scra: Perris race report 2001-06-02

SCRA's Kruseman headed for NWWC tour

PERRIS, CA, June 2 -- Cory Kruseman's bags are packed for the start of the Non-Winged World Championship (NWWC) tour which will begin in Nebraska in just six days. Before making the long tow east, Kruseman stopped off at the Perris Auto Speedway Saturday and nonchalantly won yet another Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) main event.

Dating back to last season, Kruseman has now won six of the last ten SCRA races held at Perris. With one-third of the year now history, Kruseman is not only running away with the SCRA points chase, but is on a pace to shatter the SCRA record books. Having now won exactly 50% of the races run this year, Kruseman made win number seven look effortless by leading all 30 laps. "To me, the easier win is the one where you start tenth and come from the back because you get to run next to people an d get an idea of what they're doing. It's hard when you're out front leading every lap because you have no idea where they're coming from," Kruseman explained.

Kruseman, who won the 1999 NWWC title, is hoping to dethrone reigning SCRA champion (1998-00) Richard Griffin. The similarities between Griffin's championship run of a year ago and Kruseman's accomplishments this year are remarkable. Last year, the NWWC series started after the 14th race of the SCRA season. Griffin left for the NWWC tour last year with six wins and a 228 point lead. With the same number of starts, Kruseman has one more win this year and enjoys a 213 point lead. Griffin went on to win the 2000 SCRA Championship virtually unchallenged as well as the NWWC title. Kruseman is hoping for an identical outcome. "Winning the Non-Winged World Championship means a lot to me and hopefully we can go out and be the only two-time champion," Kruseman said optimistically. "It just seems like we've been very lucky this year. I've never won seven SCRA main events (in a season) before. We've got our sights set on the record and hopefully we can win 13 or 14."

Outstanding all night long, Kruseman won his heat and the JE Pistons Dash to put the Harlan Willis / Omni Turn No. 45 TCR on the pole for the feature. Joining Kruseman on the front row was John Scott, who was starting on the front row for the fourth consecutive race. Kruseman had the preferred line exiting turn four at the drop of the green flag and comfortably led the field into turn one. Kruseman pulled away on the opening lap as Scott, Charles Davis, Jr., Troy Rutherford and the Mark Alexander-Brad Geurin / Statewide Towing No. 5 Stinger driven by Mike Kirby tried to keep pace.

Owner / driver Adam Mitchell was on the move early. By the end of the fifth lap, Mitchell was up to fifth after starting 12th in his Electro Tech Powder Coating No. 99 Stinger. Meanwhile, Kruseman was building his lead with each passing lap. Looking for a line to gain some ground on Kruseman, Scott moved down to the bottom on lap ten. Kirby stayed on the cushion and passed Scott for second place.

Last Sunday, Kruseman was leading on the white flag lap when he tangled with a lapped car in turn two giving the eventual win to Kirby. Kruseman reached his first back marker on lap 19 and slid wide exiting turn two and nearly clipped the fence where he came to a stop less than a week ago.

Later that same lap, Scott shredded a left rear tire and brought out the first caution flag of the race. Scott later speculated that a valve may have led to his tire problem. Scott rejoined the fight, but would be relegated to a 17th place finish. Enjoying the best run of his SCRA career, Mitchell challenged Kirby for the runner-up spot on a couple of occasions after the restart until the action was halted once more by Brian Venard who spun to a stop in turn three. Prior to the yellow flags, Kruseman had been searching for a better line. The two caution periods allowed Kruseman to get some much needed signals from his car owner.

"We had that yellow on lap 21 and Harlan helped me out and definitely saved my butt. I don't know if that's what won us the race, but it definitely didn't hurt," Kruseman admitted. "With the circumstances the way they were, last (Sunday) was a little disappointing. I was impatient and let a lapped car cost me a race. My guys did a great job and gave me the same race car tonight and we were able to capitalize on it." Kirby never could mount a challenge that might have prevented Kruseman from gathering his 44th career SCRA win.

In fact, Mitchell passed Kirby after the restart. Kirby later slipped back into the second spot on lap 24, but would then have to contend with a charging Danny Sheridan. Coming from the 14th starting position, Sheridan moved the Tom & Lauri Sertich / Jan's Health Bar No. 92 Buckley into the second position on lap 29.

