By Ken Wagner
September 15, 2008

On a cooler summer night than it has been in Perris for a while, and with a full moon rising, the USAC/CRA scored 31 cars and finished the night off with a rodeo style roundup. Rip Williams had a sure 105th victory in his pocket, after taking the lead from Tony “THE Cowboy” Jones with 4 laps to go, but up jumped the devil when the Ripper lifted the front end high in the air coming out of the last corner, and The Cowboy flew by for his second win of the season and 31st lifetime, tying him with Rick Goudy on that sacred list. That final thrust was greeted by a standing and screaming crowd who witnessed this one.

Here's my pics Click here. Doug Allen's click here.

Tony Jones must love his new DRC chassis as in just three appearances he has two wins and a second place finish since it hit the track several weeks ago. His last win before his recent August 23rd victory was at Perris on August 18 last season, so it was a long dry spell for the man who can get his elbows up with the best of them. Tony has the same smile win or lose, but somehow I know winning is always the best there can be, and the Alexander’s are always ready to enjoy the sweet victories their Silver Bullet car brings them. Tony, driving the La Villa Restaurant, Alexander Trucking, Ferreira Dairy sponsored # 4, was 5th in qualifying and 2nd in his heat to start 5th in the Main Event. He drove it hard for 30 laps and it was just enough to snare another big one. His usual antics of celebration keeps the crowd in their seats when he wins, just to see what’s next in his rituals. Tony has been concerned about family hospital stays back home in Indiana where his father Bubby and son Kyle both underwent serious surgery recently. He assures me both are doing fine and this win will be good news to send back there for his family. You can never count out the Cowboy, especially when he gets a free dinner from Showtime Sheridan after a race.

Many in the crowd would have been happy with either Tony’s win or the Ripper getting another one, but it was not to be. Rip came out firing when he ran 2nd in his heat after qualifying 9th.Early in the feature he made several low sliders, perfectly low and legal, to get into 3rd behind Jones and he never gave up. After early leaderNic Faas dropped out with just 4 laps to go, Ripper was on Jones tail as they restarted. Rip made a move and came under the starters stand in the lead with just three laps to go. He kept Tony at bay until the last lap and you could see it coming from where I sat. Tony was on the top of the track most of the night and Ripper was maintaining a mid groove run that worked well for him. It was hard to see above the fast rising crowd, but one thing for sure as they came around four to head for the checkers, Rip’s front end was high in the air and that silver streak going by him was the fortunate Cowboy whose spurs were janglin’ when he crossed the line just ahead of Ripper. Rip says he has more wins in that senior body of his, and I believe! Driving the John Jory Corp, AMA Plastics, Ricks Truck Works black # 4, Rip started 3rd in the feature, and was dialed in all night.

Even though Mike Spencer made the podium in third this week, the motor, which began smoking about halfway thru the 30 lap feature, will not be back before a rebuild as it expired, but somehow kept running. Mike was 4th quick, ran 4th in his heat and started 7th in the main. Driving the Temecula Valley Pipe and Supply, Weld Wheels, Madera Produce, red # 50, he was running on less than 8 cylinders, but still hung in there with the dying motor. His crew chief, Bruce Bromme Jr, spent most of the night in the hospital after tearing his shoulder up when he got his arm caught on the side of the truck while getting down. It came out of the socket and tore everything in there, so much that he will be visiting the surgery barn very soon. Bruce has had beat up shoulders for a long time, and insisted he didn’t want to go under the knife. Now, he will have to. Get better soon Bruce, you got work to do on your point leading car.

The track this week was some good and some not so, but with quick time of 16.68 and 8 cars under 17 seconds, it was real fast. Sometimes fast tracks string them out nicely, and it was some of that for a bit in the heats, but in the main it was mostly because there wasn’t a clear cut second groove to make for more passing. Still it was exciting as the rule says those who can pass do, and others follow! Always, I say always Mr Clark, don’t leave your seat until the special lady sings.

The world of why me this week had many characters that fit right in to that mold. The obvious was young Nic Faas who looked like a winner as he timed in 11th, and through attrition of those who did not transfer to the main, started on the pole. From there he chased down a fast starting Greg Bragg after a few laps, and took the lead that lengthened until a lap 26 restart left him without a gas pedal when he led them out. He was credited with 18th and for a while it looked like he would get his second win of the season. He leads the USAC Midget series and is concentrating on that venue for now, so we don’t see him often. His improvement for a rookie has been pretty sensational, to say the least. He is leading the rookie points and who knows when he will show up again.

