Perris USAC/CRA preview

Kirby Goes for 3-in a Row at Perris Saturday!

Mike Kirby of Torrance, Calif. will try for his third consecutive Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Car feature victory this Saturday night when the series returns to the 1/2-mile dirt oval for a complete program of racing topped by a 30-lap main event.

Kirby wheeled the Glen Crossno ITI Performance/Sander Engineering/Snap-On TCR/Downing to victory in last Saturday night's 30-lap race, repeating his Perris victory of March 6. Kirby led 14 laps, including the last 10 after passing Damion Gardner on lap 21. Gardner led 16 laps, including the first 15, but slipped to third behind Kirby and Rip Williams at the checkered flag. Tony Jones and Troy Rutherford rounded out the "top-five" at the finish.

Rutherford was Saturday night's fastest qualifier, but heats went to Jeremy Sherman, Adam Mitchell, Bobby Cody and Gardner. J.Hicks won the semi.

Gardner leads the USAC/CRA standings going into the Perris return this Saturday, 14 points ahead of Williams and 28 ahead of Rutherford. Kirby is fifth in the points, two behind Cory Kruseman and 45 behind the leader.

VALVOLINE USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.-Damion Gardner-285
2.-Rip Williams-271
3.-Troy Rutherford-257
4.-Cory Kruseman-242
5.-Mike Kirby-240
6.-Tony Jones-165
7.-Jeremy Sherman-146
8.-Greg Bragg-139
9.-Ricky Gaunt-138
10.-Mike Spencer-137