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WILLIAMS
& GARDNER CONTINUE FIGHT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP AND MIKE KIRBY DEBUTS |
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(SEPTEMBER 27, 2005, PERRIS, CA)
Rip Williams & The “Demon” Damion Gardner will continue their
fight for the 2005 Valvoline USAC/CRA Championship this Saturday night when
Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply presents the popular series at Perris Auto
Speedway. While they will be
fighting for the coveted title, veteran Mike Kirby will be debuting his brand
new ride on Saturday as well. The
tale of Williams and Gardner has been told many times before.
They are definitely from opposite ends of the spectrum.
Williams, a seemingly unflappable broad shouldered veteran vs Gardner, a
high strung, slender built racer who has been driving traditional sprint cars
for a mere four years. Together they mix about as well as two stray pit bulls,
mongoose vs cobra or the Yankees vs the Red Sox.
You still do not get it? How
about this! You better not put them
in the same room together unless ya’ wanna’ to get some of your furniture
broken. Opposites
or not, they do have one goal in mind once the helmet is on and the belts get
pulled tight. That goal is first
place and sometimes it can get a little rough between them as they strive to get
there. Case in point!
Two weeks ago when the Valvoline USAC/CRA Series last clashed at Don
Kazarian’s half-mile clay oval, early in the main event, Williams had
something that Gardner wanted. That
happened to be third place! Gardner,
who resides in Concord, California tried to throw a slide job on Williams in
turn one. Williams, from Yorba
Linda, California, held his ground and they got together – BIG TIME!
The result was Williams maintaining the position and Gardner limping to
the work area with a flat right rear tire.
A few laps later, another car clocked Gardner from behind resulting in a
flat left rear tire that sent him to the pits for the night. While
a dejected Gardner helplessly sat in the pits, Williams and Ventura,
California’s Cory Kruseman staged a classic sprint car duel for the lead that
Williams eventually snatched and parlayed into his 101st lifetime
victory. He also increased his lead
to 55-points over Gardner in the standings. Fast-forward
seven days to last Saturday at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Arizona.
Another night like the week before at The PAS and Williams could start to
feel comfortable with his point lead, but as this epic season long battle has
transpired, you know that could never happen.
In some ways, but with the tables turned, the battle at Manzanita was
much like the week before at The PAS. Gardner
worked hard and won his series leading 12th main event of the year.
Williams, like the “Demon” the week before, had his fate decided by a
flat tire and he ended up 13th in the main.
Williams’
good fortune, combined with Gardner’s misfortune two weeks ago saw Williams
leave The PAS with a gaudy 55-point lead in the standings.
Likewise, Gardner’s good fortune combined with the “Ripper’s”
misfortune on the outskirt’s of Phoenix last Saturday sees the “Demon”
only 20 points behind when the series returns to The PAS this Saturday night.
What
will probably happen when the two combatants take to The PAS clay this Saturday?
More than likely the improbable, that’s what!
After all, that is the way this great fight for the title has raged on
for the past eight months. Joining
Saturday’s fray at The PAS will be 1993 CRA Champion Mike Kirby of Torrance,
California. Actually, the 41
year-old former Ascot Figure 8 Champion will be rejoining the fray.
Kirby was in third place in the standings after the USAC/CRA race at Jim
Naylor’s Ventura Raceway on September 10th.
However, Kirby and car owner Mark Alexander went their separate ways
after that event and Kirby has missed the last two races.
Kirby will return to the track this week with a brand new team sponsored
by LA Prep. Included on the new
team will be Kirby’s longtime crew chief Brett Roa. Saturday’s
daring display of dirt track dynamics will include the 3 lap Snap-on Tools
Trophy Dash, four ten lap heat races, a 12 lap B main and a 30 lap A main (in
addition there may be a C main event). Don’t
forget, on Friday night, The Diamond Valley Automotive Group Honda – Mazda –
Volkswagen Strip at The PAS street legal drag strip will be in action as well.
The cost to race on the drag strip is only $20.00 per competitor.
Gates open at 5:00 PM. 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. 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
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