GARDNER NOW #1 IN CRA HEADING TO VENTURA AFTER WINNING PERRIS 50-LAPPER

SEPTEMBER 5, 2005
GARDNER NOW #1 IN CRA HEADING TO VENTURA
AFTER WINNING PERRIS 50-LAPPER

             Damion Gardner of Concord, Calif. has finally caught and 
passed defending Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Car Champion Rip Williams in the 
2005 series standings as a result of his 50-lap victory at Perris, Calif. 
Saturday night.

             Gardner leads Williams by only eight points going into this 
Saturday night's race at the Ventura (Calif.) Raceway, while Mike Kirby and 
Cory Kruseman remain challengers after good Perris finishes.

             A 30-lap feature is on tap at Ventura, where the USAC Western 
Midgets share the billing on the 1/5-mile dirt oval.

             Gardner led the final 34 laps of the race at Perris Auto 
Speedway in his Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply/Arizona Race Mart 
Eagle/Shaver. He passed Kruseman on lap 17 and was trailed at the finish by 
Kruseman, Josh Ford, Kirby and Danny Sheridan.

             Williams finished seventh at Perris, while Charles Davis, Jr. 
was the night's fastest qualifier.

             Gardner, who also won at Ventura in May, now has 11 feature 
victories this season to accompany his 17 fast qualifying efforts.

VALVOLINE USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.-Damion Gardner-1,397
2.-Rip Williams-1,389
3.-Mike Kirby-1,295
4.-Cory Kruseman-1,256
5.-Charles Davis, Jr.-1,034
6.-Rickie Gaunt-957
7.-Mike Spencer-870
8.-Josh Ford-819
9.-Tony Jones-693
10.-Seth Wilson-689