USAC-CRA time trials from 5:51-6:06 proved to be a precursor to the main event battle between past series champions Damion Gardner and new father Mike Spencer. Mike's wife Ashley gave birth to Vera Mae in mid-May. As ninth qualifier, Damion logged a 16.537 best lap. Mike, the 18^th qualifier, topped Damion's time with his 16.535—good for fast time by .002. Damion got even later in the feature by passing Mike on lap 17 and winning the 40-lap race by 30-yards. It was Damion's fifth victory in six features this season aboard the Alexander No. 4, and he was second in the main he did not win. Saturday Damion ran second from laps 2-6. On lap 7 Mike shot from P. 3 to first place by passing both Damion and leader Ronnie Gardner high in the first and second turns. He led laps 7-16 as Damion and Mike waged their usual thrilling duel to the checkered flag.

An interesting new USAC-CRA entry that debuted at PAS on May 3 was the white/blue No. 9. It rolled in a heat race and ended the night early. Car owner of record is Shawn McDonald, the paraplegic, long-time sprint car fan who sits at the front of section J or K at every PAS race. Announcer Scott Daloisio mentions him frequently. Rickie Gaunt is the No. 9 driver. Rickie told me the car is a group effort by numerous USAC-CRA sprint car teams and generous individuals. Rickie said Jeff, Jimmy and Jack Gardner donated a frame and running gear. Mark Alexander's No. 4 team gave shock absorbers. Dave Miller (Rickie's No. 66 car owner) contributed the tail tank. Arizonan Tony Smiley supplied the engine. Ron DiDonato, a CRA car owner/driver at Ascot, gave the McDonald No.9 headers and muffler. Jerry “Ski” contributed $5,000 for fuel, tires and other normal expenses.

I asked “Super” Rickie about his two racing sons, ages 20 and 18. Maverick tried USAC Ford Focus Midgets under the tutelage of “Professor” Wally Pankratz. Both sons are now racing off-road races, including the Mint 400 and Las Vegas to Reno desert races. They attend college at Chapman and Concordia Universities in Orange County. Both sons are active in water polo. On May 24 Rickie dropped out of P. 4 during heat three. He started 16^th in the feature but another problem sent him to the pits and he finished 17^th in a 21-car field.

FEATURE DNF CAUSES: Other USAC-CRA feature non-finishers included third starter Nic Faas who collected the inner K-rails across from section C after his car and P. 2 starter Matt Mitchell's made contact. Nic's No. 73 had heavy front suspension damage and was sidelined. On lap 9 Mitchell was sixth when he stopped near the third turn wall with a broken RF steering drag link. R. Gardner (No. 93) was in P. 3 on a lap 24 when he stopped in turn four because a steering arm broke. Then Austin Williams was in P. 3 on the lap 24 caution when a broken fuel line caused him to pull into the pits with a small engine fire.

The 23-year old VanderWeerd twins, Jace (P. 8) and Richard (P. 7) collided in turn four and caused a yellow on lap 19 while taking evasive action to avoid an out-of-shape car. Jace's No. 88 was out with broken radius rods and front shocks. Richard's No. 10 returned at the back and raced his way forward to sixth place with eight cars finishing on the lead lap. Twelve of 21 starters finished.

TOP THREE QUOTES: Gardner (with the traditional Indy 500 bottle of mile and winner's wreath) told the crowd, “I was going pretty good and the yellow came out near the end. So I knew it was going to be a dogfight. Congrats to Bruce, Jr for being back and to Mike for having a baby girl.” He thanked his crew and sponsors. “We work hard and it's paying off. “Damion continued, “First paid an extra $500 this week. Thanks to the fans for coming out and cheering, it motivates me even more. Cheer me or boo me for winning, do something and enjoy yourself.” ... Runner-up Spencer stated: “Hello to my girls. He (Damion) got away from me on long runs. I got underneath him and was even. I knew he'd block me. I got into turn one on the outside and bicycled. I thought I'd crash, but caught it. Thanks to all the fans for coming out. It's a great crowd for one of our bigger races on Memorial Day weekend. We'll watch those races on TV tomorrow.” ... P. 3 Cody Williams (No. 44) stated: “It's been so long since I've been in the top three. Thanks to John and Sharon Jory for all their support. My wife Heidi and mom are up in the stands. I hope we'll all (three-car Jory team) be up here in the in the top three soon.”

The No. 36 John Springstead car, an ex-Danny Faria team Eagle chassis, has been raced this season by legends car and midget driver Cody Swanson, a newlywed now living in Covina. He was not available May 24 so ex-Springstead driver Austin Smith made his first racing start of 2014. The former Chino Hills resident now lives in Birmingham, Alabama where he is employed as a firefighter-paramedic. The two-car Springstead team is looking for sponsorship for their 14 car and driver J. J. Ercse announced via Internet he is seeking a steady ride. Brody Roa is also seeking a temporary ride for a month as his Brett Roa No. 91R team is saving money for their planned trip to USAC 's Indiana Sprint Week at seven tracks from July 11-19.

