By Ken Wagner
May 12, 2007

The 13th race of the USAC/CRA season was somewhat lucky for point leader Tony “The Cowboy” Jones this week at the PAS. When he qualified 9th quick, all he needed was for one of the quick 8 in front of him to miss the direct transfer to the main event and he would make it, if he transferred. After winning his heat in the La Villa Restaurant, Alexander Trucking, Ferreira Dairy, DRC, # 4 sprinter, he knew he would be on the front row! Jones won his 10th USAC race and 26th lifetime for 16th place in the all time winners list that is in a tie between Dean Thompson and Rip Williams for now.

The PAS pics are ready Click here for them.

The Cowboy took the led from pole sitter Garrett Hanson before the first lap ended and road his mount directly to the winners circle 30 laps later. He was passed twice, once by Hanson and once by Blake Miller, but recovered each time quickly to retake the lead. Numerous stoppages from crashes made it interesting, but in the end, the Cowboy had an edge he would not give up. He started the day wanting to make up for the last race that left him with a “Frankenstein” car, rebuilt after a nasty crash in his heat that almost destroyed the car. He came back by saving par, so to speak, and getting 7th in the awkward looking # 4 car. He was also lucky he found “Dr Smith”, the “Back Cracker” who treated him until he was ready to go on Saturday.

Mike Spencer continues to run up front. He was 7th quick, ran second in his heat to qualify for the main, started 3rd there and ran a strong 2nd for the 2nd week in a row. He is also 2nd in championship points behind Jones, so he is doing well in his first year in the little red sucker formerly chauffeured by the likes of Lealand McSpadden, Richard Griffin and Damion Gardner. Driving the Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply, Shaver Specialties, # 50 car, Mike had a smooth ride this week and is filling those large shoes very well.

Danny “Showtime” Sheridan hit the podium again this week as he is becoming more consistent in his driving. The Kittle Motorsports, Scott Sales Co., K-C Insurance Agency, Picks Racing Engines, # 18 car is a blue streak every week as he moves to the front. He is learning you can’t win em’ all and is taking what he can, including his recent win a few weeks back. The wild and crazy guy is doing well and is moving up in the pecking order with CRA.

The new Gardner/Miller # 93 car is getting very fast. Blake Miller was all over Tony Jones until he hit the wall on lap 25 this week, where it looked like he jumped the berm and was sucked into the wall. Blake had passed the leader then quickly went into the wall. Earlier Blake was making the pass on the leader when a yellow came out for debris on the track. Blake was really strong on the bottom out of turn three and was pushing Tony hard for 15 laps or so. The Bullet was gasin’ it up!

The Black Widow pit area swelled to four cars this week as rookie Brian Williams has asked for help. He is now in a Gardner Sled and will be hoping to go faster, sooner under their tutelage. With four cars to make ready each week, it brings back memories of when they did it a few years ago. So you can watch Super Rickie, Natty Nadine, Bullet Blake and now Brave Brian put the red and black cars through their paces. It’s like Peyton, no “Gardner Place” down there, so many new stories.

And speaking of “Gardner place”, last week Jack Jr and Nadine tied the knot in Las Vegas. In my home town (?) and they didn’t invite me? Congratulations to the newlyweds, looks like a lot of racing in their future. Also big news this week when Don Kazarian announced Jack and Mary Ann Gardner, and thus all the Gardner Family, will be the Grand Marshals at the Oval Nationals this fall. The storied history of the Gardner’s is long and highly entertaining. Jack Sr and his wife will be getting back some of what they gave all these years. What a great choice!

Two major crashes, and a bunch of minor league ones, railed the evening. As the Lucas Oil camera’s were rolling David Cardey went leaping high in the air coming down the end of the front stretch in his heat and did some high wire antics right under the turn one camera location. The left front tire came close to visiting the camera man up there, but when all was done, David was fine, his car was not. The car imbedded itself in the mud, roll age down, and probably went squish when thet popped it out. Some Wag in the stands suggested the front end broke sending him flying, but no official word that I heard. Tyler Brown had a similar looking crash in the same spot in the feature, but he was backboarded out of his car after trying to climb out and slumping back in the seat, and time passed as they removed him and fixed the battered fence.

Saturday’s race will be the second of four taped at The PAS this season for the Lucas Motorsports Hour on Versus. The race will be shown on June 9th at 1:00 PM and June 14th at 1:30 PM PST. The Versus Channel is available to more than 70,000,000 homes nationwide and is the United States home of the National Hockey League. The previously taped April 14th race from The PAS will be shown on May 26th at 1:00 PM and May 31st at 2:00 PM. The June 23rd race at The PAS will also be taped by Versus as will the final night of November’s 12th Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply.

Rip Williams came from 14th to 4th this week in his never ending quest to win his 104th official race and take over the top spot in the west coast list. He, like many others on that long winners list, have won additional non sanctioned races, but their doesn’t appear to be one source that could be utilized for additional totals. Although he is 51 years old now, he hasn’t quit trying and that important day is coming soon when he will stand alone as number one!

The next six races will be on the road a lot as Manzanita, Tulare and Ventura are added to the PAS mix. Get on your travlin’ togs as a lot can happen out there and you don’t want to miss it.

And for those who miss Mrs Wags at the track, she is just fine after some scary health issues, and will be coming back to the races this week. She has a full time job and the long distances we have to travel are a little more than she wants to endure weekly, so as she gets shaped up for the rigors in the future travel, we think it might be time for her to retire like me, if we can budgetize correctly, and we can just enjoy the twilight! We both miss the racing tremendously, yet “things” have dictated when our attendance happened for the last six months. It is different living in Las Vegas, oh baby – oh baby, yet I haven’t given up on my major fun track days, just trying to get things on an even keel budget wise and hope to always be goin’ racin’! Manzy becons, so see ya there!

My last and most important message is Glenn and Pat Howard will be the Grand Marshals for the 17th annual Wagsdash at Ventura Raceway on October 6th. Glenn has worked tirelessly for the racers from the CRA days to now and is one of the biggest racing icons on the West Coast. His wife Pat has worked beside him for many years and will be honored as well. Look for the annual Wagsdash poster to be out sooner than usual as their racing history, is noteworthy and will be in “dynamite by Naylor” form like always.

Come talk to me about getting involved in the history making 17th annual “little guys race”, as money, racing items or elbow grease are all appreciated by the worldly Wagtimer’s and me. It will be the best one yet, with your help!

5/12/07 FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Tony Jones, 2. Mike Spencer, 3. Danny Sheridan, 4. Rip Williams, 5. Cory Kruseman, 6. Rickie Gaunt, 7. Josh Ford, 8. R.J. Johnson, 9. Scotty Weir, 10. Troy Rutherford, 11. Jason York, 12. Brian Venard, 13. Matt Rossi, 14. Tom Stansberry, 15. Michael Trimble, 16. Blake Miller, 17. Garrett Hansen, 18. Nadine Gardner, 19. Rodney Argo, 20. Tyler Brown, 21. Seth Wilson, 22. J Hicks. NT

NEW LUCAS OIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINTS: 1-T.Jones-756; 2-Spencer-673; 3-Gaunt-589; 4-Sheridan-584; 5-Weir-558; 6-Williams-515; 7-Johnson-474; 8-Darren Hagen-460; 9-Kruseman-428; 10-Hansen-388.

NEXT LUCAS OIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACE: May 19 – Phoenix, AZ – Manzanita Speedway