The SCRA returned to the PAS this week and so Cory Kruseman returned from Indiana Sprintweek to win his 10th race of the year by chasing down Mike Kirby . The race was marred by several nasty crashes, but the worst one sent George Gervais to the hospital in critical but stable condition. The latest word on his condition is positive with him unconscious, but with encouraging words from the doctors taking care of him.

Mrs Wags pics are now up!

Cory had a less than productive Indiana Sprintweek this year, with a fifth place finish his best finish, and two DNF's his worst, after crashes ended his attempts at a win back there. Nevertheless, the Kruser was home and he was unstoppable as usual at the PAS! Driving Harlan Willis, Omni-Turn CNC Lathes, TCR, Del Mar Wire # 45, Cory won his heat and started in the second row before squeezing by Kirby and winning his 47th SCRA feature in his career. Seemingly unstoppable at the SCRA home track, Cory continues his hot streak and fittingly was announced the leader again in the National Hall of Fame sprint car poll last week. Richard Griffin was 2nd, but is home healing his arm for a few weeks at least. For the poll results click here!

Mike Kirby looked strong in taking over the lead from Charles Davis Jr early in the race, but succumbed to the "dominator" halfway through the 30 lapper. Mike, driving the Geurin's Mobile Home Service, State Wide Towing, Barberie Mold # 5, said he needed to get Cory away from the PAS so maybe "we" could beat this guy! Tulare's next, so lets go see! Mike ran thru lap traffic very well trying to keep up with the point leader, but couldn't find his way back into the lead. Mike will be driving his figure 8 car at the Ventura Fair this coming Wednesday night, so that's all he could talk about after the race. Rickie Gaunt, in his team car, ran 4th for a good night for the team.

The Cowboy, just like everybody figured, settled right in the seat of the "Little Red Sucker" and got his first of many podium finishes in the # 50. Tony Jones was all smiles after the race and noted; "if he could have just cleared lap traffic earlier, he might have had something for those guys"! He said driving this "Cadillac" of sprinters was already fun. As he and the crew get used to each other, this should be a good temporary fix while the Gasman is away and provide him a springboard for a good ride for himself.

Speaking of the Gasman, the PAS announcer, Scott Deloisio, called him during a break in the action and the crowd got to listen in. Richard responded to a "what are you doing" question by saying he was "eating and drinking beer" getting ready to come back in a "few weeks"! Hah, but if anybody can do it, the Gasman can! He is missed already, but Tony certainly should have made him proud. He explained the disaster and talked to the crowd, letting them know he was missing the action, but would be back soon! He is already back in the office working because he was bored at home.

When George Gervais crashed hard going down the backstretch in his heat fighting for a transfer to the main, we didn't know he would soon be fighting for his life. It didn't look that bad, as crashes go to me, and it seemed like he would pop out of the car and we could get back to racing. Not so, as time drug on while we waited for word on his condition. As the minutes anxiously clicked off, it was obvious it wasn't your everyday crash, and he was in trouble. In what seemed like forever, they got him out of the car and started working on him to go to the hospital. It was reported by those on the scene that he did stop breathing momentarily, but they got him going again, and away they went with the lights flashing to the local hospital. This left the crowd in a blanket worrisome quiet. After time, the racing resumed, but he was in our thoughts. Later, after the races, we went to the hospital and were greeted by a large gathering the parking lot outside the emergency entrance. His crew and many supporters, plus other crews, showed up to support the vigil that was going on. Inside, George was hanging on as positive reports came out that he was battling back and only time would tell how his body will respond. His vital signs are good, his cat scan came back properly and he was unconscious. Get well quick George.

With all the activity that went on during the Gervais rescue operation, it reminded me of what the lucky NHRA drag racers have had for years. They have the Safety Safari truck loaded with all kinds of rescue stuff, like the jaws of life, different fire retardants and other life saving tricks of the trade. This vehicle goes to all the major NHRA events and is "johnnie on the spot" every time anything goes wrong. The Safari vehicle responds in seconds with trained personnel ready to do what is needed. And then, THE thought hit me like a brick. Wouldn't it benefit the SCRA to have one of these specially loaded vehicles as they travel to all the different tracks on their schedule? Does each track have all that is needed for, and most especially the horrifying fires, the quick response to saving a driver further injury or his life? Do we always know each track we travel to is up to snuff and ready for each possible scenario for our drivers? What besides money would it take to make this happen, and what would it cost? First, you need a service truck that has the space for all the on board equipment needed, and maybe a local dealership could provide that? Then how to raise the money, or better yet, get the safety equipment donated to the SCRA would be all there is to it. Something to think about, but I think it could be done!

I just heard about Gene Manhire getting burned badly in a fire at Santa Maria last night. Gene ran with us many times and drove for the current SCRA champion car owner, Ron Chaffin, before Ron came South to the SCRA. There is word posted on the SCRAFAN.com page about him and George late Sunday night.

