By Ken Wagner
June 4, 2006

This week was important to Cory Kruseman because he was “coming home to Ventura”, and in his mind, he needed a win in front of his home fans. So he got down and dirty and it certainly paid off with a big win. Driving the Agromin, Sander Engineering, ITI Performance, # 38, Cory was third quick in qualifying, won his heat and started 7th in the main event. In his heat he got tangled with another car and had to restart and come from the back to win that 10 lapper. In the main he made quick work of everybody butDanny Sheridan before finally getting by him and going on to win his second USAC/CRA race of the season.

Wags pics click here. Mrs Wags Click here.

During the Semi, as he watched the 12 lap race from the Galen Fitz level of the press tower, he was intently watching the track conditions change as he casually mentioned he was very happy. Being home with his wife Carri and daughter Cassie, means the world to him. Not traveling means he can go do things like a father does as he played soccer with the little cutie this morning. He can keep a closer eye on his school and the equipment required. He says he has the best people working for him and the successful driving school is very popular. Cory is currently only 30 points behind leader Damion Gardner but had only one win this season prior to tonight. The 16th USAC/CRA win puts him only one behind Bubby Jones on the all time list at 79 total wins out west.

Damion Gardner was his usual self, going out to patiently do the best he can in the strong Temecula Valley Pipe and Supply, Arizona Race Mart, Shaver # 50. He made a run at his 5th victory of the year, but fell a little short when he couldn’t make the pass on the fast flying Kruser at the end. Although he was “only” 4th quick this week, he won his heat and put on a strong charge in the 30 lap main event from his 6th starting spot. Damion is still the point leader and will let it all hang out his coming week at Perris like usual.

Mike Kirby ran third in his heat, but his 10th quick qualifying spot only netted him the 10th starting spot in the main. Not a problem as this is one of his favorite tracks and he rolled it up to third before the end on a great drive in the Jim Kirby owned Statewide Towing, Communications Innovations, RC Performance, # 96. The bright yellow car worked well on the small oval for Kirby as he continues to show he is back to normal and is one of the big boys of CRA. Mike loves to race and loves to play, so when he isn’t in a race car, he is looking for fun on his bikes in the desert or whatever.

Tony Jones backed up his great return to the top of the podium last week at Perris with a 4th place finish on a good ride in the Silver Bullet Alexander Trucking car. He was without a victory too long when he scored a big win last week. For those who might have thought he was over the hill, think again, he and his new team are now another force in CRA and will be heard from often in the future, count on it.

Matt Stewart gets a big pat on the back again this week as he made his 2nd main in his career and was just a few feet shy of winning his first heat race after he led 9 and 9/10ths of the 10 lap race. He did great in the feature also, but got caught up in an incident and it cost him dearly back to 20th. Matt is making great strides in the family sprinter and the whole team is having fun.

Rip Williams scalding crash at Perris last week, (check Doug Allen’s 6 sequence pics here, and see for yourself), made him feel uncomfortable when he hot lapped the car early. Quickly, nice guy Mike English came out of retirement to help his friend. Mike didn’t forget how to drive as he was 2nd quick and finished 6th in the main after getting up to third late in the race. Rip looked great and said he will be back at Perris this coming week. Mike smiled and said he is still retired.

Did I mention Jimmy “Neutron” Crawford set fast time in his own car this week? He went on to win the first heat and ran 9th in the main. Normally these days, he sticks closer to home and runs a Kruseman School car with the VRA. Bullet Blake Miller continues to impress in his rookie season. Blake ran 5th this week on the track he won the VRA championship last year. Keep your eye on him as he is also the reigning champion of the Norco Raceway where he and his friends all drive Jimmy Gardner built little cars and run on a small dirt track, often.

Josh Ford has had mixed results this year as he struggles to regain the touch he had last year. Josh started 18th and ran up to 8th for the hard charger award of the week and maybe now he can get back to running up front and get his second career win soon. It’s always a pleasure to see Kevin Kierce run with us. His smile shows you how this veteran enjoys racing. He was 8th quick and third in his heat as he fought for 11th in the main event.

Danny “Showtime” Sheridan was almost his nickname this week when he tried in vain to overtake the Kruser late in the Race. He got a wheel above him, but the leader move up the track sent him banging into the fourth turn fence. He quickly restarted and finished 14th. Danny is really doing well this year in the Kittle Brothers # 18 sprinter.

It never ceases to amaze me how few people I recognize at the different tracks any more. This means one thing, few people travel to our racing. Now in the case of Ventura, the average fan would find it hard to leave town to go to Arizona or even Perris if the VRA was running. Yet why don’t fans go see their favorites at different tracks. Gas prices are old news, it’s life. My guess is the promotional side of the business is not doing the job. How do we reach you? If you see the battles that go on each week at different CRA events, how can you pass on a little trip to see another knock down, drag out feature. Perris will be more of the same this week as the Demon and the Kruser take off where they left off this week, a few feet apart at the finish line. When you add the rejuvenated Tony Jones and Mike Kirby, plus Mike Spencer, Rip Williams, Danny Sheridan, the Blues brothers when they travel, and so many more…… it is an unbelievable show and missing out is not replaceable. Get on the road!

I know I personally have missed more races this season than in the last 10 years combined, but it’s not for lack of interest or trying to get there. My life changing move and retirement from working has taken a significant toll on my world. It hasn’t dimmed my racing desire, just rearranged some priorities and I will still make the Wagsdash happen. I am just as committed to make all the CRA races as in the past, but my location now sometimes makes it difficult. My Mother-in-laws 80th birthday and family reunion is this coming Sunday (note Saturday was the choice, but a little finagling went on), and I’ll not miss the race but Mrs Wags has some work to do there. These things will happen now that we are near a lot of our family, unlike in California where we had no family nearby anymore.

Leaving the work force has significantly reduced my discretionary money for my race, and now that I am on an “ allowance” with Mrs Wags now the breadwinner, I must plan a little harder to make it happen. The 16th annual event is but a few months away and as usual, I need help. My Wagtimers are searching their brains to look for new sources of Wagsdash purse money, or items for the auction, or anything that will add to the whole event. In addition to the normal race items like photo’s and die cast cars, we can use things like new TV’s, or VCR’s, Cell phones, blenders, tires, sports memorabilia, A case of wine, you name it, we can auction it off to help build the purse. If you want to get involved, you have but to call me on 949-981-5497, or e-mail me at winglesswarriors@aol.com, or see me at the track. I need all the help I can get this year and you can be a part of it. Talk to me, or any of the known Wagtimers, like Mike Clark, Julie Shiosaki, Sonia Bandy and so on, and let’s get started for this years event.

FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Cory Kruseman, 2. Damion Gardner, 3. Mike Kirby, 4. Tony Jones, 5. Blake Miller, 6. Mike English, 7. Mike Spencer, 8. Josh Ford, 9. Jimmy Crawford, 10. Troy Rutherford, 11. Kevin Kierce, 12. Evan Suggs, 13. Dwayne Marcum, 14. Danny Sheridan, 15. David Cardey, 16. Chad Boespflug, 17. Michael Trimble, 18. Wes Richardson, 19. Davey Pombo, 20. Matt Stewart, 21. Greg Taylor. NT

NEW USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1-Gardner-756; 2. Kruseman-726; 3-Jones-564; 4-Spencer-550; 5-Sheridan-545; 6-Gaunt-527; 7-Charles Davis Jr.-460; 8-Kirby-442; 9-Ford-425; 10-Cardey-422.