By Ken Wagner
March 3, 2007

You never know about Mother Nature, but this week I had it on good authority that the blistering winds would stop by 5 pm. My source gave me hope, but when Mike Spencer pulled into the winners circle after the latest 30 lap USAC/CRA race at the PAS, it was still going strong. I don’t know who gave Mother Nature the Rabbit’s batteries, but this has to stop. It was unbelievable how the wind blew directly into the fans face in the grandstands, more so that they stayed to see even see the ending.

My pics are partial. Click here. or Doug Allen's work Click here.

Watching the drama unfold with the Chaffin/Bromme team reminded me of a certain Santa Maria race I wrote about in the Wagtimes newsletter years ago. The make believe story I created was published after an infuriating “non rain” rainout and featured Bruce Bromme Jr on a night when nothing went right in my windy version. When the # 50 car got a quick motor change after qualifying this week, I thought “here we go again”. The car didn’t get pushed off for the first heat until all the cars had fired up and immediately the red car sounded a little odd. After a restart, Mike hung in for third and transferred to the main. He started on the pole of the main event and struggled backwards to 4th until a red flag stop. There, the team went to work. Bruce and his crew did a little tune-up and on the next restart, Mike jumped from 4th to 1st using the high groove as the other three were on the bottom! He won going away as Rip chased in second. It was Mike’s first in his new ride and 4th CRA win and it looks like the team has another driver who can win often.

Rip Williams never lost sight of the different leaders as he was in a position to win, but not this week. Rip ran second in his heat after qualifying 7th and continues to run strong every week. Josh Wise drove one of the Kunz cars and started 11th in the feature. He grabbed third from Rickie Gaunt at the very end. Tony Jones was a rocket early as he led early, then lost a cylinder about lap 10 and limped home in fifth with the point lead still in his grasp.

Damion Gardner looked very strong this week, qualifying second and winning his heat. Unfortunately, he was one of three who didn’t make a timely call to line up for the main event, and went to the back. Michael Trimble and Todd Hunsaker were the other two. Damion then started about 20th and was in 10th by lap 10. He finished 6th on a great drive, but later said there would be no party tonight!

Jimmy Crawford set fast time and ran 8th in the main, but mentioned in an on track interview, he needed some sponsorship to continue this every week. He doesn’t know if Vegas is in his future this week and noted if someone would step up and get him some of those expensive tires, it might make the decision easier.

Scotty Weir was the hard charger for the second week in a row coming from 19th to 7th. Josh Ford returned after being off since the opening week crash that destroyed his car and injured his ankle. He finished 10th in the main. Jonny Bates has a new Bullett chassis and is feeling it out. He missed the main by one spot, but reported the car works great and he has to get use to it and learn the adjustments on it. Blake Miller showed up in the Stansberry/Bach # 75 this week. He was 4th in his heat and 16th in the main for a good start getting use to the powerful Mopar.

Brian Camarillo is not without grit. The young driver wants to go to the front. His only limitation is his experience and he is trying to do something about that. Case in point; he started near the back in the semi and worked his way into a transfer before a yellow flag flew. The track was getting slick and on the restart he came around on the black groove a little too hot and spun his way back toward the rear. Still, he came back and made some veteran type moves that his skill level wasn’t quite ready for and he missed the transfer by a few spots.

This week’s attaboy goes to Jason York on the pass of the night. Picture this: Jason is behind Damion and another car going down the back stretch. Damion makes a move on the other car going into the turn, by trying to get under him for the pass, and as this is going on, Jason goes under both, with virtually no room down there, and charges by both of them and moves on. His wife jumped for joy in the grandstands when she saw the move and he ended up 8th on the night.

Now the bad news part of the night for who’s counting. Danny Sheridan and Garrett Hansen pit next to each other every week and share some things. Somehow Garrett got a little sideways and collected Danny in the main, sending them both to the trailer early. Tyler Brown looked great again this week, but had some problems keeping it on all four tires and ended his night in the semi. Cory Kruseman had a rare flip in the main and was done early. Darren Hagen was doing well until a u-joint broke in his ride and he was the first car out. RJ Johnson got help into the wall in his heat, putting a hurt on the car, and still ran 11th in the main.

My hats off to Perris and the CRA for getting the shows off quicker than normal. The last two races were done a little after 9 PM, making it better for everyone. Especially this guy that drives home to Las Vegas after the races. I was home and in bed last time by 1 AM. I didn’t go home this week because of very sad news.

Dave Ward has been a friend of many over the years and was one of those ‘go to” guys at the racetrack. He has been everywhere, knows everyone, has seen everything and will be missed as he passed away this past week. After undergoing triple bypass surgery, he passed on and leaves his brother Jack and wife Lois among the close family. I can’t imagine being at the track without him, but without saying some of the usual comments, we will go on and we will not forget him. Funeral Services for Dave will be held at: Halverson, Stone and Meyers - 1223 Cravens St. - Torrance, CA (Near Corner of Cravens & Torrance) on Tuesday, March 6th at 11AM. A viewing will be held Monday, March 5th from 4-8PM. After Tuesday's Services, the burial will be held at Roosevelt Cemetery (across from the Ascot Location on Vermont- Gardena, CA) Rest in peace.

Also passing away this week was Bob Stone, a former Midget driver known to many in our racing community. Our thoughts and prayers go out to both families in their loss.

You are coming to Las Vegas this week to my back yard, yes? I hope the track is worthy, the weather great and the racing is good, but don’t blame me for anything that happens. I can only tell you how it is. The weather has been a little cool, mid 50’s for a high and occasional gusty winds, so bring a heavy jacket just in case. Remember the Wags open house on Saturday starting at noon, check the link on the front page of the Wags Web or catch me at the races both days. Sorry about the high motel cost, but if you stay Friday night, get up and come on by before heading home and say hi. Oh, by the way, the radar will be out more than usual by plan in Nevada, so keep it real.

FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Mike Spencer, 2. Rip Williams, 3. Josh Wise, 4. Rickie Gaunt, 5. Tony Jones, 6. Damion Gardner, 7. Scotty Weir, 8. Jason York, 9. Jimmy Crawford, 10. Josh Ford, 11. R.J. Johnson, 12. J Hicks, 13. Michael Trimble, 14. Dustin Morgan, 15. David Cardey, 16. Blake Miller, 17. Todd Hunsaker, 18. Garrett Hansen, 19. Danny Sheridan, 20. Cory Kruseman, 21. Rodney Argo, 22. Darren Hagen. NT

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1 Spencer, Laps 2-7 T.Jones, Laps 8-19 Gaunt, Laps 20-30 Spencer.

NEW USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINTS: 1-T.Jones-246; 2-Williams-221; 3-Spencer-217; 4-Gaunt-193; 5-Hagen-187; 6-Weir-167; 7-Sheridan-165; 8-Hansen-156; 9-Johnson-143; 10-Gardner-136.