PAS Oval Nationals Part II
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The $5.00 20th annual Perris Auto Speedway Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction 50-page color program is another collectors' item. The color cover had photos of 14 prior Oval Nationals program covers. The nearly all color pages contained photos of most sprint cars competing in the event. There was a full page photo of popular 2004 Oval Nationals champion Tony Elliott, from Kokomo, IN., and his winning No. 11 sprinter. It was a tribute to the USAC-national series champion driver who tragically lost his life at age 54 on Friday, October 2. A small airplane crash near the Georgia-South Carolina border claimed the lives of three other men were en-route to the Notre Dame vs. Clemson football game October 3.
A photo of promoter Donnie Kazarian and the late sprint car owners Bill and Evelyn Pratt occupied half a page. Thursday racing was dedicated to Bill and Friday was dedicated to Evelyn. The track PA system even played a recording made at PAS of USAC-CRA pit steward Evelyn saying, “Let's go gentlemen, bring your cars for wheel-packing.” The program contained an accurate entry roster, USAC-CRA point standings, a photo of the eagle and other large trophies, a full page dedicated to 2015 Oval Nationals Grand Marshal Tony Jones. It had a head shot and an action shot of him in the No. 4 Alexander Racing Chevy. The two-page color centerfold was an action photo and still shot of 2014 winner Robert Ballou and his No. 12 Maxim with the left front wheel off the ground.
The program contained a list of the 13 past PAS Oval Nationals champions. In order they are: Jimmy Sills, Rip Williams, Jake Argo, Rickie Gaunt, Tony Jones, Bud Kaeding (three times), Cory Kruseman (two times), Dave Darland (three times), Jessie Hockett, Damion Gardner (two times) Chris Windom, Mike Spencer and Robert Ballou. Bryan Clauson added his name to the list as the 14th winner when he won the 2015 Saturday 40-lap feature. Darland, Gardner, Windom, Spencer and Ballou raced in the 2015 Oval Nationals. Five of the past Oval Nationals winners have retired and one (Hockett) is deceased (garage accident).
“Big Mike” Grosswendt attended his first sprint car races at Ventura Raceway where he watched the 360 sprinters on the beachfront bullring. When he saw his first 410 sprint car racing on the PAS half-mile he had a new racing passion and wanted to help grow that branch of the sport. Mike again this year was a major contributor to the success of the Oval Nationals. His cash infusion increased the payout to $15,000 and $10,000 for the second and third place finishers in the Saturday 40-lap feature. Winner Clauson received $25,000 from the $125,000 three-day event total purse.
Mike was the primary proponent of running an all 410 cu. in. sprint car event with no support classes. Fans and competitors appreciated that return to the former Oval Nationals format. The track surface remained relatively smooth and racy all three nights and there was less carnage. There were only four flips (cars 12b, 92, 5m and 83) and an easy rollover by Cody Williams' Jory No. 44 this year compared to double-digit flips some years. The event ran much more effectively this year.
Mike also did something unprecedented to convey his deep appreciation to those who cover the sport and usually toil unrecognized. He made up 35 gift bags for the media, including motor-sports and daily newspaper writers, and racing photographers. Grand Marshal Tony Jones and his team members also received apparel gifts. Mike distributed the gift bags in the pits Thursday. Contents included: DVD of the James Bond 007 movie “Skyfall”, M &M and Crunch bar candy, a magazine, a bag of Famous Amos cookies, a bottle of 5-Hour Energy Drink, entry roster and format, a $20. gift card from In & Out Burgers, the 2015 Oval Nationals printed program, and a dark blue 20th Oval Nationals hooded sweatshirt depicting Tony Jones in the No. 4 Alexander sprinter on the back.
Mike's generosity extended to everyone in the Oval Nationals pits Saturday. He picked up the total cost of pit concession stand sales for everyone just as he did at the 2014 Oval Nationals. He did so to show his appreciation to everyone in the pits as well. Racers and fans alike benefited all night. They gave Mike a solid round of applause at the 4:30 drivers meeting when Kazarian told them about Mike's unexpected generosity. Jason McCord, USAC Racing Director, also spoke at the 4:30 pit meeting.
All Coast Construction is a high-end custom single family residential construction firm with 30 full-time employees. Mike has been a licensed general contractor and in business more than 20 years. He is currently building homes in Beverly Hills and Santa Barbara. He also has a two-year residential project underway in Moorpark. Mike told me he needed a specialized garage door for a project in the Hollywood hills. To solve that need Mike used DG Designs, a custom fabrication company owned by sprint car driver Damion Gardner. Mike often employs Damion's DG Designs to solve complex and custom fabrication problems. Who knew?
