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 Press Release

“Super Rickie” Gaunt Shoots For Third USAC/CRA Win In A Row At Perris Auto Speedway
by Scott Daloisio

(JUNE 21, 2005, PERRIS, CA) He is loud, he is boisterous and he is colorful, but most importantly, after winning his second main event in a row at Santa Maria Speedway last Saturday night “Super Rickie” Gaunt is the hottest driver in the Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series.  This Saturday night when Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply presents the popular 410 series at Perris Auto Speedway, Gaunt will be shooting for the hat trick.

Often referred to as the “John Force of Sprint Car Racing,” the 36 year-old father of two has never met a microphone he does not like.  His interviews with longtime Southern California racing personality Chris Holt are more like stand up comedy routines.  The crowd roars with laughter at Gaunt’s take on the racing and his fellow competitors.  Of course, it does not stop once Holt turns off the microphone.   While most drivers sell t-shirts at their haulers after the races, the colorful driver from Torrance, California proudly sells shirts, socks and women’s underwear with his logo emblazoned on them.  And, there was the caper earlier in the year when infield patrons were getting sprayed with fresh water every time they flushed the urinals.  Track officials were perplexed as to why it kept happening.  Soon they found the reason and it was the handiwork of Gaunt who was loosening fittings before each race.

While “Super Rickie” Gaunt seems like a laugh a minute – and indeed he is – he is one serious and very talented racecar driver.  Once he straps himself into his Smiley Crain Service/David Zoriki Motorsports blue #8A, he means nothing but business.  Last year Gaunt won the SCRA and Non-Wing World Championship titles.  This season he ranks sixth in points with USAC/CRA.  His teammate, Charles Davis Jr. of Buckeye, Arizona, sits fourth in the standings heading into Saturday’s race.

While Gaunt, who looks resplendent in a Superman style firesuit with his signature “R” emblazoned on the chest, is ranked sixth in points, he is tied for second in wins in the second year series with Ventura’s Cory Kruseman.  They each have three victories on the year.  Concord, California’s Damion Gardner leads the category with six.

Gaunt’s win at The PAS two weeks ago was exciting to say the least – especially near the end.  Gaunt started third in the 30-lapper and took lead from Santa Maria, California’s Danny Sheridan on lap 12.  The 1999 Oval Nationals champion controlled the rest of the race, but coming out of turn four and heading for the white flag, Gaunt got his car completely sideways and almost slid to a stop!  That brought the huge crowd to it’s feet as Yorba Linda’s Rip Williams, who was running second, had to momentarily check up before trying to seize the opportunity and drive around Gaunt.  Ventura’s Kruseman was lurking in third and had the momentum and nearly passed both of them on the last lap of another crowd-pleasing race at the Riverside County clay oval.  At the checkered flag, Gaunt narrowly held off his pursuers for the win and then celebrated by jumping on top of his car and thrusting his hands in the air.  It was typical Rickie Gaunt.

On the championship front, a month ago when the series came to The PAS, Williams had a 20-point lead over Gardner in the standings.  When the series returns this Saturday, Williams will hold a comfortable advantage of 105 points.  In his last ten races, “The Ripper” has not finished lower than seventh and has only finished worse than fourth three times.  He has finished second the last three weeks in a row.

Saturday’s celebration of 800+horsepower racecars will consist of qualifying, the Snap-on Tools Trophy Dash for the four fast qualifiers, four 10-lap heat races a B main and a 30-lap A main event.

 

Perris Auto Speedway is conveniently located on the freeway close 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 any event at Perris Auto Speedway, please call (951) 940-0134.

 

racesatthepas@aol.com is the only authorized Internet address to issue official media news released from The Perris Auto Speedway or Oval Entertainment

 

VALVOLINE USAC/CRA POINT STANDINGS

 

1.      Rip Williams – Yorba Linda, CA – 945

2.      Damion Gardner – Concord, CA –  840

3.      Cory Kruseman – Ventura, CA – 813

4.      Charles Davis, Jr.  – Buckeye, AZ  – 787

5.      Mike Kirby  – Torrance, CA – 781

6.      Rickie Gaunt - Torrance, CA – 634

7.      Alan Ballard- Bakersfield, CA – 463

8.      Seth Wilson, San Clemente, CA – 462

9.      Josh Ford - Camarillo, CA – 461

10.  Tony Jones – Norco, CA – 447

11.  R.J. Johnson – Phoenix, AZ – 443

12.  Mike Spencer – Temecula, CA – 430

13.  Steve Ostling – Corona, CA – 419

14.  Jimmy Crawford – Ventura, CA – 331

15.  Bobby Cody – Costa Mesa, CA – 316

16.  Danny Sheridan – Santa Maria, CA – 311

17.  Danny Ebberts – Canyon Lake, CA – 267

18.  Jordan Hermansador – Long Beach, CA – 239

19.  David Cardey – Riverside, CA – 235

20.  Josh Wise – Riverside, CA - 233

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