By Ken Wagner
September 21, 2009

On a night when the CRA point leader crashed in qualifying, Mike Spencer took that opportunity to catch up in the points and in doing so, won his third race of the year making it two in a row. After a big win at Calistoga two weeks ago, his added confidence seemed obvious as he took fast time, ran a close second in his heat and started 8th in the main event. It didn’t take him long to grab the lead from Matt Mitchell as he pulled it off in 8 short laps and then quickly checked out on the field. The car looked like it was on an RC controlled path as he ran the top and scooted around easily, pulling away from the pack at every flag stop. He moved up to a tie for 41st in all time So Cal winners with his 12th win and looks like he has “MO” on his side now.

For my pics Click Here. For Doug Allen's best Click here.

The Cowboy Tony Jones looked like he came loaded for some bull riding this week. He won his heat to start things off, and then fought with a number of drivers before securing his runner-up position late in the race. He looked pretty smooth out there as he fought off sliders and other aggressive activity before coming home on the podium. He was his usual feisty self on the mike this week as he sent plenty of accolades to many whom he felt deserved it. Thanks for the Wagsworld plug. We have learned it is never a dull moment with Tony on the mike.

Danny Sheridan had the 4th fast time in qualifying, and turned it into a great night. After running second to Blake Miller in the special 3 lap Kindoll Trophy Dash, he finished 3rd in his heat and started the little blue bugger in the third row of the main. He had worked up to second before getting snookered by the Cowboy, but It was his 2nd straight strong outing without any mysterious problems, which had seemed to follow the team around for many prior races. After another strong performance by Showtime and his Blue Krew, it was good for the team, and they were glad to roll it in the trailer bump free for a change. Well, there was one problem when the Blue Krew was getting the car ready for the finale, they discovered a serious brake problem, but were able to get it handled and made the starting grid on time.

David Cardey gets another iron man award this week after taking a hard tumble in his one qualifying lap. It seriously mangled the front end on the car and thus the “show” car they brought out that wasn’t intended to be on the track, was their only out to get back in the game. Without a qualifying time, he started at the back of his heat with the pretty car and ran it up to 3rd for a transfer to the main. In the 30 lap main, he was 12th after 5 laps and continued to move forward until he rolled into 4th near the end. A great job, but his rival in the little red sucker gathered enough points to tie him for the lead. The way David has been driving, Spencer will have to be on his toes the rest of the year, as they will make this what the fans want to see, a battle for the points championship to the end! Of course Blake Miller and Garrett Hansen are but 17 and 28 points behind and well within reach. Don’t count out Showtime who is a little more than 100 behind. It could get exciting as the short year winds down with only 4 weekends and 7 race days left.

My vote for good job of the night was altered a little when Rockin’ Ronnie Gardner had some important parts break while he was running 2nd in the main. Yes, the young rookie was hitting it strong when he had to pull in. Before that he was 8th quick in qualifying, his best ever, made the transfer to the main with some great passing moves, and started on the front row, also his best, and was running strong when the incident happened. Looks like our rookie is not playing around anymore, he means to go to the front. Another good job of the night was going good for Ludvig Solberg IV as he was racy in his heat to qualify for the main and is looking better each time out. Unfortunately, he got on the hook in the main when two others were involved in a wide soiree down the backstretch.

Wes Gutierrez showed up in a black 007 car and qualified 11th. He was 5th in his heat behind Blake Miller. In the Semi he pressed winner Cory Kruseman hard to the end. Then in the feature he finished a strong 7th and looked really good. I spoke briefly with him, but forgot to ask where he was from up North, yet wings were his deal there and this might have been his 1st 410 run wingless. Whatever, he showed something on this visit to the PAS track. He plans to come back for the Oval Nationals.

Besides Cardey’s flip, there were several others on their heads as the track was fast and a little tricky for some. The most notable was a wild ride taken by Matt Mitchell, as he was running a strong 2nd, when he got up in the air and hard into the 4th turn wall. Matt has blossomed recently, running faster than ever. Perhaps that win at Tulare energized him? Also with “oh no’s” were Robert Ellis and Rodney Argo, but nobody was injured.

