PERRIS, Calif. – Inheriting the lead on lap 17, Richard Vander Weerd powered to his first AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series win of the season at Perris Auto Speedway Saturday night.
Driving the family-owned No. 10 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd earned his eighth career triumph at the annual Sokola Shootout.
R.J. Johnson, point leader Brody Roa, A.J. Bender, and fast qualifier Damion Gardner followed the 2011 USAC West Coast Sprint Car champion home.
Danny Faria Jr. earned the night’s Specialty Fasteners Hard Charger Award with an 18th to seventh place run, while Mike Martin scored the Wilwood Disc Brakes Lucky 13 Award with a 13th place finish in the feature.
Gardner scored his 83rd Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award over the 28-car roster by posting a time of 16.516 seconds in qualifying.
The 10-lap heat race victories went to Charles Davis Jr., Johnson and Verne Sweeney. Tommy Malcolm took the checkered in the 12-lap Competition Suspension Inc. Semi-Main.
The finish:
1. Richard Vander Weerd (4), 2. R.J. Johnson (5), 3. Brody Roa (2), 4. A.J. Bender (1), 5. Damion Gardner (6), 6. Cody Williams (12), 7. Danny Faria Jr. (18), 8. Jace Vander Weerd (9), 9. Austin Williams (3), 10. Tommy Malcolm (11), 11. Kyle Edwards (14), 12. Chris Gansen (10), 13. Mike Martin (19), 14. Charles Davis Jr. (15), 15. Sterling Cling (13), 16. Jeremy Ellertson (20), 17. Steve Hix (22), 18. Verne Sweeney (17), 19. Joel Rayborne (21), 20. Matt Mitchell (8), 21. Matt McCarthy (7), 22. Eddie Tafoya Jr. (16).