LEVI JONES WINS HIS FIRST USAC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

By Ken Wagner 11/13/05

Three nights of racing watched over by the Hall of Fame member and Grand Marshal Lealand McSpadden was exciting for fans and racers alike as the late nights and great weather brought two championships and a new Western World Champion at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, AZ. New champions in USAC/CRA, Damion Gardner and the National USAC, Levi Jones, plus Western World winner Dave Darland showing his stuff, the 38th running was special. Even a new track record of 18.301 set by Levi Jones was amazing.

For the photos this week click here.

In the opening night 25 lap prelim, Jerry Coons Jr showed he was ready as he chased down Damion Gardner and Mike Spencer to win going away and put his name in the hat for the Western World champion. The local favorite, driving the Kroger-Tide – Bounty-Pringles, F-5, Mopar, # 69, looked strong all night in getting his first USAC/CRA win. He looked just as strong the next two nights, but came up short Friday and had a flat tire on Saturday.

Damion Gardner needed only to finish 6th or better to sew up his first crown on Friday night, and he did even better. He swept into the lead past young Darren Hagen on lap 5 and stretched it out for his 15th win of the season when no one could catch him. It was a little dicey late in the race when the Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply – Arizona Race Mart, Eagle, Shaver # 50 began slowing with a tire coming apart. On the cool down lap, the tire exploded and he ended up smashing into Rip Williams when he was trying to enter the pits at the push off area.

When Dave Darland won $30,000, an eagle trophy and a special ring at the PAS last week, some might have thought he was done. When he did the same thing at Manzy this week, some people might rethink how they feel about the most underrated driver in the country. He drove the Hoosier Race Tires – Weld Wheels, Chalk, Claxton, blue # 11 right to the front from the third starting spot in the 40 lap main event and never looked back. So, two weeks out of Indiana netted him $ 42,500 and a spot on top of the sprint car world for the winter.

Not long ago Levi Jones was running a little bit here and a little bit there with a ride in Glenn Crossno’s car when he could make it out west and several rides in Indiana. When he hooked up with Scott Benic, the slate was clean and now he has swept up a National USAC Championship and is on his way. Driving the Lucas Oil – Karavan Trailer, Maxim, Gaerte # 2B car, Levi has won a lot of races this year, but running second this week gave him his best deal. He set a new track record at Manzy with an 18.301 that should stand for a while.

Mike Spencer continues to impress in his quiet way. He finished 4th last week and 5th this week against the best drivers in the land. It seems like “Mighty Mike” just gets the job done and came within a few laps of getting his first win on opening night when Coons came roaring by. I can’t help but think this week might be the brass ring night for the young driver as everyone else has got all the important stuff handled and he might sneak one in at the Kindoll Classic.

As the year winds down, and my focus slacks off of racing and moves on to family, other stuff and basketball, I am sad that we had the lowest Wagsbucks collections since 1994 with only about $18,000 paid out to the racers. In that year long ago, it was only $14,250 on the way to a high year of $ 47,513 in 2001. Then came 911 and collections changed drastically to where we are today with many demands on discretional money from the fans. But with nearly $450,000 of Wagsbucks collected overall and paid to CRA, SCRA and now USAC/CRA car owners, I am committing to ramp it up and do better in 2006.

To do that, several things have to happen and especially I’ll need help. First, I have to come down out of the ivory tower press boxes and get back in the grandstands with my wife, my friends and the fans where I feel more comfortable and where I can generate interest in what this Wagtimes thing is all about. I will also have to get started earlier in the year on the Wagsdash and create more interest, more money and even more racing products for the racers at our event. It means to carry my clipboard and go back to collecting money for the hard luck driver on a weekly basis and to get creative in making next years Wagsdash the best one yet.

