Back-to-back USAC/CRA Sprint Car races at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway dirt track Thursday and Friday nights will prove pivotal in the early battle for the 2007 series championship. A 30-lap feature is on tap each night at the 1/2-mile dirt oval which has hosted USAC Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown racing in the past 10 years.
Mike Spencer of Temecula, Calif. became the fourth different winner in four races so far this season, winning Saturday night’s 30-lapper at the Perris (Calif. ) Auto Speedway. He piloted Ron Chaffin’s Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply Maxim to the win, beating Rip Williams, Josh Wise, Rickie Gaunt and Tony Jones to the checkered flag. Spencer led the opening lap and the final 11 after passing Gaunt on lap 20.
Tony Jones, who also led six early laps at Perris, will take a 26-point lead over Williams into Thursday night’s race. Spencer is third in the standings, 30 back of the leader.
Defending series champion Cory Kruseman escaped injury in a flip during the Perris feature.
Six previous USAC Sprint races at the LVMS dirt oval have produced seven different race winners. Rick Williams won a 30-lapper in 1997, while Bobby McMahan, Ray Evans, Monte Faccinto, Jeff Gardner and Tony Elliott won races in 1998.
USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series Standings
1. Tony Jones 247
2. Rip Williams 221
3. Mike Spencer 217
4. Rickie Gaunt 193
5. Darren Hagen 187
6. Scotty Weir 167
7. Danny Sheridan 165
8. Garrett Hansen 156
9. R. J. Johnson 143
10. Damion Gardner 136
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