4 PAST WINNERS SET FOR OVAL NATIONALS

4 PAST WINNERS SET FOR OVAL NATIONALS

Story By: Richie Murray – USAC Media

Photos By: Pete MacDonald/RacersGuide.com

Perris, California (October 29, 2019)………Four previous champions of the Oval Nationals are lasered-in on collecting another coveted eagle trophy for their mantle in the 24th annual running of the event November 7-8-9 at California’s Perris Auto Speedway.

Two drivers, Bud Kaeding and Damion Gardner aim to become the first four-time winners in Oval Nationals history. Kaeding (Campbell, Calif.) won his three in 2001-2002-2007. The 2006-2007 USAC Silver Crown champ is one of the most-tenured of all Oval Nationals participants with 16 starts to his credit. Kaeding has reeled off seven top-fives and 12 top-ten finishes dating to his most recent start during the 2018 edition where he finished 19th.

No driver has made more starts in the Oval Nationals (17) than Damion Gardner, whose appearances in the event have all come in consecutive fashion since his Rookie campaign of 2002. The Concord, Calif. native accumulated Oval Nationals wins in 2009-2011-2016 where he became the most recent CRA series regular to notch a victory at the final night A-Main.

In addition to his most consecutive starts streak, Gardner owns the longest streak of top-ten finishes in the Saturday night finale with 10 dating back to 2009. He has nine top-five finishes and 12 overall top-ten finishes and arrives as leader of the CRA standings where he’s in the midst of pursuing his eighth CRA driving title and seventh-straight.

Chris Windom, meanwhile, enters with the longest streak of top-five finishes on the final night of the Oval Nationals with three. The 2017 USAC National Sprint champ took 2nd in 2016, followed by a 4th in 2017 and a 3rd in 2018. A veteran of nine starts, Windom won his first in the event in 2010 to become the youngest winner in race history at the age of 19.

Three drivers have won two-straight on the final night of the Oval Nationals. However, none have three consecutive victories, which is the task that lies ahead for Kevin Thomas, Jr. at Perris. He’s had his share of luck both good and bad at the Ovals over the years, but the last two years have gone just about to perfection during the dwindling laps with the Cullman, Ala. driver making the winning move during the final circuits of the 40-lapper.

The USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car road trip to the west begins November 7-8-9 at California’s Perris Auto Speedway for the 24th annual Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction. The season finale is set for Nov. 15-16 at Arizona Speedway in San Tan Valley, Ariz. for the 52nd running of the Western World Championships. All the action will be shown LIVE on FloRacing.

OVAL NATIONALS ENTRY LIST:
0 Bud Kaeding/Campbell, CA (Morrison Williams)
4 Justin Grant/Ione, CA (TOPP Motorsports)
4x Damion Gardner/Concord, CA (Mark Alexander)
4G Chris Gansen/Verdemont Heights, CA (Dennis and Christol Gansen)
5 Tye Mihocko/Peoria, AZ (Tye Mihocko)
5G Chris Windom/Canton, IL (Parallax Group/Goacher Racing)
5x Tommy Malcolm/Corona, CA (Dino Napier)
7BC Tyler Courtney/Indianapolis, IN (Clauson/Marshall/Newman Racing)
7G Donnie Gansen/San Bernardino, CA (Dennis and Christol Gansen)
10 Richard Vander Weerd/Visalia, CA (Ron Vander Weerd)
12 Stevie Sussex/Tempe, AZ (ABC Body Shop)
12B Joel Rayborne/West Covina, CA (Rodney Rayborne)
13G Dennis Gile/Phoenix, AZ (Gene Gile)
13m Thomas Meseraull/San Jose, CA (Gene Gile)
15 Chris Bonneau/Peoria, AZ (Chris Bonneau)
19 Kevin Thomas, Jr./Cullman, AL (Hayward/Thomas Motorsports)
19AZ C.J. Leary/Greenfield, IN (Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports)
19BS Hunter Schuerenberg/Sikeston, MO (Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports)
19s Logan Seavey/Sutter, CA (Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports)
28m Matt McCarthy/Riverside, CA (John McCarthy)
32 Chase Stockon/Fort Branch, IN (32 TBI Racing)
34 Jake Swanson/Anaheim, CA (John Grau/Mike Burkhart)
42 Brody Roa/Garden Grove, CA (Dwight Cheney)
42x Jason McDougal/Broken Arrow, OK (Dwight Cheney)
44 Cody Williams/Norco, CA (Cody Williams)
44H Jake Helsel/Monroe, WA (Tony Helsel)
47 Charles Davis, Jr. Buckeye, AZ (Charles Davis, Jr.)
51 R.J. Johnson/Laveen, AZ (Ricky Johnson)
51T Eddie Tafoya, Jr./Chino Hills, CA (Eddie Tafoya, Sr.)
57 Steve Hix/Ventura, CA (Steve Hix)
68 Chase Johnson/Penngrove, CA (Shawn Thomas)
69 Brady Bacon/Broken Arrow, OK (Dynamics, Inc.)
69Y Randy Waitman/Ramona, CA (Randy Waitman)
73T Max Adams/Loomis, CA (Josh Ford Motorsports)
74x Josh Hodges/Albuquerque, NM (Hodges Motorsports)
83 Austin Liggett/Tracy, CA (Tim Liggett)
88 Jace Vander Weerd/Visalia, CA (Ron Vander Weerd)
92 Austin Williams/Corona, CA (Tom and Laurie Sertich)
98 Verne Sweeney/Lomita, CA (Ken Tracy)
98x Jeremy Ellertson/Lawndale, CA (Jeremy Ellertson)

