CRA: Perris preview

KRUSER, DEMON SQUARE OFF SATURDAY AT "THE PAS"

Cory Kruseman of Ventura, Calif. and Damion Gardner of Concord, Calif. continue their battle for the 2006 USAC/CRA Sprint Car championship Saturday night at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.

Gardner (the "Demon"), will seek to extend his streak of fast qualifying times to three of three as he looks to repeat his qualifying dominance of 2005 when he posted a record 22 fast times.

Gardner and Kruseman finished 1-2 seven times during the 2005 season, Gardner wining five times and Kruseman twice. Four of those 1-2 finishes came at Perris and Gardner won all four.

The two finished second (Gardner) and fourth (Kruseman) two Saturdays ago (Feb. 4) as 2004 series champion Rip Williams scored the 102nd Sprint car win of his illustrious career (99 sanctioned by USAC, CRA or SCRA).

Kruseman holds a one-point lead over the defending series champ going into Saturday's race, the 40th for USAC/CRA Sprint cars at Perris since the series began in 2004. Gardner and Kruseman are the winningest drivers at the 1/2-mile Perris oval in those 39 previous events, Damion winning 14 and Cory 7.

Saturday night's program concludes with a 30-lap feature.

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