By Ken Wagner
June 24, 2007

On a nice warm day at the PAS, the TV cameras were rolling, The USAC Lucas Oil series was charging and the Cowboy was determined to win one for his Grandma. Tony Jones lost his 96 year old Grandma, Mother of his father and Hall of famer Bubby Jones, in the morning and dedicated his 3rd win of the season to her memory in the evening. It was classic Cowboy as nothing stood in his way to this goal tonight to win for Grandma Jones.

We got pics this week. For Mrs Wags Click here. For Wags Click here. And for Doug Allen Click here.

Driving the Silver Bullet, La Villa Restaurant, Alexander Trucking, Ferreira Dairy # 4 car, the Cowboy was his usual self after setting fast time, running 2nd in his heat and starting 8th on grid for the main event. He missed the rare sweep that earns one the coveted Dean Thompson Award, that only a few have received since it’s inception a few years ago. Nevertheless, he methodically swept into 2nd place behind a strong Rodney Argo driving the only Ford in the field and used his head to get by the Wildman late in the race on a move under the leader instead of up top where he had been showing his wheels most of the race. It was Tony’s 27th lifetime win moving him closer to Rick Goudy on that unofficial list.

Rodney “Wildman” Argo has been on a tear since he was 4th at Tulare on Memorial Day weekend. Since then he has run consistently strong with a 4th at Santa Maria and now 2nd at the PAS. Don’t know what he has been feeding that Ford, but this week he had the line and the lead until the Cowboy slipped under him late in the race. Rodney was fast on the bottom and nearly held off the eventual winner by staying there the entire race. Driving his dad’s American Stainless & Fabrication, Decore Plating, Shaver Specialties, # 19 car, Rodney was 7th quick before running third in his heat and starting third in the main. A very strong performance for the Don Argo owned Ford powered entry. Let’s see what happens next week for this on again off again competitor who seems to surprise when you least expect it. I wonder what the message boards will do with his recent success?

What can you say for the “old man” of the CRA? His tenacity is impressive as he continues to be in the mix every week. After running 2nd in his heat, Rip Williams made a run from 15th in the main event that was classic Ripper. He sashayed his way thru the field, but was too late to get Argo when he got by the Kruser. Rip still drives the black John Jory Corp., AMA Plastics, Ricks Truck Works # 3 like it is a bull whip in his hand, going wherever he points it inflicting damage along the way. He is six in points this season and is still looking for that historic 104th win that will put him atop the heap in the west.

The third heat brought us the move of the day when Cory Kruseman made one of “those” moves people shake their heads about. Going into turn three side by side, so close it was as if the three cars were one, the Kruser came squirting out of the small pack and headed into turn four in the lead like he was jet propelled . He went on to take a healthy lead for a few laps before the car slowed on the back stretch, sending him into the semi that he won and a 9th starting spot in the main where he finished 4th.

We had a mini-Wagsbucks collection this week courtesy of Don Flanders, longtime Wagtimes supporter, known for his 911 sprint car years ago that featured a clear see thru hood. He handed me a wad of cash and said “give it to a hard luck driver tonight”! In addition he also pledged a significant donation for the Wagsdash coming up October 6th, so others beware, it’s time to start thinking about that. Anyway, when Danny Sheridan’s blue beauty exploded a motor in the main, his car owner Brian Kittle received the cash and gave a hearty thanks after the race So, Wagsbucks is not totally dead. There is one fan who sits near us in the Perris stands who last year said every time he sees me he will give me $20 for the dash and he is like clockwork! Thanks to him and all others who remember what Wagsbucks meant to the low buck racers for many years.

There were others who had their problems this week like always, but no bad crashes or other costly encounters. One very interesting event that woke me up happened early in the race. Young Blake Miller had the lead early and while my eyes were focused farther back in the pack for a moment, Mike Spencer suddenly came up stalled on the track between turns three and four and then Blake had a tire going down. I heard the Scott Deloisio report and it sounds like Spencer must have tagged Blake and both ended up restarting at the back. Spencer fared the best of the two coming back to 8th and Blake 11th.

Brian Venard had his raciest run so far in the Don Blair car this week. He was 8th quick in qualifying, ran 5th in his heat, and then 3rd in the semi to start 10th in the main. He finished 7th there as he made the mean green car look fast tonight. A happy note here about car owner Don Blair who sits in the grandstand every week to enjoy the racing. They had a turn away crowd at the NHRA museum celebrating his 80th birthday recently where many came to honor the well liked former speed shop owner. The longtime Wagtimes supporter is always smiling and having a good time when you see him.

Brian and Brent Camarillo ran their first CRA main together and were 16th and 18th this week. The sons of the man whose business Agromin appears on several sprinters in the racing world shows he is a big time racer supporter. Now Bill is a big time supporter of his two sons who have the desire to attain their goals in racing. They are having fun and getting better each week.

Damion Gardner returned for a night in Tony Smiley’s car this week. His USAC adventures in Indiana are doing just fine. Of course, they don’t take to Californians trying to take their money back there, but he is happy to have the deal he has with Pace and will be winning his share in the sweltering heat headed that way this summer. He says they don’t have the “passion” back there like many do here in the west. His crew from his first PAS days had that passion and that is why it was so much fun running here. He just noted it is different in Indiana and he is working hard to do well. He ran second in his heat before dropping out of the main with a problem later. Still one to watch, his many fans were glad to see him for the brief visit. He will be back to finish the year out after the USAC Midwest season is done.

I missed out on the night before at the PAS dragstrip when Tony Jones, Mike Spencer, Danny Sheridan and Rickie Gaunt did a little drag racing. In a couple of 7 second drag cars, one a nova and the other a truck, they had a great time mixing it up in a straight line for a change. I think they might like to do it again! David Cardey was rumored to borrow his wife Danita’s car a do some straight line stuff as well!

The track looked good, the crowd was nice and the old yellow roadster that has been in storage returned to slingshot some t-shirts into the crowd. When they started doing that a few years ago, the T’s didn’t always make it over the front stretch fence into the stands. Tonight, some blasted over the grandstands into the midway behind them where people were food shopping.

With a Saturday night off, I will be in Orange County doing stuff the better part of next week. Things including some Legion baseball of my grandkids , some bowling watching, some visiting and some cool air relief times away from the triple digit temps in Las Vegas we now have. Perris is not hot compared to there now, so I gots ta go!

The 4th of July extravaganza is up next on the schedule before they go dark for three Saturday nights, so I guess you will be there?

FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Tony Jones, 2. Rodney Argo, 3. Rip Williams, 4. Cory Kruseman, 5. Rickie Gaunt, 6. R.J. Johnson, 7. Brian Venard, 8. Mike Spencer, 9. Josh Ford, 10. David Cardey, 11. Blake Miller, 12. Scotty Weir, 13. J Hicks, 14. Jimmy Crawford, 15. Tyler Brown, 16. Brian Camarillo, 17. Billy Blinn, 18. Brent Camarillo, 19. Alex Schutte, 20. Seth Wilson, 21. Damion Gardner, 22. Danny Sheridan. NT

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-2 Argo, Laps 3-9 Miller, Laps 10-21 Argo, Laps 22-30 Jones.

NEW LUCAS OIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINTS: 1-Jones-1,166; 2-Spencer-1,023; 3-Gaunt-998; 4-Sheridan-942; 5-Weir-824; 6-Williams-774; 7—Kruseman-716; 8-Johnson-605; 9-Cardey-565; 10-Ford-527.

NEXT LUCAS OIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACE: July 4 – Perris (CA) Auto Speedway