GOUDY: Spotted in the pits were 1978 CRA sprint car champion Rick Goudy, 68, and his brother-in-law Rich Cordsen, who now lives in Illinois and has been married for decades to Rick's sister Bonnie. Cordsen was one of many 1981 CRA rookie drivers. He drove John Meyers' No. 88. The two visitors came down from Rick's home north of Santa Maria where he moved his family in the early 1980s after selling his Streaker Wheels firm. He used his Cerritos JC and Cal State University-Long Beach mechanical/industrial engineering degrees to make specialized parts for the NASA manned space shuttle and space station programs. The busy grandfather and father of three, including daughter Shannon (a school teacher) and Rick, Jr. (an engineering like Rick), seldom attends races.

Goudy, driving the No. 21 Baker & Artrip Chevy, won the 1967 CRA Rookie of the Year title at age 21. He finished tenth in driver points with 345. On April 27, 1968, the rising star suffered burns over 40% of his body in a sprint car crash on the final lap of a 50-lap feature at Ascot. He was running second to Bob Hogle's Morales Bros. Offy when he crashed. Rick's car had a stuck throttle, hit the third turn wall and flipped once before stopping upright near the fourth turn infield. Flames immediately enveloped the cockpit of his No. 10 Baker & Artrip Chevy with Rick semi-conscious. Fire crews saved him, but he suffered near-fatal first, second and third burns on his arms, hands, legs, feet, chin and neck that required multiple skill grafts. Surgery removed the tip of his right index finger. Visitors had to wear face masks so Rick would not get an infection. He spent four months in Gardena Memorial Hospital and was out of racing the rest of 1968. CRA mandated roll cages starting with the 1970 season and fuel tank bladders became mandatory, which cut fire incidents.

Rick returned to racing in 1969 by driving the No. 4 Sinclair Crosley to second place in NMRA-TQ Midget final points. He won a season-high eight three-quarter midget features. In 1970 Rick stepped up to full-midgets in the regional URA series and won the championship. He drove Don Cumberworth's No. 41 Offy. He also finished second in the 1970 USAC Thanksgiving Night 100-lap GP. In 1971 Rick drove Stan Lee's No. 66 Continental Airlines Offy in USAC and his ten starts resulted in 23^rd place in USAC National Midget points. On May 15, 1971 Rick won his initial sprint car comeback race, an Ascot heat race, in the new Don Edmunds-built No. 83 Glen Swinney Chevy.

During 1972 Rick won his first sprint car main event in a 100-lap open comp race at Santa Clara County half-mile in San Jose. He also drove Leonard Faas, Sr-owned King O”Lawn cars on all three 1972 USAC National circuits. He had 22 midget starts and scored 281 points to earn 12^th position in USAC National Midget driver standings. He won the 3-lap trophy dash at the Houston Astrodome indoor race on March 11, 1972 in Cumberworth's No. 41 Sesco. Rick won his first two USAC National Midget features for Faas at a Springfield, Ill. 50-lapper on July 29and the Manzanita Speedway (Phoenix, Ariz.) 40 on November 3. At the 1972 USAC Midget 100-lap GP at Ascot Park, Rick set fastest qualifying time in a field of 53 midgets. He led four laps in the No. 15 Faas King O'Lawn Sesco. While running a close second on lap 68 he pitted with a flat tire. He then watched fellow CRA driver/Faas midget teammate Tony Simon win the 100 lap GP in the No. 16 King O'Lawn Sesco. Rick drove the No. 25 Faas King O'Lawn champ dirt car in two of the four races on the then two year old separate circuit. He ran the Springfield mile and the Indianapolis Fairgrounds Hoosier 100. He also raced USAC national sprints at times with a best finish of tenth. His 56 points ranked 37^th in USAC National Sprint points.

With his engineering firm and family responsibilities expanding, Rick raced locally only in 1973. He raced the new Edmunds-built Faas No. 92 Chevy in which he won his first two CRA 30-lap features. He won the April 7 main in a 47-car field and the May 19 feature in a 37-car field. He ranked fourth in final 1973 CRA driver points, and the Faas 92 finished second in owner points.

During the May to November one-season only 1974 CRA Midget racing season, Goudy drove Stan Lee's Continental Airlines No. 66 Offy. Fields averaged 30 midgets and races were held at three tracks, including Speedway 117 in Chula Vista. Rick won five of 19 main events—one at El Toro, three on Ascot's quarter-mile, plus one on the Ascot half-mile. Rick earned the 1974 CRA Midget Division driving championship. He was fifth in 1974 CRA sprint car final driver points driving the Faas King O'Lawn No. 2, Rocky Grimsley's new Edmunds No. 24, and Bill Pratt's No. 20 Chevy.

