Cory Kruseman finished the 2001 season out just like he started it, on top! As the SCRA closed the 2001 season, 47cars were ready to battle for the last pile of cash of the year. Perfect weather and a packed house made for a grand finale on a very racy track. Tony Jones looked like he would be Cory's strongest challenger when he set fast time at a low 16.320 on the quick track. Later, he would lead the pack by half a lap until the champion came to claim his crown. Michael Hinrichsen won the 2001 SCRA Rookie of the Year title as he ran strong all night to prove his now veteran skill.

Mrs Wags latest pics Are here!

Cory, the 2001 SCRA Champion, drove his WorldGate Networks, TCR, Del Mar Wire # 45 like a Stradivarius, with a skillfully strong yet finely honed touch, as he battled from his 7th starting spot thru the field to get to early leader Tony Jones. Then a great battle ensued with the Cowboy Jones leading the way thru traffic until his car started wig-wagging in the corners. One wiggle to many was all Cory needed to grab the lead on lap 40 and head for victory circle. In winning his 15th feature of the year, Cory set a record that will be hard to beat in years to come with this group of hard chargers. Cory couldn't have planned it better as his patience and fast car were unbeatable this weekend. What's up for next year? No word yet, but that Silver Crown ride looks like reality.

Cory also won the Wagtimes 2001 Most Popular Driver Award for the 4th time, also a record. This award is voted on by all the fans that donate Wagsbucks for the weekly low buck team with problems in SCRA racing. The beautiful Eagle trophy was provided by Trophy City in San Jose, and was another sharp award created by my friend Trophy Dave. It was a banner year for the Kruser and he, car owner Harlan Willis and crew chief, Mike Nigh, will be the "big Show" at the Banquet in January at the Flamingo Hilton. Call the SCRA office to reserve your tickets at 480-940-2354.

Tony Jones drives the Mike Wall Trucking, Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply, Concept Powder Coating # 37. This is a low buck team, and the "Cowboy" proved his mettle, once again, by setting the fast time, running 2nd in his heat, 3rd in the JE Pistons Passing Masters Dash and leading the feature from lap 3 thru lap 39. Only a badly blistering tire kept him from having the finishing touch he normally has in these 50 lappers. When the car began to float up in the corners, he adjusted but just couldn't hold off the determined Kruser. Hopefully this Jones boy will have the equipment next year to battle for the championship as he missed nearly half of the season, and still finished 12th in points! Look for more from this "Jones" next year!

John Scott finished his year 5th in points and ran 3rd on the night. John's car sported a little smoke coming from the engine midway thru the race, but it held together as he was strong to the line. Driving the Pace Electronics, Pro Prep, Design Works Custom Graphics # 83, John announced a 3 year deal with Pace that will ultimately send him to the Midwest to run the Silver Crown series and more. John's professional approach to racing has made this break for him. We all wish him well in his goals, but hate to see him go. Before he leaves though, His crew received the Wagtimes 2001 Best Appearing Car Award, again voted on by the fans. The car always looked sharp whenever it hit the track and the team, especially Denise Manandik, won many Wagtimes shiny tire awards throughout the season. This award also provided by Trophy City with the foto in it from Tear Off Heaven Fotos, aka Steve Lafond.

Rip Williams had a teammate for this last race. Mike English got in the companion # 3 to put two black Gamblers in competition. Rip started 17th and worked his way into the hard charger award when he finished 7th. Mike was 18th in the other car. Mike is looking for a ride next year while Rip is ready to challenge for the championship and looks ready to start right now. Mike Kirby finished the season on a bright note after his hood flew off in his heat and he had to run the semi. In the main, he started 12th and raced up to 5th near the end with a borrowed yellow hood.

Tony Elliott will want to forget this trip out West. The former USAC champion hasn't had one bit of good luck in the Gardner Motorsports team car this month, and leaves town with another aw shucks ending this week. He won his heat and was taken out early in the main when he and two other cars got together, and he was the one hooked off. Tony is a champion and deserved better, but that's racing. The Gardner's regular chauffer, Troy Rutherford, started 8th and finished 9th in the feature for the family owned sprinter, so one rolled on the trailer with ease. Don't know the plans for the team next year, but one thing is for sure, there won't be a # 2 car, and that came from Jack Gardner Jr with emphasis. They haven't had much luck with that number 2 on their car, except for the Tony Jones ride at Ventura, and want to bury it. Jimmy Jr is already planning his season as he works on his own # 96 version, part of the requirement to drive a family car, and is happy about it.

Bill Rose made the trip from Indiana to drive Rick Becker's # 67. He was 5th quick, 4th in the Semi and 15th in the main as he enjoyed the night pretty well having fun. He made few appearances with us this year because he was very successful back home and has plans to put on the top hardware next year and run for their money. It's always good to see Bill race with us.

