By Ken Wagner
October 18, 2008

Damion Gardner looked like he was back in the saddle at Perris this week when he returned from his 2nd year of Indiana USAC toil to win his 33rd CRA race in his So Cal career. The former CRA champion has spent the last two years on the National USAC circuit and on a night when the 5th annual Legends of Ascot was celebrated during the day, he took no prisoners as he went right to the front, pressed the leader for the lead and won going away.

Here's my pics Click here. Doug Allen's click here.

Damion drove his Pace Electronics, Team ASE, #71 strong all night. He was third quick in qualifying, won a specialLucas Oil three lap trophy dash, ran second in his heat and then started on the third row of the main event. He quickly went after the leader , Tony Jones, and they battled hard for 10 laps before Damion darted low into lap traffic and the Cowboy was thwarted by a lap car, as he hit it and spun to a stop against the fence. From there Damion was unchallenged as those behind him fought it out for the thought to overtake him. He had his mount pulling the front wheels often and never looked back. It was just like old home week back when he drove the little red sucker.

Mike Spencer, who now drives the little red sucker, had his best night in a while as he drove it to the runner-up spot after battling with Blake Miller and Danny Sheridan. He picked up one point on second place Blake Miller in the championship race with 8 races left in the Temecula Valley Pipe and Supply, Weld Wheels, Madera Produce # 50. Crew chief Bruce Bromme Jr is still there to lead the team even though the sling on his arm from his major shoulder injury doesn’t allow him to do any work on the car. There were more smiles in their pit as things have not been going their way.

Bullet Blake Miller continues to chase the point leader in the Roy Miller Freightliner, Black Widow Racing, Gardner Pipe and Mechanical # 93,and this week was no exception. He was quick timer with a 16.765, third in the special dash and his heat and started 8th on the grid in his Gardner # 93 ride. Blake gave it a go, but couldn’t make the pass on Spencer for second, yet he won’t go away. The youngster is getting better and better and makes his Sled a front runner.

Danny Sheridan gave the little blue bugger quite a ride this week, or was it the other way around? Danny was certainly on the move early giving us some of that Showtime magic, but later the car seemed to have a mid of it’s own. He tried to harness the beast, but had to make several super moves just to keep it under control and eventually ended up in 4th. His buddy Tony Jones looked like he had number 5 in a row within his grasp, but as he battled the eventual winner, he got caught running into a lap car and spun the silver bullet to a stop. He restarted with 13 laps left and was behind the 5th place car, Chad Boat at the end. An awesome display for the Cowboy and one might wonder what a few yellows might have done for him. Chad Boat was pretty dynamic himself as he returned to the PAS after a summer with the National USAC back east. He was 8th quick and couldn’t get a run on the train in front of him in his heat to transfer to the main. He chased a fast Josh Ford in the semi to finish 2nd and started 11th in the main event. He was moving toward the end, but ended his night in 5th for a good ride. He will run the rest of the Perris races and the Western this year.

Two time Cra Champion Brad Noffsinger was inducted into the Legends of Ascot Hall of Fame in the afternoon and jumped in the Gardner Grandpa car # 25 for the evenings racing. He made the car run well, but had a problem in his heat and then was the first car to not make the main event when he ran 7th in the Semi. How often does a legend run with us? Not often and it was a pleasure to see the former Wagsdash Grand Marshall again.

There are always a few who have the “tough love” when they hit the track and Rusty Carlile was one of those this week. He got upside down in the semi and out of the rest of the night. The likeable driver is trying to make a good showing in the Oval Nationals this year and had to rent a motor to come practice. If there were still Wagsbucks, he would have received it this week. Hard charger for the week was Rodney Argo as he came from last to 11th.

The 5th annual Legends of Ascot came to the PAS again after missing last year. The Don Weaver – Belita Michnowicz show features a dazzling day of antique cars, many drivers now and from back then, good food and some entertaining speeches as they laud some of our history in the form of people who made So Cal history what it is! Honored and entering the Hall of Fame this year were Chuck Hulse, Billy Boat, Brad Nofsinger, Ned Spath, Carl Alleman, Don Basile and Louie Senter. Also the Gardner family was honored with the lifetime achievement award. It was a grand afternoon as you could visit with some of histories all time greats like Parnelli Jones, Sleepy Trip, Jimmy Oskie and many many more who were there to see and be seen. The annual event should be on everyone’s schedule.

Coming up are five weeks of nothing but the best action! Kicking it off we’ll be at Ventura next Saturday where some of the best bull ring action will thrill us all. Follow that up with three days at the 13th annual Oval Nationals looking for a local winner for a change, and then on to two days of the Western World before coming back to the PAS for the Kindall Classic. A week off and then we end the season with the first annual Glenn Howard Memorial that you won’t want to miss on Thanksgiving weekend. Get ready, it will be an exciting run and a new champion will be crowned by the end of it all.

10/18/08 FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Damion Gardner, 2. Mike Spencer, 3. Blake Miller, 4. Danny Sheridan, 5. Chad Boat, 6. Tony Jones, 7. Cole Whitt, 8. Rip Williams, 9. Josh Ford, 10. Alan Ballard, 11. Rodney Argo, 12. Tyler Brown, 13. Matt Mitchell, 14. Cody Williams, 15. J Hicks, 16. Jordan Hermansader, 17. Henry Clarke, 18. Royal Adderson, 19. David Cardey, 20. Nic Faas, 21. Rickie Gaunt, 22. Greg Bragg. NT

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1 Williams, Laps 2-16 Jones, Laps 17-30 D. Gardner.

NEW LUCAS OIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINTS: 1-Spencer-1316; 2-Miller-1254; 3-Sheridan-1213; 4-Garrett Hansen-1039; 5-Jones-980; 6-Brown-910; 7-Cory Kruseman-884; 8-Cardey-810; 9-Ford-732; 10-Faas-555.

NEXT LUCAS OIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACE: October 25 – Ventura (CA) Raceway