Three racers came from the Phoenix area to run with us this week, Matt, Rossi, (16th) R J Johnson (10th)and Andrew Reinbold (13th) as all 3 made the main and did well. Hope they all come back. The VanderWeerd twins (Richard and Jace) were 9th and 12 as they continue to come south and take on the CRA. There were 35 cars out there this week. Don’t ask me why. When I expected 35 to 40 there were 27. When I expected 28 or so, it’s 35. Some of it is the Phoenix cars coming over and some of it will be cars coming to get in some laps prior to the Oval Nationals.

Mr Goodbucks returned with $600 this week and the five who didn’t make the main from the semi received $100 each. Steve Conrad, Randy Waitman, Jonny Bates, Jerry Welton and Tanner Terry all were thankful when presented the extra money. In addition Andrew Reinbold got $100 for the long tow from Mr Goodbucks. They came a long way and Andrew was happy it wasn’t for crashing like his last trip over here when he got some Wagsbucks. The Wagsbucks weekly total of $200 went to Ludvig Solberg IV for his beat up car. I am still out front at the gate opening each week to collect. If I am not there, look for my polka dot hat in the “C” grandstands to the right of the Flagstand. For the Fair race, it is awfully busy out front, and I can’t ride my mule in there, so I will make a plan to be near the front entryway from about 5 until qualifying starts, so look for me, the racers can use whatever little you can afford, and it all adds up!

It was a nice evening and a racy night as I made this trip alone and did the best I could to enjoy myself without my bride. I came a day early to take in the Rt. 66 event in San Bernardino and that was fun. Seeing all the old cars is always good, but it seemed to me there were more pick-ups and non cruisers than normal. Not a lot of hot oldies also, but I only saw the Friday night version and some cars were just arriving. There are pics of that fun Click here to check em' out.

The next race is the fair race at the PAS on October 10th. If you go online you can get a $5 ticket to the fair and the races are free!!! You can’t beat that. So some of you whose budget is tapped, or jobs are rough right now, you should try to take advantage. It will be the same great racing as always, but cheaper. And the food, although I rarely eat fair food, I hear the variety is many and plentiful. Make a plan, now!

A lot of talk about next year and I know a Car owner meeting is due soon. I hope that everyone is thinking of what’s best for our racing as a group, as we need a shot in the arm right now to keep this thing going. I know the 410’s are here to stay, despite some who think otherwise, but it’s not a cheap deal. Everyone, fans, car owners, crewmen, media and the tracks have a big job ahead. Let’s make it all good and continue to go forward in a traditional racing manner.

If I had the money, we would up the purse and pay tow money and well, I better wake up, this dreaming is painful. See ya somewhere in the next few weeks, maybe even Victorville this weekend. I know my schedule will get heavy in October and November, but can’t say what Mrs Wags will be up to. She will be at the Ovals and then have her first surgery on her left foot December 4th.

9/19/09 FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Mike Spencer, 2. Tony Jones, 3. Danny Sheridan, 4. David Cardey, 5. Garrett Hansen, 6. Rip Williams, 7. Wes Gutierrez, 8. Blake Miller, 9. Richard VanderWeerd, 10. R.J. Johnson, 11. Cory Kruseman, 12. Jace VanderWeerd, 13. Andrew Reinbold, 14. Matt Mitchell, 15. Greg Bragg, 16. Matt Rossi, 17. Josh Ford, 18. Austin Williams, 19. Ronnie Gardner, 20. Rodney Argo, 21. Ludvig Solberg IV, 22. Robert Ellis-NT

**Notes: Cardey flipped during qualifying, Ellis, Argo & Mitchell flipped during the feature.

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1 Gardner, laps 2-7 Mitchell, laps 8-30 Spencer

HARD-CHARGER: Cardey – 22nd to 4th

NEW USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINTS: 1-

NEXT USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACE: October 10th – Perris (CA), Perris Auto Speedway