PAST OVAL NATIONALS FINAL NIGHT FEATURE RESULTS:

1996: 1. Jimmy Sills

1997: 1. Rip Williams

1998: 1. Rodney Argo

1999: 1. Rickie Gaunt, 2. Cory Kruseman, 3. Tony Jones, 4. Troy Rutherford, 5. J.J. Yeley, 6. Mike English, 7. Steve Ostling, 8. Brent Kaeding, 9. Marc Hart, 10. Mike Boat, 11. John Scott, 12. Richard Griffin, 13. Rodney Argo, 14. Mike Kirby, 15. Jimmy Sills, 16. Alex Grigoreas, 17. Dave Darland, 18. Jay Drake, 19. Danny Sheridan, 20. Larry Brown, 21. Troy Cline, 22. Jeremy Sherman, 23. Rusty McClure, 24. Rip Williams.

2000: 1. Tony Jones, 2. Mike Kirby, 3. Richard Griffin, 4. Rip Williams, 5, John Scott, 6. Brent Kaeding, 7. Rickie Gaunt, 8. Cory Kruseman, 9. Jeremy Sherman, 10. Jay Drake, 11. Tracy Hines, 12. Steve Ostling, 13. Troy Rutherford, 14. Derek Davidson, 15. Bud Kaeding, 16. Casey Shuman, 17. Jarrett Chaney, 18. Mike English, 19. Jimmy May, 20. Robby Flock, 21. Brad Noffsinger, 22. Danny Sheridan, 23. Tony Elliott, 24. Cary Faas.

2001: 1. Bud Kaeding, 2. Tony Jones, 3. Brent Kaeding, 4. J.J, Yeley, 5. Cory Kruseman, 6. John Scott, 7. Charles Davis, Jr., 8. Richard Griffin, 9. Jeremy Sherman, 10. Mike Kirby, 11. Troy Cline, 12. Steve Ostling, 13. Michael Hinrichsen, 14. Brian Venard, 15. Gary W. Howard, 16. Rickie Gaunt, 17. Troy Rutherford, 18. Rip Williams, 19. Rodney Argo, 20. Jarrett Chaney, 21. Tracy Hines, 22. Jerry Coons, Jr., 23. Danny Sheridan, 24. Tony Elliott.

2002: 1. Bud Kaeding, 2. Troy Rutherford, 3. J.J. Yeley, 4. Tony Elliott, 5. Mike Spencer, 6. Rip Williams, 7. Mike English, 8. Richard Griffin, 9. Mike Faria, 10. Cory Kruseman, 11. Charles Davis, Jr., 12. Tracy Hines, 13. Verne Sweeney, 14. Brent Kaeding, 15. Danny Faria, Jr., 16. Steve Ostling, 17. Dave Darland, 18. John Scott, 19. Rickie Gaunt, 20. Levi Jones, 21. Josh Wise, 22. Tony Jones, 23. Damion Gardner, 24. Mike Kirby, 25. Adam Mitchell, 26. Cary Faas.

