scra: Perris preview 2001-07-06

(LAKE PERRIS, CA) SCRA Sprint Car racing and Fireworks will highlight the July 4th show at Perris Auto Speedway. It will be the start of a busy week at The PAS as Friday and Saturday July 6th & 7th, the popular Riverside County clay oval will play host to the 2001 Dwarf Nationals.

Wednesday's race will mark the first appearance of SCRA on the West Coast since completing their highly successful Non Wing World Championship Tour of the Midwest. The night of racing will be highlighted by SCRA's Annual Firecracker 50-lap main event. All of SCRA's top stars will be on hand including Troy Rutherford, point leader Cory Kruseman and three-time defending series champion, Richard "The Gasman" Griffin.

Griffin, who hails from Silver City, New Mexico, got off to a slow start in 2001. However, the three time defending SCRA Champion is on fire now. On the recent Midwest swing, Griffin, 37, won three of six races. In doing so, he took over second in the point standings, but is still 184 markers behind Kruseman.

Rutherford, who was married in April, won the richest main event of his life when he pocketed $10,000.00 at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas on June 16th. The 27-year-old star then journeyed to Fremont, Ohio and posted the fast qualifying time the first time he set a wheel to that historic track. A couple nights later, he finished second at Kokomo, Indiana behind local favorite and multi-time USAC National Champion Tony Elliott.

Kruseman, the defending Firecracker 50 Champion, has been having a phenomenal season on the track. On June 26th, he had reason to celebrate off the track as well. His wife Carrie gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Casie Leeann at 10:49 PM. Needless to say he will be running hard on the 4th with an extra mouth to feed.

A field of 55-60 cars is expected to be on hand on the 4th. Other top entries include Rip Williams, John Scott, Steve Ostling, Mike English, Rodney Argo, Mike Kirby, Alex Grigoreas and "Super" Rickie Gaunt.

Spectator gates will open two hours early at 3:00 PM on the Wednesday. Being that it is a summer holiday, there will be several games for the fans and SCRA drivers from 3:45 - 4:45. The games will include Hot Dog eating, Watermelon eating, Water Balloon Toss, Three-legged races and Sack races. It will be a great opportunity for fans to mix and mingle with their favorite SCRA stars.

Advance tickets are on sale now and selling fast for July 4th. They are available by calling (909) 940-0134.

Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds. Take the 215 Freeway, exit at the Ramona Expressway and go east two miles to the fairgrounds.

For further information call 1-800-976-RACE or (909) 940-0134.

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SCRA POINTS 1. Cory Kruseman 1375 2. Richard Griffin 1191 3. Troy Rutherford 1104 4. Mike Kirby 1059 5. Steve Ostling 951 5. John Scott 951 7. Rip Williams 900 8. Mike English 856 9. Rickie Gaunt 788 10. Charles Davis Jr. 753

-scraFan.com