CRA: Perris recap, Tucson preview

GAUNT TRIUMPHS AT PERRIS, KRUSEMAN LEADS CRA TO TUCSON

Rickie Gaunt of Torrance, Calif. piloted the Tony Smiley - David Zoriki Motorsports/Extreme Chassis Extreme/Chevy to victory in Saturday night's 30-lap USAC/CRA Sprint race at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway but Cory Kruseman leads the series to this Saturday night's event at USA Race Park in Tucson, Ariz.

Kruseman finished second to Gaunt at The PAS and leads defending series champion Damion Gardner by 26 points after Gardner failed to finish Saturday night's race. On the 23rd lap, while battling for second place, he and Kruseman bumped and Gardner's subsequent tire problem forced him out of the race.

Gardner did, however, extend his streak of CRA fast qualifying times to seven dating back to last year's finale. Last year at Tucson, Kruseman won and Gardner was second.

Trailing Gaunt and Kruseman at Perrris were Danny Sheridan, Rip Williams and Mike Spencer. Gaunt dedicated his victory to the memory of long-time series car owner Bill Pratt, who passed away last week.

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