The Gardner Motorsports pit area continues to expand. This week they brought out a back-up car for Blake Miller with Rickie Gaunt giving it the checkout ride. The sometime driver/funseeker set fast time in the car, just a tick quicker than Blake. As always, things don’t work out as you expect, especially in racing! Here is where the old musical chairs scenario began, only it wasn’t for a cake (like at the fair when if you were the last one with a seat when the music stopped). First Blake’s car came up lame in his heat so the first plan was to have Rickie run the semi, because he missed the transfer in his heat, then turn it over to Blake. The fast new blue racer broke a rear end in the semi and stopped that idea, so Blake’s main ride, as well as his back-up, were done for the night. The last chapter of race car musical chairs happened when Tyler Brown agreed to let Blake use his # 96 car. Don’t know about any Gardner persuasion, but Blake started last in the main and passed 12 cars for a 10th place finish and the hard charger of the night.

Danny Sheridan was his Perris fast self this week as he qualified 8th as the track really came in after his quick time. He was second in his heat to start 4th in the 30 lapper. Danny was stormin’ to the front like normal when an altercation from behind popped his tire. That caused a restart from the back and he came back to get 8th on a good run.

Alan Ballard was 5th quick and started 6th in the main. He was really pressing the leaders when he dumped a few quarts of racing oil on the track and was done. Greg Bragg had the run of his recent CRA career when he ran second until late in the race and then had a torsion bar problem with a flat left front tire to boot. He restarted to finish 11th! Garrett Hanson was coming forward when it looked like the front end just popped right over the cushion to his right and quickly, boom, slammed right into the wall and he was done early. Cody Williams met up with a mean slider in his heat, getting him on his head, but came back to run the main event and was 16th.

This week Jonny Bates showed up in the Glenn Crossno owned # 83 that David Cardey drove earlier in the year. Jordan Hermansader was out with a brand new Maxim chassis this week. The shakedown run ended up in 12th in the main.

Both Steve Lafond and Joe Ellis are home resting fine after their bouts with their local hospitals. Joe had a “mild” heart attack and spent two nights in the cell block but felt fine right away. Steve’s surgery couldn’t have gone better as he was up and walking the next morning and is already back on the computer dial as he gets better. He says the recoup time is still substantial, but could be back at work . earlier than anticipated. Keep the prayer circle going for both. Add Kyle & Bubby Jones to that list and the Ike battered Texas residents as well.

See ya at the PAS next. I still have a few calendars left, and a lot of t-shirts,(Large and X Large mostly with no 3x at all) and very few medium and large sweatshirts. T-shirts are $12 or two for $20 and that includes postage. Let’s start thinking about getting out to the races. The Wagsdash totals firmed up at $16,400 and any calander sales go into next years race. Get your change jars filling. Nite.

FEATURE: (30 laps - With Starting Positions) 1. Tony Jones (5th), 2. Rip Williams (3rd), 3. Mike Spencer (7th), 4. Josh Ford (8th), 5. David Cardey (12th), 6. Henry Clarke (10th), 7. Rodney Argo (18th), 8. Danny Sheridan (4th), 9. Alex Schutte (14th), 10. Blake Miller #96 (22nd), 11. Greg Bragg (2nd), 12. Jordan Hermansader (17th), 13. Donnie Gansen (20th), 14. Jonny Bates (16th), 15. Royal Adderson (19th), 16. Cody Williams (13th), 17. Ronnie Case (15th), 18. Nic Faas (1st), 19. Ludwig Solberg IV (21st), 20. Alan Ballard (6th), 21. Garrett Hansen (9th), 22. Cory Kruseman (11th). NT

*Cody Williams flipped during heat race 3. **Blake Miller drove the Gardner #96 (Tyler Brown) in the feature.

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-3 Greg Bragg, Laps 4-26 Nic Faas, Laps 27-29 Rip Williams, Lap 30 Tony Jones.

NEW USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINTS: 1-Spencer-1,173; 2-Hansen-1,039; 3-Sheridan-1,035; 4-Miller-1,020; 5-Kruseman-858; 6-Brown-837; 7-Jones-790; 8-Cardey-695; 9-Ford-590; 10-Faas-471.

NEXT USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACE: September 27 - Perris (CA) Auto Speedway