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SUPERSTARS GAUNT, KRUSEMAN AND KAEDING CHALLENGE VALVOLINE USAC/CRA REGULARS AT PERRIS! |
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(JUNE 4, 2004, PERRIS, CA) West
Coast sprint car fans need to make plans now for June 12th when the Valvoline
USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series returns to Perris Auto Speedway for the Snap On
Tools Shootout II presented by Temecula Valley Pipe and Supply and Vista
Paint. In addition to seeing The PAS regulars, who comprise the
strongest field in western open wheel racing, fans will get a full dose of
visiting superstar drivers Rickie Gaunt, Cory Kruseman and Bud Kaeding.
Gaunt, who is known to his adoring fans as “Super Rickie”
due to a Superman style fire suit, will be making his first appearance of 2004
at the track where he netted the biggest win of his career. In 1999
Gaunt, driving for the famous Gardner Motorsports Team, outdistanced Kruseman,
Tony Jones, Troy Rutherford and J.J. Yeley to win the 4th Annual Budweiser
Oval Nationals before a capacity crowd.
A 35-year old father of two sons, the boisterous Gaunt has
competed in four races in the prestigious Valvoline USAC/CRA Series thus far
in 2004. However, the Torrance, California residents results been
impressive and he is 16th in points. His best outing thus far in the
series came at the Sokola Classic in March at Phoenix’ Manzanita Speedway.
Gaunt was fast qualifier both nights and finished third behind Indiana’s
Dave Darland and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular Tracey Hines in the
20-lap preliminary main. The next night he ended up fourth in the
finale. Away from Valvoline USAC/CRA competition this season,
Gaunt has scored four main event wins in the Smiley Crane #2A.
Kruseman, who won the 8th Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals
driving for NASCAR Nextel Cup superstar Tony Stewart at The PAS last November,
will be driving for Carson’s Mark Alexander on the 12th. Kruseman took
Alexander’s silver #4 to the win in the Sokola Classic and backed that up
with another win at Manzanita on May 8th. Those two victories and a
second place behind Mike Kirby at the series debut at The PAS on March 6th
leave Kruseman 9th in points.
While he is 9th in the Valvoline USAC/CRA Series, Kruseman, 33,
who operates a sprint car driving school at the Ventura Raceway, is third in
USAC National Series points in Stewart’s Mopar sprinter. On May 22nd
he defeated teammate and lifelong friend Jay Drake and Yeley to win the
prestigious Tony Hulman Classic in Terre Haute, Indiana. One week later,
he qualified third fastest and finished seventeenth in the grueling Little
500. The Little 500 is a 500-lap race sprint car on the tight Anderson,
Indiana quarter-mile paved track.
Fans will never forget the season Kruseman had at The PAS in
2001. Driving for car owner Harlan Willis, he won 12 main events,
including the Salute to Indy, Firecracker 50 and the Jack Kindoll Classic at
the Riverside County Oval.
Like Kruseman, third generation champion Bud Kaeding will be
flying in from Indiana to drive for legendary Willis in the Mike Nigh tuned
#45. A native of Campbell, California, Kaeding is no stranger to Perris fans.
He won the prestigious Oval Nationals at The PAS in 2001 and 2002 and thus
pocketed over $60,000.00. In the 2003 edition of the Oval Nationals last
November, Kaeding finished on the podium for the third consecutive year with a
third place finish.
The talented 24-year old was fourth in last year’s USAC
National Sprint Car standings and is currently ranked sixth in the 2004
series. In 2002, a devastating flip, after setting fast time at the Hulman
Classic at Terre Haute, put the young star on the shelf for much of the
season. However, when he climbed back into the cockpit, he won several races
including the sprint car portion of the 4-Crown Nationals at Ohio’s
high-banked Eldora Speedway and the Oval Nationals.
Kaeding first gained prominence in 1999 when he won seven main
events in 17 starts and the USAC Western Sprint Car Championship. In addition,
he won the Rookie of the Year award in the series. One year later, he won the
Rookie of the Year award in the tough USAC National Sprint Car Series after
finishing seventh in the point standings.
Can Gaunt, Kruseman, Kaeding or visiting Charles Davis, Jr.
beat The PAS regulars? Or will they ride behind heavy hitters Rip
Williams, Mike Kirby, Damion Garner, Troy Rutherford, Tony Jones and Steve
Ostling? The only way to find out is to be at Perris Auto Speedway
June12 for the BEST show in Southern California racing.
In addition to the Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, the Southern
California Ford Focus Midgets will also be racing on the 12th.
Remember, the month of June is Kid’s Month at The PAS.
Bring one, 100 or 1,000 kids 12 and under and they will be admitted free when
they are accompanied by an adult.
Perris Auto Speedway is conveniently located on the Lake Perris
Fairgrounds, home of the Southern California Fair, approximately one hour east
of Los Angeles. Take the 215 Freeway, exit at the Ramona Expressway and
go east two and a half miles to the fairgrounds.
For more information on this or any events at Perris Auto
Speedway events, please call (909) 940-0134.
2004 USAC VALVOLINE/CRA POINT STANDINGS
1. Rip Williams – Yorba Linda, CA – 592 2. Mike Kirby – Torrance, CA – 550 3. Damion Gardner – Concord, CA – 549 4. Troy Rutherford – Ojai, CA – 516 5. Tony Jones – Corona, CA – 340 6. Greg Bragg – Visalia, CA – 333 7. Brian Venard – Irvine, CA – 332 8. Steve Ostling – Corona, CA – 328 9. Cory Kruseman – Ventura, CA – 313 10. Jeremy Sherman – Phoenix, AZ – 310 11. Jordan Hermansador – Long Beach, CA – 298 12. Mike Spencer – Temecula, CA – 228 13. Ronnie Case – Camarillo, CA – 204 14. Bobby Cody – Costa Mesa, CA – 193 15. Gary W. Howard – Fontana, CA – 184 16. Rickie Gaunt – Torrance, CA – 160 17. Charles Davis, Jr. – Buckeye, AZ – 157 18. Rick Ziehl – Las Cruces, NM – 153 19. David Cardey – Riverside, CA – 149 20. Eric Wilkins – El Mirage, AZ - 130 |
