Non-winged Sprint car poll results

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (APRIL 25, 2001) - Cory Kruseman of Ventura, Calif., has cruised to the top spot in the spring edition of the National Non-Winged Sprint Car Poll, as determined by the voting panel of manufacturers, media members, promoters and sanctioning officials. Kruseman, pilot of Harlan Willis' sprinter in Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) competition, earned eleven (11) of the thirteen (13) first-place ballots cast. The 1999 Non- Winged World Championship title-holder appears to be well on his way to having a career-best year with wins already this season at the Perris Auto Speedway (PAS) in California, twice, and the Manzanita Speedway in Arizona. The current SCRA point leader will defend his ranking in the May 5th SCRA-sanctioned "Jeff Bagley Classic" at his hometown Ventura Raceway.

Ranked second in the non-winged poll is last spring's 'top dog' Richard Griffin of Silver City, N.M. Griffin has also won a feature this year at his adopted home track of Manzanita in Phoenix. Rounding out the top five non-winged sprint car drivers in the country are Tony Jones of Corona, Calif., Derek Davidson of Indianapolis, Ind., and John Scott of Hesperia, Calif. Jones has won at both Perris and Manzy (in the "Gary Sokola Classic"), while Davidson won the United States Auto Club (USAC)-sanctioned "Glen Niebel Classic" at Anderson, Indiana. Scott, who was unranked last season, has won at the PAS in Lake Perris, Calif., this year.

Derek Davidson garnered one first place vote, as did seventh- ranked, and defending National Non-Winged Sprint Car Poll "Driver of the Year", Jay Drake. North Vernon, Ind., USAC feature winner Tony Elliott is ranked sixth, while USAC point leader Brandon "Bud" Kaeding is in 12th position in the seasonal rankings. USAC Western Sprint Car Series winners Tracy Hines, Davey Hamilton, and Randy Bauer are ranked ninth, 16th and 19th, respectively.

The National Non-Winged Sprint Car Poll is an official awards program of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum Foundation, Inc. <pre> Spring 2001 National Non-Winged Sprint Car Poll

     2000
Rank Rank Driver (First Place Votes)  Hometown/State      Points

  1.   6.  Cory Kruseman       (11)    Ventura, CA        1,090
  2.   2.  Richard Griffin             Silver City, NM      413
  3.   7.  Tony Jones                  Corona, CA           373
  4.  12.  Derek Davidson      ( 1)    Indianapolis, IN     307
  5.   -   John Scott                  Hesperia, CA         247

  6.   3.  Tony Elliott                Kokomo, IN           198
  7.   1.  Jay Drake           ( 1)    Val Verde, CA        187
  8.   9.  J.J. Yeley                  Phoenix, AZ          131
  9.   4.  Tracy Hines                 Indianapolis, IN     129
 10.   5.  Rip Williams                Yorba Linda, CA      108

 11.   8.  Dave Darland                Walton, IN           107
 12.  14.  Brandon "Bud" Kaeding       Campbell, CA          86
 13.  23.  Troy Rutherford             Ojai, CA              52
 14.  18.  Troy Cline                  Santa Clarita, CA     40
 15.   -   David Steele                Tampa, FL             37

 16.  10.  Rickie Gaunt                Torrance, CA          24
 tie  20.  Davey Hamilton              Boise, ID             24
 tie  13.  Steve Ostling               Corona, CA            24
 19.   -   Randy Bauer                 Kingston, WA          19
 20.   -   Ed Carpenter                Indianapolis, IN      18

Also receiving multiple votes: Kevin Doty, Jeff Gardner, Jack Hewitt, Tony Hunt, Kasey Kahne, Mike Kirby, Bob Ream (Jr.), Jeremy Sherman, Kevin Thomas.

NSCHoF