2003: 1. Cory Kruseman, 2. Jeremy Sherman, 3. Bud Kaeding, 4. Damion Gardner, 5. Richard Griffin, 6. Rickie Gaunt, 7. Mike Spencer, 8. J.J. Yeley, 9. Brent Kaeding, 10. Bill Rose, 11. Josh Wise, 12. John Scott, 13. Steve Ostling, 14. Andy Forsberg, 15. Brian Venard, 16. Jac Haudenschild, 17. Troy Rutherford, 18. Levi Jones, 19. Tracy Hines, 20. Cary Faas, 21. Tony Elliott, 22. Jon Stanbrough, 23. Adam Mitchell, 24. Rip Williams, 25. Troy Cline.

2004: 1. Cory Kruseman, 2. Josh Ford, 3. Levi Jones, 4. Bud Kaeding, 5. Tony Elliott, 6. Mike Spencer, 7. Charles Davis, Jr., 8. Rip Williams, 9. Steve Ostling, 10. Dave Darland, 11. Jon Stanbrough, 12. Danny Sheridan, 13. Brian Venard, 14. Brent Kaeding, 15. Jay Drake, 16. Troy Rutherford, 17. Greg Bragg, 18. Mike Kirby, 19. Damion Gardner, 20. Tracy Hines, 21. Troy Cline, 22. Tom Hessert, 23. Brad Sweet, 24. Dickie Gaines, 25. Bobby Cody.

2005: 1. Dave Darland, 2. Damion Gardner, 3. Rip Williams, 4. Mike Spencer, 5. Mike Kirby, 6. Bud Kaeding, 7. Mat Neely, 8. Darren Hagen, 9. Brad Sweet, 10. Josh Ford, 11. Levi Jones, 12. Jerry Coons Jr., 13. Josh Wise, 14. Jason York, 15. Rick Williams, 16. Tom Hessert III, 17. Jordan Hermansader, 18. Charles Davis Jr., 19. Seth Wilson, 20. Bryan Clauson, 21. Jon Stanbrough, 22. Jay Drake, 23. Alan Ballard, 24. Rickie Gaunt, 25. Dickie Gaines, 26. Danny Sheridan, 27. Cory Kruseman

2006: 1. Dave Darland, 2. Levi Jones, 3. Mike Spencer, 4. Cory Kruseman, 5. Brady Bacon, 6. Shane Cottle, 7. Josh Wise, 8. Jerry Coons Jr., 9. Scotty Weir, 10. Bud Kaeding, 11. Jon Stanbrough, 12. Darren Hagen, 13. Charles Davis Jr., 14. Tony Jones, 15. Damion Gardner, 16. Rickie Gaunt, 17. Casey Shuman, 18. R.J. Johnson, 19. Mat Neely, 20. Danny Sheridan, 21. Garrett Hansen, 22. Alan Ballard, 23. Seth Wilson, 24. Greg Taylor, 25. Critter Malone, 26. Rip Williams, 27. Bobby Cody.

2007: 1. Bud Kaeding, 2. Casey Shuman, 3. Brady Bacon, 4. Jesse Hockett, 5. Scotty Weir, 6. Danny Sheridan, 7. Cory Kruseman, 8. Jerry Coons Jr., 9. Tony Jones, 10. Cole Whitt, 11. Darren Hagen, 12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 13. Blake Miller, 14. Charles Davis Jr., 15. Dustin Morgan, 16. Levi Jones, 17. David Cardey, 18. Josh Ford, 19. R.J. Johnson, 20. Tim Kaeding, 21. Damion Gardner, 22. Rip Williams, 23. Kevin Swindell, 24. Mike Spencer, 25. Rickie Gaunt, 26. Daron Clayton, 27. Dave Darland, 28. Troy Rutherford.

