. Mike Spencer, Temecula CA, Engstrom 44, 17.309  22. Dan Hillberg, Whittier CA, Hillberg 82 , 17.338  23. Brian Venard, Tustin CA, Venard. 47,  17.448 24. Jack DeArmond, Jr., Corona CA, DeArmond, Jr. 24, 17.463  25. Tom Downing, Lakewood CA, Downing 90, 17.496  26. Troy Rutherford, Ojai CA, Cheney. 21J, 17.543  27. Casey Shuman, Tempe AZ, Pratt 12, 17.606  28. Rick Becker, Highland CA, Becker 67, 17.617  29. Bobby Cody, (R) Costa Mesa CA, Cody 41, 17.633  30. Ronnie Clark, Tucson AZ, Clark 33, 17.908  31. Bob Ferro, Sherman Oaks CA, Ferro 91X, 18.080 32. Mark Heidenreich, (R) Upland CA, Heidenreich 22, 18.165  33. Dan Tedrick, Hesperia CA, Tedrick 88, 18.394  34.  Bob Johnson, (R) Perris CA, Johnson 81,18.599  35. Tom Wilhelm, (R) Temecula CA,
Wilhelm 64, 20.605

HEDMAN HEDDERS HEAT 1
1. Cory Kruseman, 2. Mike Kirby, 3. Damion Gardner, 4. Mike Spencer, 5. Steve
Ostling, 6. Bobby Cody, 7. Rickie Gaunt, 8. Tom Downing, 9. Dan Tedrick,

SHAVER ENGINES HEAT 2
1. Tony Jones, 2. John Scott, 3. Rip Williams, 4. Troy Rutherford, 5. Adam Mitchell, 6. Mel Murphy, 7. Ronnie Clark, 8. Dan Hillberg, 9. Bob Johnson,

SPIN TECH MUFFLERS HEAT 3
1. Jeremy Sherman, 2. Rodney Argo, 3. Mike English, 4. Brian Venard, 5. Casey Shuman, 6. Cal Smith, 7. Bob Ferro, 8. Tom Wilhelm, 9. Gary W. Howard,

STINGER CHASSIS HEAT 4
1. Richard Griffin, 2. Charles Davis, Jr, 3. Bobby Graham, 4. Rick Becker, 5. Jack DeArmond, Jr., 6. Keith Williamson, 7. Verne Sweeney, 8. Mark Heidenreich,

JE PISTONS DASH
1. Richard Griffin. 2. Rip Williams. 3. Jeremy Sherman. 4. Damion Gardner. 5. Charles Davis, Jr. 6, John Scott. 7. Tony Jones. 8. Cory Kruseman.

B FEATURE
1. Steve Ostling. 2. Gary W. Howard, 3. Rickie Gaunt. 4. Adam Mitchell. 5. Keith Williamson. 6. Verne Sweeney. 7. Jack DeArmond, Jr.. 8. Tom Downing. 9. Ronnie Clark. 10. Mark Heidenreich, 11. Casey Shuman. 12. Mel Murphy. 13. Dan Hillberg. 14. Bob Ferro. 15. Cal Smith. 16. Bob Johnson.  17. Tom Wilhelm
.
A FEATURE (30 Laps)
1. Tony Jones. 2. Steve Ostling. 3. Damion Gardner. 4. Rip Williams. 5. Jeremy Sherman. 6. Cory Kruseman. 7. John Scott. 8. Rickie Gaunt. 9. Charles Davis, Jr. 10.  Richard Griffin. 11.  Mike Kirby. 12.  Rodney Argo. 13. Mike English. 14. Adam Mitchell. 15.  Mike Spencer. 16.  Troy Rutherford. 17.  Verne Sweeney. 18.  Brian Venard. 19. Bobby Graham, 20.  Keith Williamson. 21.  Gary W. Howard, 22. Rick Becker.
Laps Led: Williams 1-5, Gardner 6-15, Williams 16-24, Jones 25-30

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SCRA DRIVER POINTS AS OF 5/18/02
CAR        NAME                             HOMETOWN           STARTS POINTS
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    1.  1   Cory Kruseman           Ventura CA          11  661
    2.  87  Tony Jones              Garden Grove CA 11  652
    3.  50  Richard Griffin         Silver City NM      11  605
    4.  29  Steve Ostling           Corona CA           11  595
    5.  7   Jeremy Sherman      Phoenix AZ          11  560
    6.  3   Rip Williams            Yorba Linda CA      11  525
    7.  83  John Scott              Hesperia CA     11  524
    8.  2IJ Troy Rutherford         Ojai CA             11  523
    9.  5   Mike Kirby              Torrance CA     10  472
    10. 4   Rickie Gaunt            Torrance CA     11  399
    11. 94  Charles Davis, Jr       Buckeye AZ      11  398
    12. 20  Damion Gardner          Concord CA          11  398
    13. 6   Mike English            Norwalk CA          11  372
    14. 25  Gary W. Howard      Fontana CA          8   267
    15. 38  Bobby Graham            Riverside CA        11  256
    16. 38  Levi Jones              Olney IL            6   213
    17. 57  Danny Sheridan          Santa Maria CA      8   209
    18. 96X Tony Elliott                Kokomo IN           6   198
    19. 19  Rodney Argo         Gardena CA      10  193
    20. 99  Adam Mitchell           Escondido CA        9   166