By Ken Wagner
May 28, 2007

Bullet Blake Miller, the 2006 rookie of the year, cashed in his potential in a big way at the PAS on Saturday night, winning his first ever USAC/CRA main event, and it happened to be the Memorial Day 40 lapper where drinking milk is OK for a driver this one time a year. Blake had already served notice he was a force the last race at Perris when he chased the winner, Tony Jones until late in the race when he bought the wall after jumping over the cushion.

The pics are in. Click here for Wags, Click here for Doug Allen and for Steve Lafond.

This time, Blake had to overtake early leader Danny Sheridan and hold off teammate Super Rickie Gaunt, plus a late charge by David Cardey, in the Jeff Gardner owned, Endless Powder Coating, Miller freight Lines, Simpson, Black Widow Racing # 93. The young lion has been a thorn in many veteran’s side since he jumped back in a car from the Gardner’s stable this season and should be doing more damage like this from now on. Blake never missed a beat, although he almost slid it into a spin a couple of times coming out of turn one, as he ran the extreme low line the entire race, and his teammate didn’t boost him to the side like most would. The redhead just keeps coming and let’s see how the pot stirs up from here as he was fifth on Sunday to close out a good weekend.

I have been talking about another young lion for several years now and his potential as well. His attempts at glory always seemed to come up short due to a variety of ails and bad luck. Several weeks ago, something appeared to break on the car and he went into his highest flying crash ever. On many occasions over the last 18 months he would appear to be in the mix for a top five finish and he wouldn’t even finish. This week started off with a flat tire in his heat race on a knarly looking bad start and he had to go to the Semi when he couldn’t get it changed, and he won that 12 lapper. David Cardey still had one more piece of bad luck in the main when he had to go to the back on a restart. But, from here the Cinderella story went full blast as “Captain” Cardey slipped thru traffic like a blown Chevy speedboat out of control on the Colorado River, and fashioned a second place podium visit after clawing his way thru the likes of Gaunt, Jones, Sheridan and Williams to get there. He thanks Glenn Crossno for putting him in a car that can win and vows to do that soon.

Super Rickie Gaunt is one of those vets who can win at any time and could have easily taken this one on Memorial Day, but for a non contact opportunity behind the leader that he passed on. Rickie made another Black Widow Racing, MJB Plating, Chalk chassied car hard to deal with as he finished third in the # 94 and second the next night in the two day race weekend. He chased young Miller from the get go and made several runs at him, but just didn’t get a chance to pass the winner. The formidable Gardner racing experience is just getting better.

Danny Showtime Sheridan is just getting better in the Kittle Motorsports entry. This weekend could have been a little better, or a little worse if you factor in a crash in his heat at Tulare. Yet a pair of 4th and 3rd finishes from Danny are from the lore of many winners, and he is fast moving into this range of good drivers. Danny and Blake had a great race the first 28 laps, until he got over the berm in turn two, and both red cars slipped by, and he never recovered. Before that they swapped the lead many times with Showtime on the top and the Bullet on the bottom, lap after lap. It reminded this old codger of several Bobby Allen/Steve Kinser battles in the 80’s where those two swapped the lead side by side for 30 laps in front of a standing crowd at Eldora. Well I digress! Trust me, this was a great race put on by the red and blue cars, and only ended when the checkers fell.

There were more heroic battles and performances on a night when we remembered the veterans who served and protected our country, not the least of whichTony Jones comes under that banner. At Perris the Cowboy tried in vain to get to the front, and never gave up, as he got as far north as 2nd before setting for 5th. He was 3rd quick and started 7th in the main at the PAS. At Tulare he was pulling away from the pack when he encountered the wall, like the Tempe Tornado was known to do a time or two, and limped home in 6th place. Tony picked up some points on second place Mike Spencer when Mike finished last in both races.

Hard luck guy award has to go to Rip Williams. When he and David Cardey had to both go to the back on Stayrday, you knew the Ripper was going to go all out. As they played follow the leader thru the pack with Ripper leading the way, it was fun to watch. When Rip got into 5th, he and “Capt” Cardey had a little slide job practice on each other and Rip came out the loser when the Cardey brakes weren’t quick enough to keep Rip from getting spun out. He finished 16th and then missed the Tulare main the next night. No one drives harder than the Ripper and he will be at Ventura looking for that 104th win that would put him atop the leader board for all time.