The Gardner Motorsports team built a new car for Troy Rutherford, with the week off, and the results were immediate. He set fast time and ran 5th in the main event, braking the new car in. Troy got in some "practice" at Indiana Sprintweek as well, but didn't get much in the way of results, and probably learned something about hot climates and dirt tracks with drag cars on it!

Troy Cline debuted a new car owned by Dwight Chaney this week. The number is 21J, in memory of Jeff Bagley who lost his life at Ascot many years ago. Troy Cline drove it on the initial shakedown night to 6th place. A nice looking car and I will have more info on it the next time it appears. Billy Wilkerson and Gale Forester could be seen working on the car, but I don't know if Dwight will bring it out on a weekly basis or not. I don't think he has plans to return to the drivers seat, but you know drivers, and only time will tell.

Charles Davis Jr led the first two laps of the main event, but dropped back to 7th before it ended in what he told us was a very twitchy car. He doesn't kow which way it will go next. He crashed and buried his old car, one he called "Mighty Whitey", two months ago and it is surely missed as this replacement doesn't seem to want to take the drivers lead as well as the old one. Charlie said they are still working on it, but might be leaning towards a new one soon.

Jarrett Chaney had a great 15 laps of the main, running third and challenging for second early on, but lost the "handle" so to speak, and ended up with a very respectable 8th place finish. He is very smooth in his driving style and continues to show why he was the rookie of the year last year with SCRA. Look for this family racing team to do even better as they learn more and more each race.

Danny Sheridan pulled off another hard charger award when he ran the Moose racing entry # 92 from 18th to 9th at the end. The track had two grooves again this week, but the trick was when to leave one groove and jump in the faster one at that part of the track, as the track seemed to change in the feature. He was still coming at the end on another good ride.

Jordan Hermansader had his best outing in the Pratt machine this week when he ran 10th and it looks like he will be seen more often in the top ten. Jordan has been desperately struggling to get that "one perfect ride" so he can show his stuff, and perhaps he can relax and do just that now.

Marc Hart almost cracked the top ten this week as he had one of his better outings this season with 11th. His struggle has been one thing and then another, but he hasn't given up and continues to kick it hard every week. He won his heat to start his night off well and then ran strong in the main event. Marc, a two time Wagsdash champion, continues to try and win against the SCRA's finest drivers and wants to do it now!

Steve Venard made the main this week and ran 18th after a long dry spell. Steve has struggled with getting this # 49 car to run with a lot of help from dad, Buster, and crew. He made smiles appear in the Venard family household this week. His brother, Brian, returned to the track after a Tour mishap shut them down for a month, but was unable to get over a late qualifying effort that fell short like anyone who qualified after they picked Kevin White off the fence. Kevin got hung up high on his qualifying pass and they used the bucket loader to remove his car. He was fine, but received the $215 of Wagsbucks collected on the night.

Rip Williams had that " invisible bullseye" painted on his black car again this week as he was a victim of another car's crash in his heat and then didn't finish the Semi with related problems that forced him to pull off the track. Lance Gremett had an exciting night. He spun in his heat and went to the semi where he spun out again, then returned from the back of the pack and made the main on some fast high groove passing using only three wheels most of the time. In the main he was doing fine and…. spun again. I think each spin had a partner, but trouble just seems to bang him, no matter where he points his # 85 car. He is still hard to beat as his racing tactic is always "on the gas" and it bites him some times. He is going to be a handful when he can complete 30 laps without any problems.

The weekly Wagtimes shiny tires were glowing. The teams of Troy Rutherford, Danny Sheridan, Charles Davis Jr, Troy Cline, Rodney Argo, Steve Venard, John Scott and several more were really workin' it! But, Gary W Howard in the # 25 car got the big one and Michael Hinrichsen the mini this week, what a show!

Look for some new "noise abatement rules" coming from Ventura. Extensive testing in order to meet the ever more strict California 95 DB level laws has driven this quest. It isn't only at Ventura because the SCRA runs Perris, another fairgrounds track, and noise complaints seem to be escalating up now. There will be new approved mufflers for Ventura very soon and only those will be allowed there. Look for other tracks and the SCRA to follow suit to pass the tests of CA. Some cars are just too loud and this should help the racer to be "fairground" quiet in future events. If you have an offending muffler set-up, beware, the judgement day is coming.

An East coast Wagtimer from Port Murray, NJ arrived in town this week with his son Jonathon and did two things. They came by the house for a visit and went to the PAS on Saturday night. Dan and I met at Grandview on one of the CRA tours back in the early 90's, and is a big time sprint fan. He can't wait for next year's NWWC tour in PA. His vacation was planned around a trip to Perris, so he was happy to be in the house. He was disappointed to not find many XXXL t-shirts available as this linebacker look-alike needed a scosh more space in his t's, but only found a few drivers who carried this size.

We make our only visit to Tulare this coming Saturday, so what say you, let's all saddle up and visit the great fairgrounds track up North! You won't be sorry as the racing will be wild and wooly, besides, the Stinger Chassis barbeque is on at the track and we can't miss that!

Boy, I was a little wordy this week, but I have George on my mind, so keep him in your prayers!