By Ken Wagner
August 20, 2006

When the wind blows sometimes it ruins dirt tracks for racing. On this particular Saturday at the PAS, the wind blew, the track stayed good and the little red sucker flew. Damion “The Demon” Gardner set his 14th fast time of the year, won his heat and topped it off with the 30 lap main event victory on a spectacular night for him. Driving the Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply, Arizona Race Mart, Eagle, red # 50 like it was on a fast cruise control, he methodically followed the leaders and struck like lightning to steal the show. He was very focused as he swept the night and earned another Dean Thompson award along the way. It was his 44th west coast sprint win, of which 31 are USAC/CRA, and a series leading 8th win this season. The victory helped increase his championship point lead from 5 to 13 over Cory Kruseman.

The track was fast as the main began with Cory and Damion in the fourth row side by side, so it figured to be a battle. Cory got a better start, and after a few restarts, he took the lead from Danny Sheridan on lap four with Damion still hanging back in fifth. Damion made his moves thru traffic and finally landed in second. He immediately worked on the leader running low coming into and out of turn four, making some fast passes to get some attention from the leader. He showed him a wheel several times before the Kruser came down from his lofty fast perch on the high groove and ran the lower groove to maybe block the challenger. Damion took this opportunity to take the high road up and around the leader and presto, that was all she wrote. Damion never came off the fast top line and pulled away to another big win.

During the intermission, Damion was presented the “Wild Card” award from the Sprint Car Hall of Fame. The award, voted on by the sprint car media around the country, noted his outstanding year in 2005 as especially exciting and noteworthy with 22 fast times, 15 CRA wins and the 2005 CRA championship. He was happy and even thrilled to receive this kind of award in front of his fans at Perris Auto Speedway. He thanked them all for this prestigious award. After his victory later, his pit area was packed with fans trying to get his T-shirts and autographs.

Mike Spencer continues to impress the big boys as he added to his string of top five finishes, making it 7 out of the last 10 where he has scored very well. Driving the Murrieta Development, Spenco Machine, Maxim # 44 car, Spencer started 11th and garnered the hard charger award this week with a 2nd place finish, highlighted by a great slide job on the Kruser to get the crowd going on the last lap. Last week Mike’s charge from the rear, after a stop to try and figure out a suspected electronic problem, brought him back to get fourth. He found out later, he was less one cylinder as a spark plug was broken earlier in the night and they didn’t find it until after the race. Mike seems to like coming from behind, and he does it well. His move at the end was timed well so the veteran Kruseman couldn’t come back on him.

Cory Kruseman flew home from Kansas City after winning the prelim at Lakeside Speedway on Friday night. He left the opportunity to win the $10,000 first place money, and a red pedal car trophy that is an annual feature for this race, to keep his points up in CRA. He drove the ITI Performance, Sander Engineering, Bullet # 38 car to the lead early on, but too many yellows kept bunching the pack back up and he ended up in third. He looked like a winner early in the race as he took a big lead while the pack behind him fought to come chase after him.

Cory’s trip to Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas netted him several podium finishes as he ran a new series of wingless races that replaced the old SCRA tour. The Saturday feature at Lakeside was won by Brad Sweet from Grass Valley, CA, with CRA regulars Charles Davis Jr taking 2nd and RJ Johnson 8th. The event didn’t draw many west coast drivers this year as most spent their gas money on the Skagit trip.

Tony Jones had another strong week in the Alexander car as he fought hard for his 4th place finish after letting loose another wild slide job for the win in his heat. Josh Ford had another strong outing as his suddenly two car team, with Brian Camarillo in the other car, worked hard to get to the front. He was fifth this week. Blake Miller drove the team Black Widow car to 7th place after starting 12th on a good run. Since changing the number from 5 to 94, he has had one malady or another keeping him from staying up front. Seth Wilson had an 8th place finish as he stayed out of trouble and away from the walls this week. He has not had a good year, yet continues to rebuild, return, and run strong.

Evan Suggs continues his sparkling work with 5th quick in timing, a second in his heat and a good 9th place finish. Jordan Hermansader returned from a lengthy absence to grab 12th in Bob Ferro’s # 91 car that has seen a lot of duty with the VRA in Ventura in recent times. One VRA driver, Steve Conrad slipped into the Mopar powered # 75 of Ray Stansberry and finished 14th. He has hopes to run with the CRA next year. Bruce St James, who has been getting more “on air time” than track time at Perris, made his first feature here this week and finished a happy 17th. He has plans to run the full CRA schedule next year.

Jason York returned with a promise to run the rest of the CRA races this season, now that his wing series is over up north. The Chico, CA resident has one victory with the club and hopes to add to it. He will leave the car down here and is becoming mostly a driver and not a mechanic for the future. Wife Julie and son Drake always make the trips south, so it’s good to see them again. He was tenth after starting on the front row.

Rip Williams was the first car out as he had another motor problem and pulled off during one of the early yellow flag pauses in the main event. Danny Sheridan was trying to put his “Showtime” routine in the winners circle, but lost his brakes and shuffled back to 6th. The 66 year old “Tooth Doc” Jim Giardina made the main this week and was out not long after the 50 year old Ripper was gone when he got spun around on the track. David Cardey was next to leave after getting his front end rearranged after a skirmish. Danny Ebberts won his heat and made the main, but crashed his # 77 into the wall in turn four to end his night way too early. Johnny Rodriguez has maybe had the toughest year of all the local drivers. His Mark Priestly owned car is always fast and ready for him, but trouble somehow seems to find him. Two incidents this week left him in 18th after some hard efforts on his crews part and his heady driving. David Cardey continues to be the unlucky poster boy for the CRA. He was 9th quick in qualifying before getting smashed in his heat. Then he ran second in the semi and was again, smashed in the main, finishing one spot in front of his car owner Jim Giardina.

Well the Wagsdash $1000 challenge has bit one Wagtimer. Steve Lafond called to say he believes in the Wagtimes cause and is meeting the challenge with gusto. Are there any other takers???? In addition to the $1000 that will be added to the 16th annual Wagsdash at Ventura Raceway on Oct 28th, his annual Lafond Jar of Change will make it’s umpteenth appearance going to the hard charger of the event. The jar has contained as much as $700 in prior Wagsdash’s for the happy drivers who were the highest achievers in passing, and he welcomes anyone who wants to add to the jar from now until race day. So bag up your change and bring it to the Wagsdash, I always do.

Mrs Wags 2007 racing Calendar is getting the finishing touches put on it and for those who want to sponsor one of the months or more, let her know at twmrswags@aol.com ASAP. The top 12 will be featured, so get your name or business in there.

8/19/06 CRA FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Damion Gardner, 2. Mike Spencer, 3. Cory Kruseman, 4. Tony Jones, 5. Josh Ford, 6. Danny Sheridan, 7. Blake Miller, 8. Seth Wilson, 9. Evan Suggs, 10. Jason York, 11. Alan Ballard, 12. Jordan Hermansader, 13. Josh Williams, 14. Steve Conrad, 15. Bobby Cody, 16. Nadine Keller, 17. Bruce St. James, 18. Johnny Rodriguez, 19. Danny Ebberts, 20. David Cardey, 21. Jim Giardina, 22. Rip Williams- NT

NEW USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1-Gardner-1,263; 2-Kruseman-1,250; 3-Spencer-1,067; 4-Jones-1,035; 5-Sheridan-958; 6-R.Williams-805; 7-Rickie Gaunt-694; 8-Cardey-683; 9-Ford-675; 10-Charles Davis Jr.-634.