Open-wheel driver J. J. Ercse, from Lakewood, and his 21-year old daughter Kara (named for the late midget driver Kara Hendrick) were in the Oval Nationals pits Saturday. He passed out fliers about his annual Fred Ercse Classic, a slick kart race in Carson at Go Kart World, just off the 405 freeway on Recreation Road. The 8:00 pm race on Tuesday, November 24 has a $25. entry fee with all proceeds going to the American Heart Association. J. J's father Fred died from a massive heart attack 17 years ago. The racing format each year includes heat races, last chance races and a 50-lap main event. Past winners include: Josh Wise (twice), Jake Argo, Garrett Hansen (twice), Blake Miller, Brad Alexander, and Greg Alexander (twice).
Oval Nationals top three finishers in the Thursday 30-lap main spoke to fans over the pit microphone. .
> Winner Ballou said, “Two years ago the best we could do was fifth. Our Maxim chassis is awesome and we have three of them now. We turned our engine program around. Our Oval Nationals winning car is a spare in the trailer. Darland and Stockon are on their game. I ran the top too long and burned the tires off, but I went to the bottom and back to the top at the end. This is how I make my living plus connected clothing sales. I hope you fans got your money's worth. I know I got a workout. This track is outstanding. They really work on the track with almost 50 cars on it. I miss Bruce Bromme, Jr.(late crew chief of Ron Chaffin's No. 50).” Ballou set a USAC National 30-lap PAS new track record of 9:12.71. Twenty-four of 26 starters finished with 16 drivers on the lead lap.
> Runner-up Dave Darland said, “I had a good race. The track was racy. I was trying to keep up with Robert. He got screwed up by lapped cars and I did too. I didn't use my brakes for a long time. I think the pads got heated up and gave me a scare for a moment. Hope this track stays good all week. I don't worry about records or stats. I'm here to win the race. The guys who won three Oval Nationals aren't here and someone else will come along.” He then thanked “Big Mike” and Tom Malloy for their support.
>Third place on opening night was Bryan Clauson. He told spectators, “This place is as tough as it gets. I might have had the best car late. I had poor track position early and made up a lot of distance late. The track was fast in the heats and got slicker later on. We have some things we can work on to make it better Friday and Saturday.” He sure did and won Saturday's 40-lap finale.
The top three in Friday's 30-lap main also spoke to spectators over the pit PA mike.
> Winner Ballou won his fourth Oval Nationals feature in a row counting Friday and Saturday features in 2014. He said, “There are so many good cars here any car can win. I looked at the scoreboard and hate that Chase Stockon had his problem.(shredded rear tire and broken rear end on lap 25). This car was on a rail. Jimmy (crew chief) had my car good to the red flag. I don't think we were as good the last five laps. Lapped cars were as fast as the leaders. Damion raced me clean. Hope we can run this good tomorrow. Shawn McDonald is up there in his wheelchair. He is a fan of mine. My parents are here from northern California. I'm from northern California and can win here. Hope all you fans got your hard earned money's worth.”
> Runner-up Brady Bacon stated, “We had a baby right after this race last year. I didn't do anything spectacular tonight, but we're locked in for tomorrow. We have to catch Robert. We have a few ideas. The tires got cold after the red flag (for lap 25 multi-car turn two crash). Thanks to Mean Green (sponsor) and to the Hoffman family (his car owner). They've been in racing more than 60 years. Tonight adds money to the bank account. I'll be back here to run for the Turkey Night midget race trophy.”
> Third place Damion Gardner told fans, “Our guys worked hard. We missed the set-up and got behind last night (P. 16 in main). The driver was more on top of his game tonight. Thanks to All Coast Construction and the fans. I love competition and having the national guys come here to race. Tomorrow we have to look for more speed. Tonight Robert showed he's on it again and not just last year. It should be a barn-burner tomorrow. Thanks to my team, we'll keep digging tomorrow.” Twenty-six drivers started and 22 finished, with 12 on the lead lap.
The 2016 Perris USAC-CRA 410 sprint car schedule was released during the Oval Nationals. There will be 12 PAS races next season compared to 11 this year. Dates are: March 5, April 16 (with World of Outlaw sprint cars co-featured), May 28, June 11, July 2 and 30, August 27, September 24, October 15 and the three nights 21st annual Oval Nationals from November 10-12.