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WISE DRIVES TO FIRST SCRA WIN |
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PERRIS, CA, JUNE 21, 2003 - Saturday night at the Perris Auto Speedway,
Josh Wise became only the third rookie driver to win a NAPA Auto Parts / Auto Trader Magazines SCRA main event. In just his ninth career SCRA start, Wise also gave car owner Mike Sala his first career SCRA win. Wise's victory should only be classified as a mild upset since, in five starts last year, he finished fifth three times and set the Sander Engineering Fast Time on two occasions. What he later called the "icing on the cake," Wise, who recently turned 20-years old, again started the evening by turning the fastest lap in qualifying. "We ran a few races last year for Don Argo, and Mike Sala approached me at the Chili Bowl and asked if I'd be interested. I told him definitely, since we're pretty weak with the midget schedule out here this year and I didn't have enough sponsors to go back east," Wise explained. "I used to come out here and watch these guys race when I was little, and to come out here and be successful in just our fourth race this year is like a dream come true." Prior to the start of the 30-lap feature race, all the attention was directed at Damion Gardner, who was seeking a fifth consecutive win at Perris. Gardner lined up on the outside of the front row next to the Mark Priestley / Roy Miller Freightliners #7 Kunz driven by JE Pistons Dash winner Troy Rutherford. Rutherford and Gardner were nearly even when they drove under the green flag at the start. Rutherford bicycled heading into turn one forcing Gardner up the race track and allowing Steve Ostling to jump into the lead from the inside of the second row. Gardner had just taken away the second spot when he spun exiting turn four, triggering the biggest pile-up in SCRA history. A total of 13 cars were involved, the bulk of which came to a stop in the middle of the front straightaway. Rookie Seth Wilson took the hardest ride during this melee, flipping end-over-end while cars continued to stack-up around him. Wilson was later given the Hedman Hedders Hard-luck Award. Amazingly, there were no injuries and only five cars were officially eliminated from the race. "I don't know how it happened, but I saw Damion turned sideways and he collected a couple of other cars. Luckily, I was in the right spot and didn't have to make any evasive maneuvers," said Wise, who started the race on the outside of the third row. After a 25 minute clean-up, the Ron Chaffin / Arizona Race Mart #50 Jon Boy driven by Richard Griffin moved into the front row and Wise into the fourth starting position. Griffin held the lead on the opening lap until he was overtaken by Rutherford exiting turn four. Moments after Ostling zipped around Rutherford for the lead in turn two, Jimmy Crawford flipped and brought out the red flag on lap three. Crawford was not hurt Rutherford was given the lead back for the restart, but it would be short-lived after Ostling took away the top-spot on lap four. Williams passed Rutherford three laps later, and then slipped around the outside of Ostling for the lead on the tenth lap. Williams would hold the lead until a bleeder valve problem caused his left rear tire to go flat during a lap-13 caution period. Unable to pit before the restart, Williams helplessly watched as Ostling drove by him for the lead. Williams was able to change the tire, thanks to another caution flag one lap later courtesy of Bobby Graham, who hit the turn four