"FIRECRACKER 50" SATURDAY AT PERRIS GARDNER CONTINUES WINNING WAYS IN 30-LAPPER

JUNE 27, 2005

             Damion Gardner of Concord, Calif. will try for his 14th fast 
qualifying performance this Saturday as the Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Car 
Series presents the "Firecracker 50" at the Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.

             Gardner led the final 12 laps of last Saurday's 30-lapper at 
Perris after posting the fastest qualifying time in his Temecula Valley 
Pipe & Supply/Arizona Race Mart Eagle/Shaver. He passed Cory Kruseman on 
lap 19 and led the rest of the way to beat Tony Jones, Mike Kirby, Tom 
Stansberry and Danny Ebberts. The race was halted on the opening lap by a 
multicar tangle but there were no driver injuries.

             Bobby Cody led the first five laps of Saturday's race, then 
Kruseman paced the next 13 before yielding to Gardner.

             USAC/CRA Series point leader Rip Williams finished eighth 
after flipping during his heat race. He holds a 79-point lead over Gardner 
in the new standings going into this Saturday's program at the 1/2-mile 
dirt oval.

VALVOLINE USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.-Rip Williams-992
2.-Damion Gardner-913
3.-Cory Kruseman-844
4.-Mike Kirby-842
5.-Charles Davis, Jr.-828
6.-Rickie Gaunt-712
7.-Tony Jones-513
8.-Alan Ballard-502
9.-Mike Spencer-479
10.-Seth Wilson-476