The hottest driver in the Lucas Oil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series is now the top man in the series as well. Last Saturday night at Chris Kearns’ Santa Maria Speedway, “Dynamite” David Cardey parlayed a third place finish in the 30-lap main event into the championship standings point lead heading into this Saturday’s (June 20) race at Petaluma Speedway.
Last Saturday marked the fifth straight top five USAC/CRA finish for the 33 year-old racing star from Riverside, California.
After a rocky start to the campaign where he had a 16th, 18th and non transfer in the first three races of the year, Cardey reunited with ITI Performance Motorsports and since then he and the brilliant red #38 ITI Performance Viper have been on fire. Last Saturday night was no different. Cardey qualified 7th in the 24 car field and finished sixth in his heat race.
To begin the 30-lap main, he started 11th (inside row six) and by the time the checkered flag fell on the immaculately prepared third of a mile oval, Cardey had advanced to third and was challenging defending series champion Mike Spencer for second. Spencer and Cardey placed second and third respectively behind Garrett Hansen, who became the eighth different USAC/CRA winner in the first eight races of the 2009 campaign.
This Saturday night Cardey will take his newly acquired point lead to Petaluma Speedway, the fastest 3/8th of mile clay oval in Northern California. Not only will it be Cardey’s first ever appearance at Petaluma, but it will also be the first race at the track for the USAC/CRA Series.
2009 RESULTS: DATE TRACK DIVISON FINISH 02/21/09 Manzanita Speedway USAC/CRA 16TH A Main 02/25/09 Las Vegas Motor Speedway USAC/CRA 9th B Main 02/28/09 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 16th A Main 03/28/09 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 2nd A Main 04/25/09 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 1st A Main 05/02/09 Perris Auto Speedway CLS 1st A Main 05/23/09 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 4th A Main 05/30/09 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA 5th A Main 06/13/09 Santa Maria Speedway USAC/CRA 3rd A Main
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