By Ken Wagner
April 14, 2007

It has been eleven main events since the start of the 2007 USAC/CRA season and somehow there has not been one repeat winner yet! With weather squashing nearly every track in California but Ventura, Madera and Perris, it was a whirlwind day at the PAS. A calm early afternoon followed by a gusty evening and the track was handing us gusty, or is that gutsy, action all night. When the smoke finally cleared, it was Danny “Showtime” Sheridan on the top of the podium for his first win this season and 2nd ever in the beautiful blue Aero Camino Pipe and Supply, Red Line Oil, #18 “Kittle Kar”.

The pics are here Click here to check them out.

He started ninth in the main event and by lap 25 was on the bumper of the leader, Cory Kruseman. After several restarts and slide job attempts on the leader, flying rubber off the 21K car signaled the blue car was in the lead. Showtime held on the last 3 laps with more restarts and sprinkling going on for a big win. The Kittle Motorsports Team showed up with the very large and slightly used Ben Lancaster rig as their new toy hauler, and promptly went out to prove the new look works. Danny was ninth quick and finished fifth in his heat, and then won the semi to start ninth on the main event grid. He methodically moved forward, looking like the fastest car out there, and claimed the victory. No small feat, this big win, as there were plenty of heroes in front of him that he had to pass. He is now third in the championship points behind Mike Spencer and Tony Jones.

David Cardey had his best ever night as he and the Glenn Crossno owned Bullet did very well this week. The red, ITI Performance, Empire Plumbing, Racers Pub, # 83 looked good under his guidance. He was 3rd quick and second in his heat to start next to fast timer Mike Spencer and pressed the eventual winner near the end. David is coming fast and should be a winner soon. Look for the new “Dirty Danita” poster that they gave out after the races, oh yeah, I missed mine!

The Cowboy Tony Jones had some wild times this week as he continues to lead the points chase and finished in the top five for the ninth time. Driving the La Villa Restaurant, Alexander Trucking, Ferreira Dairy, # 4 Silver Bullet, Tony won his heat after qualifying 6th and started 4th on the starting grid. He battled hard for the podium as the light rain, and ensuing re-track packing, delayed the finish. The Cowboy continues to work hard every week to get better and he looks forward to the next win for his team. They look like they are having fun, and that is what it’s all about.

Dave Darland got weathered out at North Vernon in Indiana and came west to race. He was picked up at the airport by Jack Gardner Sr and jumped in the # 94 car as soon as he arrived. He qualified 2nd quick in the familiar Chaulk chassied car, but had some problems. In his heat the car never got to race, pulling in early to prepare for the Semi. He lined up on the front of that 12 lap race, took the lead, then pulled to a stop on the back stretch. The car took a provisional start and he began in 23rd place. He was the hard charger finishing 5th for another good performance in California.

I met two new rookies this week Bryan Williams and Billy Blinn. Bryan is 47 years old finally getting a chance to harness the brute power on one of these fire breathing sprinters. He said his wife asked why, and he said “because I want to drive a sprinter”. His silver # 37 was clean and neat as he looked good in finishing 15th in the semi. Billy has some off road experience and looks forward to the challenge. He is a little younger than Bryan and had a creditable 11th in the semi. It is always good to see new blood coming into our sport. Another rookie is Mike Kennedy, the son of the late Walt Kennedy. He finished 17th in the semi in a former Buzz Shoemaker owned car.

Cory Kruseman looked gold in the main event after catching and passing Tyler for the lead on lap 17. He looked strong and in control, even when a fast Sheridan arrived, but a flat tire with three laps to go settled him back in 9th at the end. Others with a good chance to maybe get the win were Rip Williams and Mike Spencer, also had flat tires. The long re-packing period after a lap 19 flip and short shower may have contributed to some fuel problems.

Blake Miller landed in Jeff Gardner’s # 93, a car Jeff wanted to own himself, and did pretty good. The Sled chassis worked fine as Blake broke it in. Look for good things to come from this talented young driver if he focuses on racing. Tyler Brown looked very good to lead the main, but got out foxed in traffic. Later he spun into an endo that stopped the race at lap 19 and ended his night.

The CRA takes a week off before returning to Perris on the 28th. Make your plans to come out, it will always be great racing.

FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Danny Sheridan, 2. David Cardey, 3. Tony Jones, 4. R.J. Johnson, 5. Dave Darland, 6. Allan Ballard, 7. Garrett Hansen, 8. Jason York, 9. Cory Kruseman, 10. J Hicks, 11. Scotty Weir, 12. Royal Adderson, 13. Michael Trimble, 14. Blake Miller, 15. Troy Rutherford, 16. Rodney Argo, 17. Rip Williams, 18. Mike Spencer, 19. Robert Ellis, 20. Jonny Bates, 21. Tony Everhart, 22. Tyler Brown, 23. Josh Ford. NT

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-16 Brown, Laps 17-27, Kruseman, Laps 28-30 Sheridan.

NEW USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINTS: 1-T.Jones-637; 2-Spencer-543; 3-Sheridan-495; 4-Rickie Gaunt-488; 5-Darren Hagen-460; 6-Weir-448; 7-R.Williams-416; 8-Johnson-403; 9-Hansen-364; 10-Kruseman-343.

NEXT USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACE: April 28 - Perris (CA) Auto Speedway