CRA: Ventura debut preview

4 Battle for CRA Point Lead at Ventura Saturday

Four Californians will shoot it out for the point lead in the 2004 Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series when the series makes its debut at the Ventura (Calif.) Raceway Saturday night.

A 30-lap feature is on tap at the tight 1/5-mile dirt oval and only 46 points separate the top four in the standings, with 74 available.

Rip Williams of Yorba Linda is the leader, eyeing his first career series championship. Mike Kirby of Torrance, a three-time CRA winner already this year, trails by 26 points, while Damion Gardner of Concord is third, 35 back and Troy Rutherford of Ojai ranks fourth.

The race will be the first for USAC Sprint cars at the track which has hosted 101 USAC races through the years.

VALVOLINE USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.-Rip Williams-458
2.-Mike Kirby-432
3.-Damion Gardner-423
4.-Troy Rutherford-412
5.-Cory Kruseman-313
6.-Jeremy Sherman-284
7.-Tony Jones-268
8.-Greg Bragg-248
9.-Brian Venard-242
10.-Steve Ostling-208

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