Cory Kruseman’s first year as a car owner has not been “Krusemanlike” so far. In winning at Tulare on Sunday night, his second of the year, it was notably his 83rd life time West Coast 410 win. Cory got spun out on Saturday and came back for 6th place and took over for the Cowboy at Tulare to score there. He doesn’t travel to the long tow places in Arizona and choses to stay home to run a 360 to save money. I am sure the cost of fuel to get to Tucson and back is too much and many others are doing the same thing.

This brings up car counts as they have been dwindling lately as the price of gasoline skyrockets all over the country. The counts were down before the gas price surge, with the home town Perris average the highest with a high of 38 and a low of 28. Las Vegas had 39 cars for the best of the season and the other tracks an average of 25 or less. The regular CRA travelers has also dwindles as maybe 15 or so go to Arizona, Santa Maria, Hanford and now Tulare. They are not traveling like the old days and there is no reason to think this will change with the current association costs and low payouts. The cost of racing itself continues to go up as parts and supplies get regular price increases. Who pays, the racers, and what is the result? Fewer people able to sponsor, own, or help the poor racer keep up with the top dogs. The picture is just like always, the teams with money and backing continue to shine and the rest just do the best they can.

On the way home I stopped in Barstow for gas. As I came off the freeway, the Union 76 station on the right had my high test “Vette” gas for $3.99 a gallon. No way! I turned left and found gas down the street for $3.51 a gallon. Do you see the gouging going on, $.48 a gallon, and they were a block apart! I know I vowed to never take my little red racer to the races, but in these different times, coming from Las Vegas, I need the smooth power and 27 miles per gallon Chevy motor to do the trick. Isn’t there a law about price fixing that should be called in here?

Glenn Howard was presented a special award Saturday night by Perris Auto Speedway in recognition for his many years of support for the racers and because he was one of those who changed racing by his good deeds. Don Kazarian’s eloquent words were heard by the crowd and they agreed. Glenn’s health is not good at this time, but he and his wife Pat will be at the Wagsdash this year serving as the Grand Marshals for 2007. Get well Glenn, we need you.

The next race is at Ventura Raceway, the beautiful little track by the sea. Jim Naylor will have the heavy track waiting for the CRA boys and it should be a great show and some cooler temps than I am used to. See you there.

FEATURE: (40 laps) 1. Blake Miller, 2. David Cardey, 3. Rickie Gaunt, 4. Danny Sheridan, 5. Tony Jones, 6. Cory Kruseman, 7. Jason York, 8. Alan Ballard, 9. Troy Rutherford, 10. Michael Trimble, 11. Scotty Weir, 12. Josh Ford, 13. J Hicks, 14. Jonny Bates, 15. Billy Blinn, 16. Rip Williams, 17. Ross Millar, 18. Brian Venard, 19. Rodney Argo, 20. Brian Camarillo, 21. Seth Wilson, 22. Mike Spencer. NT

5/27/07 FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Cory Kruseman, 2. Rickie Gaunt, 3. Danny Sheridan, 4. Rodney Argo, 5. Blake Miller, 6. Tony Jones, 7. Josh Ford, 8. Charles Davis, Jr., 9. Jesse Mack, 10. Peter Murphy, 11. Charlie Louden, 12. Nadine Gardner, 13. Johnathon Logan, 14. Danny Faria, Jr., 15. Allan Ballard, 16. Scotty Weir, 17. Davey Pombo, 18. Kevin Barnes, 19. J Hicks, 20. Mike Spencer-NT

USAC/CRA points: 1. Tony Jones 929, 2. Mike Spencer 781, 3. Danny Sheridan 770, 4. Rickie Gaunt 768, 5. Scotty Weir 676, 6. Rip Williams 565, 7. Cory Kruseman 548, 8. R.J. Johnson 510, 9. Darren Hagen 460, 10. David Cardey 417, 11. Garrett Hansen 388, 12. Josh Ford 384, 13. Jason York 358,14. Rodney Argo 357,15. Tyler Brown 338,16. Charles Davis Jr. 312,17. Michael Trimble 300,18. Blake Miller 297,19. Alan Ballard 267,20. Damion Gardner 240.