Brian Stanfill really ran well in his sprint car debut driving Glenn Crossno's # 38 car. Brian is a veteran midget driver and looks to make the jump up to the bigger horsepower cars. He was pretty impressive running 4th in his heat, then 6th in the dash and was kickin' it in the main when he crashed after avoiding another car. He was in 5th at the time. Glenn hasn't announced his intentions for 2002 as a driver, or owner, but confidently says this car only needs a little TLC before next year and he will be ready.

Michael Hinrichsen was very impressive this week as the rookie of the year, but didn't drive like one. At one point in the main, he passed the Gasman, and later said that was a thrill. He couldn't hold back the three-time champion Griffin, but finished well with 11th on the night. Richard clocked in a 5th to close his season and looks forward to the time off during the winter. He celebrated his birthday in the pits after the races.

Lance Gremett "only" finished 14th, but put on a good show as the youngster continues to impress me. His results the last half of the season haven't been what he wanted, but he can drive and I look for more out of him next year. Charles Davis Jr had an electrical problem while running in the top five early. His car would not restart after a red flag stop. Jarrett Chaney, 2001 Wagsdash Champion, received his champions jacket before the races created by Jim Naylor. Another awesome stitching job from the master of Ventura. It looked good on him, but his mom, Betty, and girlfriend, Brandi, were eyeing it as he suited up to drive. Hmmmm, is it like a letterman's jacket from high school where the owner never gets to wear it? Probably not as Jarrett was happy to receive it and I think he will wear it with pride.

The night was full of other good things, including the new SCRA schedule for 2002, a warm thank you speech from Kim Gervais, a promise from Don Kazarian to improve the already sparkling PAS facility and some great racing! The 2002 SCRA schedule goes something like this: The year begins at Perris with a February 9th DAYTIME race. With the cool temps that time of year, perhaps the fans will like it. It's something different and I will refrain from judging until after the event. I am well known for my opinion on day races, but most of those have been in hot climates, so maybe this one will be worthy. Perris continues the year with Saturday dates on March 2nd, 9th and 23rd, April 13th and 27th, May 18th and 25th for 50 laps, June 8th, and 22nd, the annual 4th of July race plus the 13th, and 27thin July, then Sept 1st and 14th, Oct 4th & 5th and the 31st, Nov 1st and 2nd the Oval Nationals and the closer, the Kindoll Classic 50 lapper on November 16th.

Manzanita gets four trips across the desert starting on Copper World weekend March 15 & 16, then May 11, September 28th and Nov 7 thru the 9th. Thunder Bowl in Tulare gets two visits (hooray) the first on April 20 and the last on July 6th. Ventura gets three dates on May 4, August 31st and the new Wagsdash date of October 26th. A return to Bakersfield is scheduled on June 1st and Sept 7 (another hooray). Santa Maria has 3 dates with the first on June 15th, followed by July 20 and Sept 21st.

The NWWC Tour will be aggressive and most assuredly fun next year. It is moved a little later in the summer so the kids are out of school and the family's can go! It all begins in August on the night before the Knoxville Nationals at nearby Oskaloosa, Iowa's Southern Iowa Speedway on Aug 6. From there, the SCRA moves to Fremont Speedway in Ohio on the 8th, then to Williams Grove Speedway in PA on the 9th, Lincoln Speedway on the 10th and Bob Miller's Grandview Raceway the 11th. There are two dates TBA on the way back to Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Aug 13th and 14th. Lakeside then has a media day/practice night on Aug 15 followed by two nights of racing to close it off and send the racers back to California. The other two NWWC events are like this year, the Western World at Manzy and Oval Nationals at Perris in November.

The schedule looks well rounded with a little less traveling, except for the big trip East, and has 46 dates with seven "to be announced" possibles. The return to Bakersfield is a great sign as it's been too long since we ran there. Not only is the little bowl a fan favorite for sprint cars, but also it is reasonably close to the homeland. With Tulare, Santa Maria and Ventura in the fold, only Hanford stops us from completing the "Fab Five short track circuit" of So Cal that we all want to see. The Fab Five are a great range of short track excitement and the four tracks we run will lure the fan base out of the LA Basin and on the road next year. The only thing that could possibly top it off was that rumored Calistoga race?

The three ongoing raffles finally got claimed thru drawings at intermission at The PAS on Saturday night. All of you raffle ticket buyers, except three lucky winners, will be unhappy to learn you weren't winners, this time, but are winners for participating and helping the causes. Rick Warren claimed the Dale Earnhart painting by Glen Erisch and all the money collected over the last few months went to the George Gervais recovery fund. Pit visitor Gordon Martin won the 4 X4 Kawasaki ATV drawing, with the proceeds from the raffle going to the Wagsdash ($300), the Kindoll Classic ($700) and the final $400 to go either to the SCRA Banquet or NWWC Tour next year. The annual SCRA drivers T-shirt quilt made by Mrs Wags now belongs to Scott Keys of Semi Valley. Thanks for all the participation, now we can relax for a few weeks.

