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Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
See You At The Races!!! |
| Press Release |
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DAMION GARDNER SHAKES OFF MANZY BAD
LUCK TO WIN. |
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MAY 22, 2005...Damion Gardner of Concord, California finally stepped to the top of the podium at Manzanita for his 4th Valvoline USAC/CRA main event win in a row in this series and first with this club at the big half mile oval dirt track. Driving the Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply, Arizona Race Mart, Eagle, Shaver # 50, Damion set fast time for the ninth time this year before coming from his inverted eighth starting spot to overcome Jeremy Sherman on the 24th lap restart to win the 30 lap event and pull within 20 points of leader Rip Willaims. On a searing 110 degree plus hot day in the Arizona desert,
Damion turned out to be even hotter as he put behind him his three earlier races
here this season that included a best of an eighth place finish and one missed
main event. In beating Sherman, who has 8 wins at Manzanita against the So Cal
based drivers, he proved his prowess from the small bullrings like Ventura up to
and including the monster tracks like Williams Grove in PA and now even
Manzanita. His patience won out for him in this one as he stalked the leaders
until he was in position to win. This growing legendary driver in the making is
beating some of the best drivers in the country on a regular basis. Who is going
to step up and stop him? Jeremy Sherman had to contend with Cory Kruseman early in
the race before he passed him and led until Josh Wise came up from his seventh
starting spot to take over the lead for a few laps. When Jeremy retook the lead
with nine to go, he was stretching it out and seemingly headed for his first CRA
win. When Mike Kirby crashed
helicopter style, after getting sucked into the turn two wall, the red flag stop
allowed the Demon the opportunity he needed. Jeremy couldn’t hold him off, but
still drove an outstanding race to finish second Cory Kruseman made his fourth straight podium with his
third place finish this week as he continues to move up in the points chase. He
led the first lap, then fell back to fourth and rallied to run faster at the
end. Josh Wise followed him in fourth with Josh Ford grabbing fifth as those two
drivers had a week off from the National USAC trail. Now the club returns to
Perris Auto Speedway for a big 50 lapper on Memorial Day. VALVOLINE USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES RACE RESULTS: May 21,
2005 – Phoenix, Arizona – Manzanita Speedway |