wall. After a pit stop, Williams would return to finish sixth. Now up to second place, Wise stuck a wheel under Ostling on the restart, but was unable to pull off a move for the lead. Danny "Showtime" Sheridan lived-up to his nickname, thrilling the crowd on lap 18. After bicycling in turn one, Sheridan charged off the banking and drove down across the infield berm exiting turn two, before climbing the backstraight fence. Sheridan somehow avoided flipping, but would bring out the yellow flag after his damaged car limped to a stop. Unbelievably, Ostling spun to a stop directly in front of Wise just after the caution light appeared, giving the lead to Wise. After Ostling's spin, track announcer Scott Daloisio called this the "most bizarre race he had ever seen". It was a sentiment echoed by many observers. Unfortunately, the bizarre turned frightening on the restart after Mike English attempted to move into the fifth position and clipped Mike Spencer's tire. Bouncing off the front straightaway wall and flipping high into the air, English's car was hit in the roll-cage by the car of Mike Kirby. English was transported to a local hospital for further observation and was released early Sunday with a badly bruised shoulder. Kirby was also favoring his shoulder, but was able to walk back to his pit without needing medical treatment. Prior to the final restart of the race, both Rutherford and Griffin pulled up next to the young leader just to make him aware of who was behind him. Knowing this was a tactic he had used on other drivers in the midget ranks, Wise remained poised during the final laps of the race, and even withstood a few legitimate challenges from Rutherford before securing the win. Spencer survived the incident with English, as well as a big bump with Gardner on the opening lap, and finished third in the Hal Engstrom / Spenco Machine #44 Ellis to earn his best career finish. Griffin finished fourth, ahead of Adam Mitchell, who won the KSE Products Hard-Charger Award with his drive from the 20th starting position. Josh Ford placed seventh and earned the best finish of his young SCRA career. Dwarf Car Champion Greg Bragg finished eighth in just his fifth ever SCRA start. ### SCRA RACE #14 - PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY, PERRIS, CA Date of Race: 06/21/03 SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS 1. Josh Wise, Riverside CA, Sala 19S , 16.700 2. Richard Griffin, Silver City NM, Chaffin 50 , 17.094 3. Steve Ostling, Corona CA, Fischer Mtrspts 29 , 17.205 4. Lance Gremett, San Marcos CA, Gremett 85, 17.285 5. Damion Gardner, Concord CA, Willis 45 , 17.302 6. Mike Spencer, Temecula CA, Engstrom 44, 17.345 7. Mike English, Norwalk CA, Jory 6, 17.365 8. Troy Rutherford, Ojai CA, Priestley 7, 17.405 9. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda CA, Jory 3, 17.501 10. Bryan Stanfill, (R) Bakersfield CA, Lancaster 14, 17.557 11. Tony Jones, Garden Grove CA, Vermeer 2, 17.631 12. Greg Bragg, (R) Visalia CA, Pratt 12, 17.640 13. Ron DiDonato, Riverside CA, DiDonato 57, 17.653 14. Dan Hillberg, Whittier CA, Hillberg 82, 17.668 15. Josh Ford, (R) Camarillo CA, Willis/Ford 54, 17.684 16. Jimmy Crawford, (R) Ventura CA, Ruth 25, 17.711 17. Randy Waitman, Ramona CA, Waitman Y69, 17.741 18. Seth Wilson, (R) San Clemente CA, Racing Optics 17, 17.744 19. Bobby Graham, Riverside CA, Crossno 38, 17.808 20. Verne Sweeney, Lomita CA, Sweeney 98, 17.857 21. Mark Heidenreich, Upland CA, Heidenreich 22, 17.880 22. