CRA IDLE UNTIL AUGUST 15 at PERRIS;

GAUNT TAKES “FORT” 30; GARDNER WINS “FIRECRACKER 40”

It’s crowded at the top as the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Cars take a hiatus until August 15 when the series resumes at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.

Five-time champion Mike Spencer leads three-time champion Damion Gardner by just three points after last Saturday’s “Firecracker 40” at Perris won by Gardner.

Gardner, of Concord, Calif., wheeled his Mark Alexander Scott Sales Company/J & D Performance Spike to victory in the Perris 40-lapper. He ran down Richard Vander Weerd on lap 17 and led the last 24 laps to beat Vander Weerd, Austin Williams, Spencer and Brody Roa.

Vander Weerd stands third in the new standings, 47 behind the leader, while Matt Mitchell, who flipped Saturday, slipped to fourth in the points, two behind Vander Weerd and three ahead of Austin Williams.

Rickie Gaunt of Torrance, Calif. scored an emotional victory in Friday night’s 30-lap “Doug Fort Memorial” AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint race at Santa Maria Raceway. He led all 30 laps in his Shawn McDonald Sander Engineering/Smiley Crane Sled/Don Ott machine to beat Richard Vander Weerd, Mitchell, Gardner and Austin Williams. Gardner was the night’s fastest qualifier.