Kirby battled back and earned a second place finish after a nice move on the last corner of the last lap. Either way, engine builder Richard Catton (RC Performance) had to be pleased to see his motors occupy the top-three positions. Mitchell came home fourth to earn his first top-five SCRA finish. Rip Williams started 18th and powered the Sharon Jory / Vista Paint No. 3 Gambler into fifth on lap 26. As good as Williams' drive was, Jeremy Sherman's 22nd to sixth run won him the TW Metals Hard Charger Award.

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SCRA RACE #14 - PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY, PERRIS, CA Date of Race: 06/02/01

SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS=20 1. Troy Rutherford, Ojai CA, Gardner, Jr 4 , 16.883 2, Mike English, = Norwalk=20 CA, Priestley 7 , 16.927 3. Kevin White, Anaheim CA, White 43 , 16.944 = 4.=20 Charles Davis, Jr, Chandler AZ, Morales 94, 16.960 5. George Gervais, = Mira=20 Loma CA, Gervais 9, 17.085 6. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance CA, M&B Racing 5X = ,=20 17.145 7. Adam Mitchell, Escondido CA, Mitchell 99, 17.273 8. Verne=20 Sweeney, Lomita CA, Sweeney 98, 17.277 9. Rodney Argo, Hawthorne CA, = Argo 19=20 , 17.302 10. Cory Kruseman, Ventura CA, Willis 45 , 17.308 11. Jack=20 DeArmond, Jr., Corona CA, DeArmond, Sr. 24 , 17.317 12. John Scott, = Hesperia=20 CA, Scott Mtrsprts 83, 17.404 13. Mark Nation, Los Olivos CA, Nation 3N = ,=20 17.417 14. Brian Venard, Tustin CA, Venard, 47 , 17.436 15. Keith=20 Williamson, Pomona CA, Williamson 95 , 17.442 16. Richard Griffin, = Silver=20 City NM, Chaffin 50 , 17.465 17. Rick Becker, (R) Highland CA, Becker = 67 ,=20 17.495 18. Bobby Graham, Riverside CA, Silver State 14 , 17.507 19. = Mike=20 Kirby, Lomita CA, M&B Racing 5 , 17.565 20. Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria = CA,=20 Sertich 92 , 17.609 21. Tony Everhart, El Cajon CA, Everhart 55, 17.656 = 22.=20 Steve Ostling, Corona CA, Fischer Mtrspts 29, 17.686 23. Lance Gremett, = San=20 Marcos CA, Gremett 85, 17.690 24. Mike Spencer, (R) Temecula CA, = Engstrom=20 44, 17.715 25. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda CA, Jory 3, 17.724 26. Jeremy =

Ellerson, Hermosa Beach CA, Ellerton 98X, 17.808 27. Dan Hillberg, = Whittier=20 CA, Hillberg 82, 17.822 28. Jeff Schildmeyer, (R) Alpine CA, Ball 87 = ,=20 17.829 29. Jordan Hermansader, Long Beach CA, Pratt 12 , 17.891 30. = Wiley=20 Miller, (R) Yorba Linda CA, Miller 75 , 17.903 31. Marc Hart, Ventura = CA,=20 Hart 15 , 17.920 32. Chris Rahe, Corona CA, Rahe 51 , 17.931 33. John=20 Franklin, Huntington Bch. CA., Franklin 20 , 17.938 34. Steve Venard,=20 Silverado CA, Glover 49 , 17.948 35. Casey Shuman, Tempe AZ., Lake = Mtrsprts=20 6 , 17.950 36. Michael Hinrichsen, (R) Lakeside CA, Lake Mtrsprts. 16 , =

17.953 37. Tony Jones, Corona CA, Gardner Mtrspts 4X , 17.990 38. = Charlie=20 Ekiss, La Mesa CA, Ball 78 , 18.147 39. Jeremy Sherman, Phoenix AZ, = Ellis 21=20 , 18.190 40. Dan Tedrick, Hesperia CA, Tedrick 88 , 18.520 41. Glenn=20 Crossno, (R) Alta Loma CA, Crossno 38, 18.638 42. Joe Winston, Laguna = Niguel=20 CA, Winston, Sr. 58 , 18.714 43. Jon Robertson, Torrance CA, Gaunt = Const.=20 40, 19.236 44. Jimmy Gardner, (R) Garden Grove CA, Gardner Jr 96, No = Time

C FEATURE=20 1. Steve Venard. 2. Jeremy Sherman. 3. Tony Jones. 4. Michael = Hinrichsen. 5.=20 Charlie Ekiss. 6. Casey Shuman. 7. John Franklin. 8. Dan Tedrick. 9. = Glenn=20 Crossno. 10. Joe Winston. 11. Jon Robertson.

