CRA: Perris preview, Skagit review

KRUSEMAN LEADS SERIES CRA TO PERRIS OVAL SATURDAY; POINT LEADER GARDNER & "LOCAL" BARNES SCORE AT SKAGIT

Cory Kruseman is back atop the USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series standings heading into this Saturday night's racing program at the 1/2-mile dirt Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway oval. Kruseman finished fifth and second in races at Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash. Friday and Saturday and emerged with a 26-point lead over defending series champion Damion Gardner.

Gardner won Friday's 30-lapper, passing local driver Jayme Barnes on lap 18 and leading to the checkered flag. Barnes took second ahead of Rick Ziehl, Josh Ford and Kruseman. Barnes returned to lead all 40 laps of Saturday's race to beat Kruseman, Brock Lemley, Ziehl and David Cardey. Kruseman recovered from a flip on the opening lap of Friday's race to post his fifth-place finish.

Gardner was Friday's fast qualifier, the 14th time this season he has paced CRA time trials.

Josh Ford, 10th in the new CRA standings, led the first nine laps of Friday's race and is among drivers seeking his initial 2006 victory this Saturday.

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