PERRIS, CA, JUNE 22, 2002 - Every once in a while a driver gives a performance that epitomizes all of the qualities that make a great race car driver.  Cory Kruseman gave such a performance Saturday at the Perris Auto Speedway and became the all-time Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) main event winner.

Having to pull out all the stops in the final five laps to beat SCRA's newest superstar, Damion Gardner, Kruseman displayed finesse, intelligence, bravery and the heart of a defending champion.  

"That was what you call tooth and nail; fortunately, our tooth was ahead of his nail and we ended up on top of the podium," Kruseman said after collecting his 56th SCRA with a dramatic last corner pass.  "My hat's off to Damion, he did a heck of a job.  I got into him once and he got into me once, and we came here as friends and we'll leave here as friends."

Kruseman started fourth in the 30-lap feature behind JE Pistons Dash winner Mike Kirby and the Coy Construction No. 20 Eagle driven by Gardner.  Gardner grabbed the lead on the initial start, but a six-car pileup that left Jack DeArmond, Jr. upside-down brought out the red flag before the opening lap could be completed.  Happily, there were no injuries, even though four of the six cars involved were done for the night.

Gardner took the lead on the restart and led Kirby, Kruseman, Richard Griffin and the Pace Electronics No. 83 TCR driven by John Scott at the end of the first lap.  Gardner, who won his first SCRA race at Perris two weeks ago, opened up a half straightaway lead in just six laps, running the middle and low lines.  Moments after Gardner reached lapped traffic for the first time; the yellow flag flew on lap 17 for Rickie Gaunt who came to a stop on the back straight.  Sixth place Tony Jones saw his championship hopes take a blow after he retired due to an engine vibration during the caution period.

Three laps after the restart, Kruseman drove his Harlan Willis / WorldGate Networks No. 1 TCR around Kirby for second place.  Coming down to complete lap 23, Rip Williams moved into the third spot.  Seconds later, the final yellow light of the night appeared for a third turn incident involving Jeremy Sherman, Bobby Graham and Jordan Hermansader.

To this point, Gardner, who won the Sander Engineering Fast Time Award and his heat race, had clearly been the class of the field, but the longest day of the year had taken its toll on the normally tacky Perris racing surface.  Kruseman had just returned to California after racing in Ohio the prior three days.  After the race, Kruseman attributed his ability to hook up his tires to the fact that he had been racing on similar types of surfaces during the week. 

Once racing resumed, Kruseman masterfully found and hit all the right moister spots and for the first time was able to challenge Gardner for the lead. Catching Gardner by surprise, Kruseman squeezed his way between the front straight wall and Gardner coming down to complete lap 27.  After a hard wheel slap with Gardner just before reaching the flagstand, Kruseman bravely kept his foot on the throttle and took the lead. 

Gardner proved that he's a fighter, as well, and briefly powered his way back into the lead with a lap 28 slide-job in turn three.  Sensing the slider, Kruseman darted off the cushion and retook the lead after diving down to the bottom of turn four. Side-by-side when they came down to accept starter Lee Jaskowiak's white flag, Kruseman won the drag race into turn one on the final lap.  When Kruseman slipped a little wide in turn one, Gardner was able to exit turn two with the lead.  Powering his way through turn three, Gardner's car skated through the middle of the racing surfacing and drifted wide over the turn four cushion. 

Positioned perfectly, Kruseman, again headed to the bottom of turn four. Knowing that Kruseman would be carrying more momentum, Gardner shot off the turn four banking, hoping to block an imminent low-line pass.  Showing the determination of a champion, Kruseman refused to lift, even though he knew he was on a collision course with Gardner.  Beating Gardner to the point of impact, Kruseman drove across the finish line first. 

Gardner likely never saw the checkered flag, since the contact caused him to slide backwards across the line to somehow finish second.  Thanks to a nice pass on lap 26, Scott finished third ahead of Kirby and Williams.            
                
SCRA RACE #15 - PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY, PERRIS, CA
Date of Race: 06/22/02

SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS
1. Damion Gardner, Concord CA, Gardner 20, 17.379  2. Bobby Cody, (R) Costa
Mesa CA, Cody 41, 17.430  3. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance CA, Alexander 4, 17.430 4. Cory Kruseman, Ventura CA, Willis 1, 17.460  5. John Scott, Hesperia CA, Scott Mtrsprts 83, 17.490  6. Richard Griffin, Silver City NM, Chaffin 50, 17.512  7. Gary W. Howard, Fontana CA, Ruth 25, 17.518  8. Mike Kirby, Torrance CA, Geurin 5, 17.543  9. Steve Ostling, Corona CA, Fischer Mtrspts 29, 17.545  10. Tony Jones, Garden Grove CA, Vermeer/Jones 87, 17.574  11. Adam Mitchell, Escondido CA, Mitchell 99, 17.641  12. Verne Sweeney, Lomita CA, Sweeney 98, 17.685  13. Michael Hinrichsen, Lakeside CA, Lake Mtrsprts. 16, 17.699  14. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda CA, Jory 3, 17.718  15. Charles Davis, Jr, Buckeye AZ, Davis 94, 17.751  16.  Jeremy Sherman, Phoenix AZ, Priestley 7, 17.760  17. Brian Venard, Tustin CA, Venard. 47, 17.825 18. Lance Gremett, San Marcos CA, Gremett 85, 17.844  19. Mel Murphy, Woodcrest CA, Murphy 62, 17.887  20. Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria CA, DiDonato 57, 17.898  21. Casey Shuman, Tempe AZ, Pratt 12, 17.958 22. Mike English, Norwalk CA, Jory 6, 18.000  23. Bobby Graham, Riverside CA, Crossno 38, 18.020  24. Cal Smith, Montclair CA, Pratt. 39, 18.058  25. Jack DeArmond, Jr., Corona CA, DeArmond, Jr. 24, 18.108  26. Mike Spencer, Temecula CA, Engstrom 44, 18.327  27. Jordan Hermansader, Long Beach CA. Lancaster 14, 18.328  28. Mark Heidenreich, (R) Upland CA, Heidenreich 22, 18.480  29. Nicholas Lima, Industry CA, Lima 30, 18.497  30. Keith Williamson, Pomona CA, Williamson 95, 18.615  31. Dan Hillberg, Whittier CA, Hillberg 82, 18.630  32. Tony Everhart, El Cajon CA, Everhart 55, 19.004  33. Tom Wilhelm, (R) Temecula CA, Wilhelm 64, 19.492  34. Bill Goforth, (R) Apple Valley CA, Goforth 56, 21.048  35. Randy Waltman, Ramona CA, Waltman Y69, 23.007  36.
Steve Venard, Silverado CA, Glover 49, No Time