HEDMAN HEDDERS HEAT 1=20 1. Rip Williams, 2. Jordan Hermansader, 3. Troy Rutherford, 4. Rodney = Argo,=20 5. George Gervais, 6. Mark Nation, 7. Rick Becker, 8. Steve Venard, 9. = Tony=20 Everhart,

SHAVER ENGINES HEAT 2=20 1. Cory Kruseman, 2. Steve Ostling, 3. Brian Venard, 4. Jeremy Sherman, = 5.=20 Bobby Graham, 6. Wiley Miller, 7. Jeremy Ellerson, 8. Rickie Gaunt, 9. = Mike=20 English,

KSE PRODUCTS HEAT 3=20 1. Marc Hart, 2. Mike Kirby, 3. Lance Gremett, 4. Tony Jones, 5. Adam=20 Mitchell, 6. Dan Hillberg, 7. Kevin White, 8. Keith Williamson, 9. Jack=20 DeArmond, Jr., =20

SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS HEAT 4=20 1. Danny Sheridan, 2. John Scott, 3. Richard Griffin, 4. Charles Davis, = Jr,=20 5. Michael Hinricbsen, 6. Mike Spencer, 7. Verne Sweeney, 8. Chris Rahe, = 9.=20 Jeff Schildmeyer,

JE PISTONS DASH 1. Cory Kruseman. 2. John Scott, 3. Brian Venard. 4. Charles Davis, Jr. = 5.=20 Rodney Argo. 6. Troy Rutherford. 7. Richard Griffin, 8. Mike Kirby.=20

JB ENTERPRISE B FEATURE 1. Rickie Gaunt. 2. Mike English. 3. Kevin White. 4. Adam Mitchell. = 5.=20 Verne Sweeney. 6. Mike Spencer. 7. Bobby Graham. 8. Michael Hinrichsen. = 9.=20 Keith Williamson. 10. Chris Rahe. 11. Rick Becker. 12. Jeff = Schildmeyer.=20 13. Dan Hillberg. 14. Steve Venard. 15. Wiley Miller. 16. Mark Nation. = 17. =20 Tony Everhart. 18. Jack DeArmond, Jr. 19. Jeremy Ellerson. 20. George=20 Gervais.

A FEATURE (30 Laps) 1. Cory Kruseman, 2. Mike Kirby, 3. Danny Sheridan, 4. Adam Mitchell. 5. = Rip=20 Williams. 6, Jeremy Sherman. 7. Steve Ostling. 8. Richard Griffin. 9, = Rodney=20 Argo. 10. Troy Rutherford. 11. Mike English. 12. Charles Davis, Jr. = 13.=20 Rickie Gaunt. 14. Kevin White. 15. Tony Jones. 16. Lance Gremett, 17. = John=20 Scott. 18. Jordan Hermansader. 19. Brian Venard. 20. Marc Hart. 21. = Mike=20 Spencer. 22. Verne Sweeney. Laps Led: Kruseman 1-30

DIVISION: SCRA Point Standings as of: 06/02/01 -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- -

CAR NAME HOMETOWN STARTS POINTS -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- -

1. 45 Cory Kruseman Ventura CA 14 992 2. 50 Richard Griffin Silver City NM 14 779 3. 4 Troy Rutherford Ojai CA 14 775 4. 83 John Scott Hesperia CA 14 713 5. 5 Mike Kirby Lomita CA 14 711 6. 4X Tony Jones Corona CA 14 710 7. 29 Steve Ostling Corona CA 14 678 8. 3 Rip Williams Yorba Linda CA 14 631 9. 7 Mike English Norwalk CA 14 608 10. 5X Rickie Gaunt Torrance CA 14 510 11. 94 Charles Davis, Jr Chandler AZ 14 500 12. 92 Danny Sheridan Santa Maria CA 14 444 13. 19 Rodney Argo Hawthorne CA 13 388 14. 11 Troy Cline Santa Clarita CA 7 341 15. 21 Jeremy Sherman Phoenix AZ 7 335 16. 6 Casey Shuman Tempe AZ 14 288 17. 17 Greg DeCaires Elk Grove CA 12 283 18. 99 Adam Mitchell Escondido CA 14 247 19. 33 Hank Winter Tucson AZ 13 234 20. 85 Lance Gremett San Marcos CA 14 220

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