Rick led in points at times during his CRA career, but he finished second in CRA sprints final points in 1975, 76 and 77. He had a mathematical chance at the title each year. He won four features in 1974 aboard Bill Pratt's No. 20 Chevy. He captured three Ascot mains in 1975 driving Pratt's No. 5 Chevy. In 1976 Rick won eight CRA features (seven at Ascot and one at the paved El Cajon track) for three owners—Pratt's No. 4, Faas No. 27, and the Morales Bros. “Tamale Wagon” No. 1 in which he won six mains. Rick drove the Morales No. 4 in 1977 and scored four feature triumphs—two at Ascot and two at the new Mesa Marin paved half-mile in Bakersfield.

CAREER YEAR:The 1978 season was Rick's career year driving the Edmunds-built Morales Bros. Chevy No. 2. He won seven CRA point-paying features, including one at Chula Vista and a record six Ascot features in a row from September 2 to October 7. He also won a pair of open-comp mains during an Ascot Pacific Coast Championship preliminary main and a 30-lap feature in Chula Vista. Goudy won the 1978 CRA driving championship. He culminated 1978 by winning the prestigious USAC Midget Turkey Night Grand Prix 100-lap classic at Ascot driving for Leonard Faas. In 1979, Rick drove the Morales No. 1 Chevy to victory in two Ascot features--a 30 lap main March 31 and a 40-lap feature April 7, when he lapped up to P. 4 in his final race. Rick retired from racing after that victory to build his business and raise his family.

In just seven full seasons of CRA sprint car racing, Rick won 31 features (tenth all-time at the end of 1979). He also had 15 fastest qualifying times (tenth ranking) with some new track records, and won 26 trophy dashes (fourth all-time at that point). Rick finished second to Rick Ferkel in a prestigious open comp 50-lap Western World Championship feature at Manzanita in Phoenix. He also won a California vs. Arizona drivers Silver Cup Championship between CRA and ARA drivers with points races at both Ascot and Manzanita. Rick was a popular driver with fans and fellow drivers; he was elected to the 1975 CRA Board of Directors as a drivers representative. Rick's absence from race tracks in recent decades has been our loss. Hopefully, he will be seen at more sprint car and midget racing events. Clearly, he is National Sprint Car Hall of Fame worthy.

Rick's father George, a long-time push truck driver at Ascot and other tracks, died suddenly from a heart attack on September 11, 1974. His dad got Rick started in racing as a youth with a quarter-midget. When asked in 1974 to name his favorite race driver he named A. J. Foyt. He called Knoxville (IA) Raceway his favorite speedway “because it's big, tacky and you can run flat out.” Rick raced out of Norwalk before retiring and moving with wife Kathy and their children 200+ miles north to the central California coast.

P.S – In researching records (1960 to early 1990s) for Goudy's accomplishments it was interesting to note Rick ranks second all-time in feature victories aboard the famed Morales Brothers sprint car. It was 255 cu. in. Offy-powered to mid-1968 and then Chevy-powered when Rick drove it during CRA's golden years in the 1970s-1980s. Eighteen drivers won CRA features for Morales. Bob Hogle, who is synonymous with the “Tamale Wagon”, drove it to 53 of his 63 total feature victories (1963-66 and again 1967-69). Goudy raced the Morales Edmunds chassis from 1976-79 and tallied 21 of his 31 triumphs for Alex Morales. The next most prolific winners for the Morales team were: Billy Cantrell won 12 of his CRA features in 1961-63 for Morales in a Roger McCluskey-1958-built chassis.

Ron Shuman scored in double figures with ten+ wins for Morales from 1989-91. Drivers tied with seven CRA main event triumphs in Morales cars are: Bobby Olivero (1975-76) and Mike Sweeney (1988). Tied at six victories for Morales are: Mike Mosley (1966), Don Hamilton (1970-72), Bubby Jones (1986) and Eddie Wirth (1987). Bill Vukovich, Jr. won five mains for Morales in 1967 before heading to USAC. Six drivers won a single CRA main event for Morales. They were: Bob Mathouser (1960), Rosie Roussel (1960), Don Melton (1963), Steve Howard (1979), Bob East (1984) and Jeff Heywood (1986).

Prior to 1960 Chuck Hulse drove the new No. 25 McCluskey-built chassis with a 220 cu. in. Offy to 13 feature triumphs in 43 races. Remarkably, the team did not race until the McCluskey chassis was ready for the Memorial Day weekend in May. Hulse won the 1959 CRA championship by more than 500 points. The Morales “Tamale Wagons” won 165 CRA main events from 1959-1991. Foyt even won a USAC National feature at Ascot in the Morales' McCluskey chassis. The Morales clan won eight CRA car owner championships—1959, 63, 67, 68, 75, 78, 89 and 91. Six Indianapolis 500 drivers who won main events in a Morales “Tamale Wagon” include: Mathouser, Foyt, Mosley, Vukovich, Jr., Olivero, and Bubby Jones.