HEDMAN HEDDERS HEAT 1
1. Damion Gardner, 2. John Scott, 3. Jack DeArmond, Jr., 4. Casey Shuman, 5. Michael Hinrichsen, 6. Nicholas Lima, 7. Brian Venard, 8. Tom Wilhelm, 9. Steve Ostling,

SHAVER ENGINES HEAT 2
1. Mike English, 2. Rip Williams, 3. Richard Griffin, 4. Tony Jones, 5. Mike Spencer, 6. Bobby Cody, 7. Keith Williamson, 8. Lance Gremett, 9. Bill Goforth,

SPIN TECH MUFFLERS HEAT 3
1. Charles Davis, Jr, 2, Bobby Graham, 3. Jordan Hermansader, 4. Gary W. Howard, 5. Rickie Gaunt, 6. Adam Mitchell, 7. Mel Murphy, 8. Dan Hillberg, 9. Randy Waltman,

STINGER CHASSIS HEAT 4
1. Danny Sheridan, 2. Cory Kruseman, 3. Mike Kirby, 4. Jeremy Sherman, 5. Verne Sweeney, 6. Cal Smith, 7. Tony Everhart, 8. Mark Heidenreich,

JE PISTONS DASH
1. Mike Kirby.  2. Damion Gardner. 3. Richard Griffin. 4. Cory Kruseman. 5. Rip Williams. 6. John Scott. 7, Gary W. Howard.  8. Tony Jones,

B FEATURE 
1. Steve Ostling. 2. Rickie Gaunt, 3. Mike Spencer. 4. Adam Mitchell. 5. Bobby Cody. 6. Keith Williamson. 7. Brian Venard,   8. Verne Sweeney. 9. Mel Murphy. 10.  Tony Everhart. 11.  Dan Hillberg. 12.  Mark Heidenreich. 13. Randy Waltman. 14. Nicholas Lima. 15. Tom Wilhelm, 16.  Michael Hinrichsen. 17. Bill Goforth.

A FEATURE (30 Laps)
1. Cory Kruseman. 2. Damion Gardner. 3. John Scott. 4. Mike Kirby. 5. Rip Williams. 6. Steve Ostling. 7. Richard Griffin. 8. Adam Mitchell. 9. Gary W. Howard, 10.  Mike Spencer. 11.  Bobby Graham. 12.  Mike English. 13. Casey Shuman. 14. Bobby Cody. 15.  Jeremy Sherman. 16. Jordan Hermansader. 17. Tony Jones. 18. Rickie Gaunt. 19. Charles Davis, Jr. 20. Danny Sheridan. 21. Jack DeArmond, Jr.. 22. Keith Williamson.
Laps Led: Gardner 1-26, Kruseman 27-30

SCRA DRIVER POINT STANDINGS
                                    HOMETOWN        STARTS/PTS         
    1.  50  Richard Griffin         Silver City NM      15  861
    2.  29  Steve Ostling           Corona CA           15  855
    3.  1   Cory Kruseman           Ventura CA          15  849
    4.  87  Tony Jones              Garden Grove CA 15  817
    5.  3   Rip Williams            Yorba Linda CA      15  771
    6.  5   Mike Kirby              Torrance CA     14  754
    7.  83  John Scott              Hesperia CA     15  747
    8.  7   Jeremy Sherman      Phoenix AZ          14  704
    9.  20  Damion Gardner          Concord CA          14  651
    10. 94  Charles Davis, Jr       Buckeye AZ      15  594
    11. 4   Rickie Gaunt            Torrance CA     15  583
    12. 6   Mike English            Norwalk CA          15  538
    13. 21J Troy Rutherford         Ojai CA             11  523
    14. 25  Gary W. Howard      Fontana CA          12  458
    15. 38  Bobby Graham            Riverside CA        15  445
    16. 19  Rodney Argo         Gardena CA      13  315
    17. 57  Danny Sheridan          Santa Maria CA      12  293
    18. 99  Adam Mitchell           Escondido CA        12  252
    19. 41  Bobby Cody          (R) Costa Mesa CA   15  248
    20. 38  Levi Jones              Olney IL            6   213