CRA: Perris season finale preview

Williams, Gardner Settle CRA Title Saturday at Pas!

It all comes down to one race, just as we expected! Rip Williams of Yorba Linda, Calif. and Damion Gardner of Concord, Calif. square off for the inaugural 2004 Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Car Championship Saturday night at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway in the "Jack Kindoll Classic."

Having eliminated third-ranking Mike Kirby's title challenge, Williams and Gardner are separated by 50 points going into the series finale, with 74 points on the line. A 14th-place finish in the 50-lap feature event would assure Williams of the first-ever driving championship of his illustrious career.

Gardner led the standings early in the season but has spent the past seven months chasing Williams in the standings. Five of Gardner's eight 2004 victories have come at Perris, while three of Williams' five have come at the 1/2-mile dirt track located east of Los Angeles.

Perris has served as somewhat of a "home" track for the new series, hosting 17 races, but 13 of the previous 16 have been won by Williams, Gardner and Kirby. The other feature winners this year at Perris have been Adam Mitchell, Jason York and Cory Kruseman.

VALVOLINE USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1.-Rip Williams-1,664
2.-Damion Gardner-1,614
3.-Mike Kirby-1,567
4.-Troy Rutherford-1,059
5.-Greg Bragg-910
6.-Mike Spencer-881
7.-Cory Kruseman-880
8.-Steve Ostling-855
9.-Bobby Cody-807
10.-Tony Jones-795

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