USAC Release #326 - JONES, GARDNER HEAD POINT BATTLES AS NATIONAL, CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES COLLIDE AT PERRIS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE									OCTOBER 31, 2005
Contact: MICHAEL HARKER/DICK JORDAN								05-326


JONES, GARDNER HEAD POINT BATTLES AS NATIONAL, CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES COLLIDE
AT PERRIS

INDIANAPOLIS – Three of the biggest nights of the year for Sprint car racing
come this Thursday, Friday and Saturday on the West Coast as the USAC
Valvoline National and CRA Sprint Car Series divisions clash for the 10th
running of the Budweiser Oval Nationals, with both point championships on
the line.

National driver Levi Jones and CRA gunner Damion Gardner lead their
respective series into the three-night affair at Perris Auto Speedway in
California hoping to keep their leads, in addition to shooting for one of
the biggest purses of the season. More than 70 cars are pre-entered for the
event, and drivers will be looking to fill one of at least 24 feature spots
each night.

While Thursday and Friday night preliminary features will pay $8,590 purses,
Saturday boasts a $60,500 payoff, with a $30,000 cut to the victor. Second-
and third-place finishers will take home $7,000 and $4,000 respectively.
Cory Kruseman won last year’s running of the event.

Alan Ballard of Bakersfield, Calif. tuned up for this weekend’s festivities
Saturday at Ventura Raceway in California with a last lap victory ahead of
CRA points leader Gardner. Driving the No. 97 Dick’s Automotive/Ernie’s Tong
Service Schnee/Chevy, Ballard led laps 6-28 before Gardner inched forward on
lap 29, but came to the checkered flag first for his initial USAC triumph.
Gardner – who extended his point lead to 62 markers over Cory Kruseman –
finished second, ahead of Danny Sheridan, Mike Spencer and Jon Stanbrough.
Kruseman was sixth.

Blake Miller drove to the 15-lap "Wagsdash" victory.

The National Series has been idle since Oct. 16, when Dave Darland won at
Winchester Speedway in Indiana. That triumph moved Darland to within 78
points of Jones heading into Thursday’s race. Darland, Jay Drake and Bud
Kaeding are all still in the running for the championship with six races
left.

USAC VALVOLINE NATIONAL SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.-Levi Jones-1,375
2.-Dave Darland-1,297
3.-Jay Drake-1,188
4.-Josh Wise-1,161
5.-Bud Kaeding-1,112
6.-Mat Neely-940
7.-Jon Stanbrough-872
8.-Jerry Coons Jr.-712
9.-Darren Hagen-684
10.-Tracy Hines-645

USAC VALVOLINE CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.-Damion Gardner-1,760
2.-Cory Kruseman-1,698
3.-Rip Williams-1,644
4.-Mike Kirby-1,466
5.-Charles Davis Jr.-1,297
6.-Rickie Gaunt-1,224
7.-Mike Spencer-1,194
8.-Josh Ford-1,071
9.-Danny Sheridan-990
10.-Tony Jones-940