2008: 1. Jesse Hockett, 2. Jerry Coons, Jr., 3. Kevin Swindell, 4. Brad Sweet, 5. Darren Hagen, 6. Bud Kaeding, 7. Chad Boat, 8. Thomas Meseraull, 9. Dave Darland, 10. Mike Spencer, 11. Tony Jones, 12. Hunter Schuerenberg, 13. Danny Sheridan, 14. Brady Bacon, 15. Josh Ford, 16. Damion Gardner, 17. Tyler Brown, 18. Blake Miller, 19. David Cardey, 20. Rickie Gaunt, 21. Tracy Hines, 22. Levi Jones, 23. Cole Whitt, 24. Chris Windom, 25. R.J. Johnson, 26. Dustin Morgan, 27. Daron Clayton, 28. Shane Cottle.

2009: 1. Damion Gardner, 2. Mike Spencer, 3. Levi Jones, 4. Bryan Clauson, 5. Bud Kaeding, 6. Garrett Hansen, 7. Rip Williams, 8. Cory Kruseman, 9. Henry Clarke, 10. Brady Short, 11. Greg Bragg, 12. Keith Bloom Jr., 13. Danny Sheridan, 14. Ronnie Gardner, 15. Austin Williams, 16. Tony Jones, 17. David Cardey, 18. Blake Miller, 19. Kevin Swindell, 20. Nic Faas, 21. Cole Whitt, 22. Tracy Hines, 23. Chad Boat, 24. Jon Stanbrough, 25. Matt Mitchell, 26. Darren Hagen.

2010: 1. Chris Windom, 2. Damion Gardner, 3. Bobby East, 4. Mike Spencer, 5. Jon Stanbrough, 6. Bud Kaeding, 7. Levi Jones, 8. Matt Mitchell, 9. Danny Sheridan, 10. Dave Darland, 11. Bryan Clauson, 12. Casey Shuman, 13. Keith Bloom, 14. Jace Vander Weerd, 15. Casey Riggs, 16. Justin Grant, 17. Jerry Coons Jr., 18. Henry Clarke, 19. Kyle Larson, 20. Blake Fitzpatrick, 21. Rickie Gaunt, 22. Tracy Hines, 23. Johnathon Henry, 24. Cody Williams, 25. Nic Faas, 26. Cory Kruseman, 27. Austin Williams.

2011: 1. Damion Gardner, 2. Mike Spencer, 3. Levi Jones, 4. Bud Kaeding, 5. Chris Windom, 6. Nic Faas, 7. Tracy Hines, 8. Bryan Clauson, 9. Bobby East, 10. Cory Kruseman, 11. Casey Shuman, 12. Hunter Schuerenberg, 13. Kyle Larson, 14. Ryan Bernal, 15. Cody Williams, 16. R.J. Johnson, 17. Dave Darland, 18. Ronnie Gardner, 19. Danny Sheridan, 20. John Aden, 21. Keith Bloom Jr., 22. Jon Stanbrough, 23. Matt Mitchell, 24. Richard Vander Weerd, 25. Brady Bacon, 26. Rip Williams.

2012: 1. Mike Spencer, 2. Tracy Hines, 3. Jon Stanbrough, 4. Damion Gardner, 5. Dave Darland, 6. Bryan Clauson, 7. Rickie Gaunt, 8. Robert Ballou, 9. Chase Stockon, 10. Ronnie Gardner, 11. Austin Williams, 12. Chris Windom, 13. Brody Roa, 14. Rip Williams, 15. Wes McIntyre, 16. Hunter Schuerenberg, 17. Bud Kaeding, 18. David Bezio, 19. Cody Williams, 20. Nic Faas, 21. Thomas Meseraull, 22. Johnathon Henry, 23. Richard Vander Weerd, 24. Troy Rutherford, 25. C.J. Leary, 26. David Cardey.

2013: 1. Dave Darland, 2. Bryan Clauson, 3. Mike Spencer, 4. Chase Stockon, 5. Brady Bacon, 6. Kevin Thomas Jr., 7. Damion Gardner, 8. Chris Windom, 9. Jon Stanbrough, 10. Tracy Hines, 11. Cory Kruseman, 12. Austin Williams, 13. Richard Vander Weerd, 14. C.J. Leary, 15. Brody Roa, 16. Bud Kaeding, 17. Nic Faas, 18. Matt Mitchell, 19. Robert Ballou, 20. R.J. Johnson, 21. Jace Vander Weerd, 22. David Cardey, 23. Cody Williams, 24. Justin Grant, 25. Ronnie Gardner, 26. Nick Drake, 27. Jake Swanson.