Along those lines Kevin Zimmerman has given me a jump start this week at the Western. When his father, and my friend Rich Zimmerman, passed away at the Western two years ago, Kevin spearheaded a special race for dad at Knoxville for some of the best traditional drivers in the land. That short race in front of a full house of wing watchers paid big bucks and showcased our favorite type of racing. Anyway, Kevin is a big racing fan and he caught me Thursday night and gave me $1000 to get the 2006 Wagsdash going! I guess I am on the move, so let the Wags collections begin.

USAC VALVOLINE NATIONAL/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES RACE RESULTS: November 10, 2005 – Phoenix, Arizona – Manzanita Speedway – 38th Checker Auto Parts/Budweiser “Western World Open” Preliminary

QUALIFYING: 1. Levi Jones, 2B, 2B Racing-18.301; 2. Jerry Coons Jr., 69, Dynamics-18.463; 3. Damion Gardner, 50, Chaffin-18.520; 4. Dave Darland, 11, Walker/Guiducci-18.560; 5. Darren Hagen, 71, Hagen-18.723; 6. Seth Wilson, 17, Racing Optics-18.787; 7. Tracy Hines, 69OT, Dynamics-18.803; 8. Bud Kaeding, 29, BK/Leffler-18.834; 9. Josh Wise, 20, Stewart-18.890; 10. Jesse Hockett, 2J, Massey-18.992; 11. Mike Spencer, 44J, Engstrom-18.993; 12. Mat Neely, 6, K&N-18.995; 13. Jay Drake, 21, Stewart-18.996; 14. Rickie Gaunt, 2A, Smiley-19.067; 15. Rip Williams, 3, Jory-19.069; 16. Rick Ziehl, 20z, Ziehl-19.072; 17. Mike Leslie, 76, Montgomery-19.075; 18. Rodney Argo, 19, Argo-19.096; 19. Mike Kirby, 96, Kirby-19.121; 20. Bill Rose, 11x, Walker/Guiducci-19.125; 21. Bryan Clauson, 67, Kunz-19.125; 22. Shane Cottle, 10E, Edison-19.126; 23. Adam Mitchell, 14, Lancaster-19.129; 24. Tom Hessert, 5H, Hessert-19.153; 25. Chuck Buckman, 61az, Carston-19.172; 26. Jordan Hermansader, 4, Alexander-19.181; 27. Jon Stanbrough, 10, R&B-19.185; 28. Casey Shuman, 44M, Felker-19.187; 29. Ben Gregg, 22B, Gregg-19.210; 30. Cory Kruseman, 38, Crossno-19.235; 31. Charles Davis Jr., 8A, Smiley-19.258; 32. Jeremy Sherman, 7, Priestly-19.309; 33. Josh Ford, 73, Ford-19.340; 34. Ryan Pace, 44, Pace-19.405; 35. John Scott, 83, Scott-19.414; 36. Davey Ray, 14AJ, Fattfro-19.443; 37. Brad Sweet, 1C, Sweet-19.476; 38. R.J. Johnson, 15, Martin-19.477; 39. Danny Sheridan, 18, Kittle Motorsports-19.502; 40. Tom Ogle, 5A, Turner-19.535; 41. Matt Rossi, 02, Rossi-19.568; 42. Justin Marvel, 14L, Lancaster-19.577; 43. Mike Martin, 57, Martin-19.664; 44. Dickie Gaines, 21x, Roberts-19.670; 45. Ronnie Clark, 33, Clark-19.727; 46. Bob Ream Jr., 8, B.R.A.T.-19.820; 47. Keith Williamson, 95, Williamson-20.042; 48. Brandon Lane, 97H, Lane-20.093; 49. Derek O’Dell, 11D, O’Dell-20.099; 50. Mark Deskovick, 1, Deskovick-22.357; 51. Nathan High, 6A, High-NT.