Kim Gervais made her first appearance at Perris since her husband's bad crash sent him to the hospital, and made a moving speech thanking all the people who have stepped up to be there for her, for George and the family. She reported he is continuing to improve, but hasn't popped that beer can yet, yet is moving forward. Our prayers are still with George and his family.

Don Kazarian announced they would bring in some new clay and continue to improve an already special racetrack. The crowds are coming and next year promises to be the best one yet at the PAS! They always work hard and if that is any indication, the reward will be a great 2002! What about that adding speakers in the restrooms, so fans pausing for the cause can still hear what's going on?

As for the Wagtimer's, the year was another good one and planning for 2002 is in the works. The totals on the year should be posted soon, so look for it on the wagtimes.com site, but a sneak preview shows the Wagtimes topped $300,000 this past week! Imagine, we added that to the SCRA racers beyond their other monies earned. This year was the all time highest one year total at over $47,000. For the rest of the year, I will have several things in store. A new story on Mike Kirby is about ready to be published on Wagtimes, as well as some other good stuff so my thanks to all of you, you were great.

Why I am not going to turkey night, the premier 50 year old race that Ascot made famous. It's not dirt, that's why! When the return to dirt happens, I will be happy to go, but I can't get into midgets, or sprints, on pavement screeching around and not backing them in! Irwindale is a top notch racetrack, and Doug Stokes is a favorite friend who has done marvelous, as he did at the PAS when it opened. But the tradition is dirt racing and when you put it on the blacktop, you get the "Beast review" with only the crème of the top in contention for the win. If it ain't one of those few # 9 cars, no chance! So why are the rest of them there, it's not the purse? I understand the reasoning ($$$) to run it there, but I was disappointed in the racing last year on my only visit there. I was impressed with the facility, the pit parade, the old timers, the pageantry and the many friends I saw, but that is where it ends. I hope it returns to Perris, Bakersfield, or even Ventura, but until then I'll just shut up and eat my turkey. And remember, when it's racetime………it's WAGTIME!!!!!!!!!!

There were 141 total entrants in SCRA racing in 2001. The final SCRA points standings: 1. Cory Kruseman - 2620, 2. Richard Griffin - 2290, 3. Troy Rutherford - 2214, 4. Mike Kirby - 2052, 5. John Scott - 1977, 6. Rickie Gaunt - 1812, 7. Rip Williams - 1793, 8. Steve Ostling - 1687, 9. Mike English - 1487, 10. Danny Sheridan - 1405, 11. Charles Davis Jr - 1397, 12. Tony Jones - 1389, 13. Rodney Argo - 1019, 14. Troy Cline - 870, 15. Adam Mitchell - 806, 16. Lance Gremett - 799, 17. Michael Hinrichsen (R)- 707, 18. Jeremy Sherman - 701, 19. Jarrett Chaney - 652, 20. Mike Spencer (R) - 626, 21. Bobby Graham - 592, 22. Greg DeCaires - 577, 23. Ronnie Clark (R) - 524, 24. Brian Venard - 517, 25. Bob Ream Jr - 478, 26. George Gervais - 426, 27. Casey Shuman - 419, 28. Jordan Hermansader - 374, 29. Verne Sweeney - 367, 30. Hank Winter - 360, 31. Gary W. Howard - 357, 32. Marc Hart - 271, 33. Jack DeArmond Jr - 271, 34. Jerry Coons Jr - 238, 35. Alex Grigoreas - 234, 36. Tony Elliott - 213, 37. J.J. Yeley - 187, 38. Jimmy May - 173, 39. Mark Nation - 165, 40. Greg Taylor, (R) - 150, 41. Keith Williamson - 141, 42. Glenn Crossno (R) - 136, 43. Kevin Doty - 121, 44. Peter Murphy - 121, 45. Kevin White - 108, 46. Charlie Ekiss - 107, 47. Cal Smith - 105, 48. Derek Davidson - 105, 49. Dan Hillberg - 101, 50. Shane Alach - 101, 51. Steve Venard - 98, 52. Bud Kaeding - 93, 53. Tracy Hines - 90, 54. Tom Downing - 80, 55. Larry Brown - 71, 56. Chris Rahe - 69, 57. Jay Drake - 64, 58. Tony Everhart - 56, 59. Bill Rose - 52, 60. Rick Becker (R) - 51, 61. Eric Rossi - 49