2014: 1. Robert Ballou, 2. Mike Spencer, 3. Bryan Clauson, 4. Dave Darland, 5. Ryan Bernal, 6. Damion Gardner, 7. Richard Vander Weerd, 8. Brady Bacon, 9. Jon Stanbrough, 10. Chad Boespflug, 11. Chase Stockon, 12. Christopher Bell, 13. Darren Hagen, 14. C.J. Leary, 15. Austin Williams, 16. Danny Faria, Jr., 17. Tracy Hines, 18. Cody Williams, 19. Rickie Gaunt, 20. R.J. Johnson, 21. Josh Pelkey, 22. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 23. Garrett Hansen, 24. Geoff Ensign, 25. Nic Faas, 26. Justin Grant. NT

2015: 1. Bryan Clauson, 2. Dave Darland, 3. Damion Gardner, 4. Tracy Hines, 5. Robert Ballou, 6. Brady Bacon, 7. Jon Stanbrough, 8. Chris Windom, 9. Chase Stockon, 10. Brody Roa, 11. Justin Grant, 12. Richard Vander Weerd, 13. C.J. Leary, 14. Chad Boespflug, 15. R.J. Johnson, 16. Mike Spencer, 17. Austin Williams, 18. Jake Swanson, 19. Cody Williams, 20. Logan Williams, 21. Matt Mitchell, 22. Kevin Thomas Jr., 23. Thomas Meseraull, 24. Ryan Bernal, 25. Aaron Farney, 26. Josh Hodges.

2016: 1. Damion Gardner, 2. Chris Windom, 3. Richard Vander Weerd, 4. Brody Roa, 5. Brady Bacon, 6. Bud Kaeding, 7. Chad Boespflug, 8. Dave Darland, 9. Chase Stockon, 10. R.J. Johnson, 11. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 12. Austin Williams, 13. Joe Stornetta, 14. Jon Stanbrough, 15. Mike Spencer, 16. Austin Liggett, 17. Jake Swanson, 18. Hunter Schuerenberg, 19. Isaac Chapple, 20. Chris Gansen, 21. Aaron Farney, 22. C.J. Leary, 23. Thomas Meseraull, 24. Logan Williams, 25. Max Adams, 26. Josh Hodges, 27. Ryan Bernal.

2017: 1. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 2. Justin Grant, 3. Chad Boespflug, 4. Chris Windom, 5. Robert Ballou, 6. Brody Roa, 7. Chase Stockon, 8. Damion Gardner, 9. Tyler Courtney, 10. Logan Williams, 11. Mike Spencer, 12. Austin Williams, 13. R.J. Johnson, 14. Cody Williams, 15. Jake Swanson, 16. Danny Faria, Jr., 17. Isaac Chapple, 18. Mike Martin, 19. Chris Gansen, 20. Dennis Gile, 21. C.J. Leary, 22. Brady Bacon, 23. Max Adams, 24. Jace Vander Weerd, 25. Tommy Malcolm, 26. Richard Vander Weerd.

2018: (starting positions in parentheses) 1. Kevin Thomas, Jr. (3), 2. Chase Stockon (4), 3. Chris Windom (8), 4. Tyler Courtney (2), 5. Damion Gardner (6), 6. Logan Seavey (15), 7. Austin Williams (14), 8. Justin Grant (5), 9. Brody Roa (10), 10. Chase Johnson (13), 11. Brady Bacon (7), 12. Danny Faria, Jr. (26), 13. Isaac Chapple (19), 14. Jace Vander Weerd (23), 15. C.J. Leary (1), 16. Logan Williams (25), 17. Chris Gansen (20), 18. Max Adams (11), 19. Bud Kaeding (18), 20. R.J. Johnson (12), 21. Cody Williams (22), 22. Jason McDougal (16), 23. Josh Hodges (17), 24. A.J. Bender (24), 25. Austin Liggett (21), 26. Dave Darland (9).