C MAIN: (10 laps) 1. Martin, 2. Marvel, 3. Gaines, 4. Ream, 5. Williamson, 6. Deskovick, 7. Lane, 8. Case, 9. Rossi. 3:19.82

FIRST HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Davis, 2. Clauson, 3. Jones, 4. Spencer, 5. Ray, 6. Wilson, 7. Hermansader, 8. Ziehl. NT

SECOND HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Sherman, 2. Sweet, 3. Coons, 4. Cottle, 5. Stanbrough, 6. Neely, 7. Leslie, 8. Hines. NT

THIRD HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Ford, 2. Drake, 3. Johnson, 4. Gardner, 5. Kaeding, 6. Argo, 7. Shuman, 8. Mitchell. NT

FOURTH HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Sheridan, 2. Darland, 3. Pace, 4. Gaunt, 5. Hessert, 6. Wise, 7. Kirby, 8. Gregg. NT

FIFTH HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Scott, 2. Kruseman, 3. Williams, 4. Rose, 5. Hagen, 6. Ogle, 7. Buckman, 8. Hockett. NT

SEMIFEATURE: (12 laps) 1. Hagen, 2. Kaeding, 3. Hines, 4. Wise, 5. Neely, 6. Kirby, 7. Leslie, 8. Stanbrough, 9. Hermansader, 10. Hessert, 11. Shuman, 12. Gregg, 13. Ray, 14. Ogle, 15. Gaines, 16. Martin, 17. Ream, 18. Marvel, 19. Buckman, 20. Ziehl, 21. Wilson, 22. Argo, 23. Mitchell. NT

FEATURE: (25 laps) 1. Jerry Coons Jr., 2. Mike Spencer, 3. Damion Gardner, 4. Levi Jones, 5. Dave Darland, 6. Jay Drake, 7. Rip Williams, 8. Bud Kaeding, 9. Josh Wise, 10. Tracy Hines, 11. Rickie Gaunt, 12. Bill Rose, 13. Bryan Clauson, 14. Shane Cottle, 15. Jeremy Sherman, 16. Brad Sweet, 17. Danny Sheridan, 18. Josh Ford, 19. Charles Davis Jr., 20. Dickie Gaines, 21. Ryan Pace, 22. Cory Kruseman, 23. R.J. Johnson, 24. John Scott, 25. Darren Hagen.

** Rossi flipped in the C Main. Hockett flipped in the fourth heat.

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-16 Spencer, Laps 17-25 Coons

USAC VALVOLINE NATIONAL/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES RACE RESULTS: November 11, 2005 – Phoenix, Arizona – Manzanita Speedway – 38th Checker Auto Parts/Budweiser “Western World Championship” Preliminary

QUALIFYING: 1. Levi Jones, 2B, 2B Racing-18.687; 2. Casey Shuman, 44M, Felker-18.794; 3. Jerry Coons Jr., 69, Dynamics-18.922; 4. Damion Gardner, 50, Chaffin-19.013; 5. Dave Darland, 11, Walker/Guiducci-19.041; 6. Tracy Hines, 69ot, Dynamics-19.074; 7. Bill Rose, 11X, Walker/Guiducci-19.102; 8. Darren Hagen, 71, Hagen-19.124; 9. Davey Ray, 14AJ, Fattfro-19.218; 10. Jay Drake, 21, Stewart-19.256; 11. Danny Sheridan, 18, Kittle Motorsports-19.292; 12. Tom Hessert III, 5H, Hessert-19.322; 13. Josh Wise, 20, Stewart-19.323; 14. Ryan Pace, 44, Pace-19.342; 15. Brad Sweet, 1C, Sweet-19.352; 16. Ben Gregg, 22B, Gregg-19.366; 17. Charles Davis Jr., 8A, Smiley-19.372; 18. Mike Leslie, 76, Montgomery-19.376; 19. Seth Wilson, 17, Racing Optics-19.378; 20. Rick Ziehl, 20z, Ziehl-19.407; 21. Mike Kirby, 96, Kirby-19.422; 22. Bud Kaeding, 29, BK/Leffler-19.452; 23. Josh Ford, 73, Ford-19.452; 24. Chuck Buckman, 61az, Carston-19.525; 25. Rip Williams, 3, Jory-19.550; 26. Bryan Clauson, 67, Kunz-19.563; 27. Jordan Hermansader, 4, Alexander-19.634; 28. Mike Spencer, 44J, Engstrom-19.640; 29. Mike Martin, 57, Martin-19.657; 30. Cory Kruseman, 38, Crossno-19.692; 31. Rodney Argo, 19, Argo-19.694; 32. Mat Neely, 10, R&B-19.696; 33. Shane Cottle, 10E, Edison-19.723; 34. Jeremy Sherman, 7, Priestley-19.762; 35. Jesse Hockett, 2J, Massey-19.767; 36. Dickie Gaines, 21x, Roberts-19.830; 37. Tom Ogle, 5A, Turner-19.837; 38. Adam Mitchell, 14, Lancaster-19.853; 39. R.J. Johnson, 15, Martin-19.883; 40. J.J. Yeley, 11d, O’Dell-19.887; 41. Brandon Lane, 97H, Lane-19.907; 42. Rickie Gaunt, 2A, Smiley-19.925; 43. Justin Marvel, 14L, Lancaster-19.961; 44. Ronnie Clark, 33x, Clark-19.990; 45. Bob Ream Jr., 8, B.R.A.T.-20.072; 46. Nadine Keller, 16, Keller-20.979; 47. Nathan High, 6A, Pritchett-24.201.

