GARDNER EYES #5 SATURDAY IN "SALUTE TO INDY 50-LAPPER

MAY 23, 2005




             Damion Gardner of Concord, Calif. is two victories shy of the 
all-time record for consecutive single-series USAC Sprint car feature wins. 
He'll aim for his fifth straight Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Car triumph 
Saturday in the "Salute to Indy" 50-lapper at the 1/2-mile dirt Perris 
(Calif.) Auto Speedway.

             Gardner scored his fourth consecutive series win Saturday at 
Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Ariz., driving the Ron Chaffin Temecula 
Valley Pipe & Supply/Arizona Race Mart Eagle/Shaver. He took the lead on a 
lap-25 restart from Jeremy Sherman and led the final six laps for the win. 
Sherman, Cory Kruseman, Josh Wise and Josh Ford rounded out the top-five at 
the checkered flag.

The record for consecutive USAC Sprint Car wins is six set by Larry Dickson 
in the 1968 National series. Gardner again was the fastest qualifier at 
Phoenix. Series point leader Rip Williams finished seventh and retains a 
20-point lead over Gardner going into this Saturday's race at Perris.

             Gardner has won four of this year's six USAC/CRA races at 
Perris and has been the fastest qualifier on all six occasions! The other 
winners at Perris in 2005 have been Kruseman and Williams.

VALVOLINE USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.-Rip Williams-686
2.-Damion Gardner-666
3.-Charles Davis, Jr.-644
4.-Cory Kruseman-627
5.-Mike Kirby-622
6.-Rickie Gaunt-484
7.-Josh Ford-365
8.-Tony Jones-361
9.-Seth Wilson-356
10.-Alan Ballard-354