By Ken Wagner
June 10, 2007

The beginning of summer at the PAS featured another Cory Kruseman win as he became the first 3 time winner in 2007. After Mike Spencer passed him around the top, before a yellow flew and he had to go back, Cory didn’t give up that lane again. Looking more like his “old” championship days, the Kruser just played in traffic the last 20 laps and pulled away from “the little red sucker” for his 84th lifetime west coast win, tying him with Lealand McSpadden in the unofficial list. Cory was 6th quick, ran 4th in his heat and started third on the Main Event grid right behind polesetter Josh Ford. He led all but the first lap on his way to the $2500 payday in his Agromin Soil, Sander Engineering, Bullet Chassis # 21K.

The pics as they are are here.

Mike Spencer had another good run this week in his Temecula Valley Pipe and Supply, Shaver, Madera Produce # 50 car. Mike was 4th quick, ran second in his heat and started 5th on the grid. He made that one good pass on the eventual winner, but he never had another chance to repeat it. Still Mike continues to go forward and show some great improvement as he stays second in points behind leader Tony Jones. It was his second runner-up in a row and 7th podium finish of the season.

Danny Showtime Sheridan is taking control of that third place spot. This week he ran 3rd for the third week in a row as he is gassing it forward in the Scott Sales Co., K-C Insurance Agency, and Pick’s Racing Engines # 18. The blue burr continues to terrorize the red cars as five of the first six finishers were RED! Danny could be the most improved driver as consistency is the key to this year’s success and he is third in championship points.

Rip Williams drove a strong race and had third locked up until the last lap when he slowed and banged into the front stretch wall as he stopped. He still got 8th as he crossed the finish line before stopping. Also having trouble this week was Jason York. Jason crashed on the back stretch and the car flamed up before he climbed out unhurt. He immediately ran over to another driver to discuss what he had on his mind.

The weather was surprisingly mild. Coming from the triple digit temps of Las Vegas, as I do now, it was actually cool during the evening. I left as soon as the race was over and was home and updated the website by 1 AM. A long drive after a day of fun, but it’s worth it cruising home in my little red rocket.

One of our more storied drivers from the CRA days, Buster Venard came to see son Brian run the # 12 Blair car. He was 9th quick, but got into an incident that ended his night prematurely. Buster reported Grandma Rosie can use a prayer from us as she recently underwent eye surgery and had an incident with her heart, so had to stay home in Gardnerville, NV this week. Also keep Glenn Howard in your prayers.

Brian Camarillo had some racy times during the night as he gave several all they could handle while he ups his driving skill level. A little more consistency could get him to the feature and more. He is obviously enjoying himself!

See you in Santa Maria this coming Saturday as that track always draws me. Mrs Wags will be in Texas for her sons 40th birthday, but I got a pass and will probably see Jocko’s on Saturday around noon.

FEATURE: (30 laps - With Original Starting Positions) 1. Cory Kruseman (3rd), 2. Mike Spencer (5th), 3. Danny Sheridan (10th), 4. Blake Miller (7th), 5. Rickie Gaunt (8th), 6. Scotty Weir (2nd), 7. Tony Jones (6th), 8. Rip Williams (13th), 9. David Cardey (17th), 10. Josh Ford (1st), 11. R.J. Johnson (4th), 12. Seth Wilson (11th), 13. J Hicks (12th), 14. Jimmy Crawford (14th), 15. Michael Trimble (18th), 16. Tom Stansberry (22nd), 17. Todd Hunsaker (20th), 18. Robert Ellis (21st), 19. Ryan Devitt (19th), 20. Rodney Argo (16th), 21. Brian Venard (9th), 22. Jason York (15th). NT.

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1 Weir, Laps 2-30 Kruseman.

NEW USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINTS: 1-Jones-1,038; 2-Spencer-906; 3-Sheridan-894; 4-Gaunt-878; 5-Weir-769; 6-Williams-670; 7-Kruseman-657; 8-Johnson-551; 9-Cardey-492; 10-Hagen-460.

NEXT USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACE: June 16 – Santa Maria (CA) Speedway