C MAIN: (10 laps) 1. Gaunt, 2. Lane, 3. Marvel, 4. Ream, 5. Keller. 2:44.56

FIRST HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Clauson, 2. Jones, 3. Kirby, 4. Sheridan, 5. Hines, 6. Gregg, 7. Argo, 8. Gaines. 3:22.18

SECOND HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Neely, 2. Kaeding, 3. Shuman, 4. Davis, 5. Rose, 6. Hessert, 7. Hermansader. NT

THIRD HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Coons, 2. Cottle, 3. Spencer, 4. Hagen, 5. Ford, 6. Wise, 7. Leslie, 8. Mitchell. 3:24.71

FOURTH HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Gardner, 2. Johnson, 3. Sherman, 4. Pace, 5. Buckman, 6. Wilson, 7. Martin, 8. Ray. 3:26.46

FIFTH HEAT: (10 laps) 1. Kruseman, 2. Hockett, 3. Darland, 4. Sweet, 5. Williams, 6. Ziehl, 7. Derek O’Dell (#11d O’Dell), 8. Drake. 3:24.30

SEMIFEATURE: (12 laps) 1. Hines, 2. Drake, 3. Rose, 4. Wilson, 5. Williams, 6. Gaines, 7. Gregg, 8. Ford, 9. Ziehl, 10. Gaunt, 11. Martin, 12. Hessert, 13. Wise, 14. Buckman, 15. Leslie, 16. Ream, 17. Marvel, 18. O’Dell, 19. Lane, 20. Hermansader, 21. Ogle, 22. Mitchell, 23. Argo. NT

FEATURE: (25 laps) 1. Damion Gardner, 2. Jerry Coons Jr., 3. Dave Darland, 4. Levi Jones, 5. Tracy Hines, 6. Darren Hagen, 7. Mike Kirby, 8. Bill Rose, 9. Casey Shuman, 10. Brad Sweet, 11. Cory Kruseman, 12. Bud Kaeding, 13. Dickie Gaines, 14. Mat Neely, 15. Jay Drake, 16. Bryan Clauson, 17. Jesse Hockett, 18. Charles Davis Jr., 19. Seth Wilson, 20. Danny Sheridan, 21. Shane Cottle, 22. Rip Williams, 23. Mike Spencer, 24. Jeremy Sherman, 25. R.J. Johnson, 26. Ryan Pace. 8:48.60