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance CA, Alexander 4, 17.907 23. Adam Mitchell, Escondido CA, Mitchell 99, 17.980 24. Bobby Cody, Costa Mesa CA, Cody Racing 41, 18.010 25. Mike Kirby, Torrance CA, Alexander 4X, 18.047 26. Tom Downing, Lakewood CA, Downing 90, 18.083 27. Alan Ballard, (R) Bakersfield CA, Ballard 97, 18.089 28. Steve Venard, Silverado CA, Glover 49, 18.100 29. Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria CA, Dorathy 21A , 18.103 30. Mark Deskovick, (R) El Centro CA, Deskovick 7K , 18.299 31. Mel Murphy, Riverside CA, Murphy 62, 18.300 32. Cal Smith, Montclair CA, Pratt. 39, 18.440 33. Bob Ferro, Sherman Oaks CA, Ferro 91, 18.463 34. Rick Becker, Highland CA, Becker 67, 18.671 35. Keith Williamson, Pomona CA., Williamson 95, 19.015 36. Trevor Brilman, (R) Las Vegas NV, Element Mtrspts 10, No Time 37. A.J. Reyer, (R) San Diego CA.,Burton 2J, No Time SO-CAL PERFORMANCE HEAT 1 1. Mike Kirby, 2. Rip Williams, 3. Damion Gardner, 4. Josh Wise, 5. Mark Heidenreich, 6. Danny Sheridan, 7. Randy Waitman, 8. Ron DiDonato, 9. Bob Ferro, SHAVER ENGINES HEAT 2 1. Rickie Gaunt, 2. Mike Spencer, 3. Richard Griffin, 4. Bryan Stanfill, 5. Seth Wilson, 6. Tom Downing, 7. Mark Deskovick, 8. Rick Becker, 9. Dan Hillberg, SPIN TECH MUFFLERS HEAT 3 1. Adam Mitchell, 2. Bobby Graham, 3. Steve Ostling, 4. Tony Jones, 5. Mike English, 6. Alan Ballard, 7. Josh Ford, 8. Keith Williamson, 9. Mel Murphy, STINGER CHASSIS HEAT 4 1. Verne Sweeney, 2. Greg Bragg, 3. Jimmy Crawford, 4. Troy Rutherford, 5. Bobby Cody, 6. Steve Venard, 7. Cal Smith, 8. Lance Gremett, JE PISTONS DASH 1. Troy Rutherford. 2. Damion Gardner. 3. Steve Ostling, 4. Richard Griffin. 5. Mike Spencer. 6. Josh Wise, 7. Bryan Stanfill. 8. Rip Williams. SIMPSON B FEATURE 1. Mike English. 2. Josh Ford. 3. Seth Wilson. 4. Danny Sheridan. 5. Ron DiDonato. 6. Bobby Cody. 7. Tom Downing. 8. Randy Waltman, 9. Steve Venard, 10. Mark Heidenreich. 11. Bob Ferro. 12. Mark Deskovick. 13. Alan Ballard. 14. Cal Smith. 15. Rick Becker, 16. A.J. Reyer. A FEATURE (30 Laps) 1. Josh Wise. 2. Troy Rutherford. 3. Mike Spencer. 4. Richard Griffin. 5. Adam Mitchell. 6. Rip Williams. 7. Josh Ford. 8. Greg Bragg. 9. Verne Sweeney. 10. Bobby Cody. 11, Steve Ostling. 12. Mike English. 13. Mike Kirby. 14. Danny Sheridan. 15. Bobby Graham. 16. Rickie Gaunt. 17. Damion Gardner (#57), 18, Jimmy Crawford. 19. Damion Gardner (#45). 20. Bryan Stanfill. 21. Tony Jones. 22. Seth Wilson. Laps Led: Rutherford 1-3, Ostling 4-9, Williams 10-13, Ostling 14-19, Wise 20-30 *Note: Gardner drove DiDonato's #57 car in A-Main after his Willis #45 car was damaged on the opening lap. SCRA DRIVER Point Standings as of: 06/21/03 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CAR NAME HOMETOWN STARTS POINTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. 50 Richard Griffin Silver City NM 13 878 2. 7 Troy Rutherford Ojai CA 13 841 3. 45 Damion Gardner Concord CA 13 799 4. 3 Rip Williams Yorba Linda CA 13 716 5. 29 Steve Ostling Corona CA 13 625 6. 44 Mike Spencer Temecula CA 13 612 7. 4 Rickie Gaunt Torrance CA 13 602 8. 6 Mike English Norwalk CA 13 548 9. 99 Adam Mitchell Escondido CA 12 387 10. 2 Tony Jones Garden Grove CA 12 376 11. 38 Levi Jones Olney IL 8 364 12. 54 Josh Ford (R) Camarillo CA 13 356 13. 98 Verne Sweeney Lomita CA 12 320 14. 14 Bryan Stanfill (R) Bakersfield CA 13 295 15. 61 Cory Kruseman Ventura CA 7 285 16. 47 Brian Venard Irvine CA 8 263 17. 97 Alan Ballard (R) Bakersfield CA 13 255 18. 85 Lance Gremett San Marcos CA 11 248 19. 25 Jimmy Crawford (R) Ventura CA 13 244 20. 41 Bobby Cody Costa Mesa CA 12 244 |