** Kaeding and Ream flipped in hot laps. Argo flipped in the semifeature.

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-3 Hagen, Laps 4-25 Gardner

VALVOLINE USAC NATIONAL & USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES RACE RESULTS: November 12, 2005 – Phoenix, Arizona – Manzanita Speedway – 38th “Checker Auto Parts/Budweiser Western World Championships”

“C” MAIN: (12 laps) 1. Ben Gregg (#22B Gregg), 2. Seth Wilson (#17 Racing Optics), 3. Mike Leslie (#76 Montgomery), 4. Tom Hessert III (#5H Hessert), 5. Rick Ziehl (#20z Ziehl), 6. Chuck Buckman (#61az Carsten), 7. Mike Martin (#57 Martin), 8. Davey Ray (#14AJ Fattfro), 9. Jordan Hermansader (#4 Alexander), 10. Tom Ogle (#5A Turner), 11. Brandon Lane (#97H Lane), 12. Derek O’Dell (#11D O’Dell), 13. Nadine Keller (#16 Keller), 14. Bob Ream Jr. (#8 BRAT). 4:02.39

“B” MAIN: (20 laps) 1. Rip Williams (#3 Jory), 2. Cory Kruseman (#38 Crossno), 3. Danny Sheridan (#18 Kittle), 4. Mike Kirby (#96 Kirby), 5. Jeremy Sherman (#7 Priestley), 6. Shane Cottle (#10E Edison), 7. Ryan Pace (#44p Pace), 8. Mat Neely (#10 R & B), 9. Josh Wise (#20 Stewart), 10. Jesse Hockett (#2J Massey), 11. Casey Shuman (#44M Felker), 12. R.J. Johnson (#15AZ Martin), 13. Hessert, 14. Leslie, 15. Wilson, 16. Martin, 17. Charles Davis Jr. (#8A Smiley), 18. Rickie Gaunt (#2A Smiley), 19. Gregg, 20. Dickie Gaines (#21x Roberts), 21. Josh Ford (#73 Ford), 22. Ray, 23. Buckman, 24. Ziehl. NT

FEATURE: (40 laps) 1. Dave Darland (#11 Walker/Guiducci), 2. Levi Jones (#2B 2B Racing), 3. Damion Gardner (#50 Chaffin), 4. Cory Kruseman, 5. Mike Spencer (#44 Engstrom), 6. Casey Shuman, 7. Mat Neely, 8. Tracy Hines (#69T Dynamics), 9. Danny Sheridan, 10. Jeremy Sherman, 11. Rip Williams, 12. Jerry Coons Jr. (#69 Dynamics), 13. Brad Sweet (#1C Sweet), 14. Jesse Hockett, 15. Jay Drake (#21 Stewart), 16. Josh Wise, 17. Ryan Pace, 18. Bud Kaeding (#29 BK/Leffler), 19. R.J. Johnson, 20. Mike Kirby, 21. Shane Cottle, 22. Bill Rose (#11x Walker/Guiducci), 23. Darren Hagen (#71 Hagen), 24. Rickie Gaunt, 25. Bryan Clauson (#67 Kunz). NT

**Buckman and Ray flipped during the “B” Main.

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-5 Kaeding, Laps 6-40 Darland.

FINAL VALVOLINE USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CAR STANDINGS: 1-Jones-1,670; 2-Darland-1,657; 3-Kaeding-1,349; 4-Drake-1,333; 5-Wise-1,286; 6-Neely-1,165; 7-Coons-1,008; 8-Hagen-906; 9-Jon Stanbrough-886; 10-Hines-772.

NEW VALVOLINE USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR STANDINGS: 1-Gardner-2,130; 2-Kruseman-1,942; 3-Williams-1,894; 4-Kirby-1,623; 5-Spencer-1,442; 6-Davis-1,400; 7-Gaunt-1,362; 8-Ford-1,161; 9-Sheridan-1,127; 10-Wilson-1,029.

NEXT VALVOLINE USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACE: November 19 – Perris (CA) Auto Speedway