6/12/2016
Moose Night 6/11/16 @ Perris Auto Speedway
A full section of Moose Racing supporters gathered at Perris Auto Speedway last night - and Wow did their driver, Jake, give them something to cheer about!!
Set up for Moose Night started in the morning wiith Dave, Tom, Jimmy & Laurie in the stands wrapping a full section of grandstands with checkers, and filled the sky with purple, teal, checkered and #92 balloons. As close to 100 Moose Fans arrived at the track they were greated by Nikole and Laurie who had goodie bags for the kids, "party beads", in of coarse teal,purple & black, custom M & M's ( that even had ever popular Moose Logo,printed on the teams colors ) , cheer leader poofs and raffle prizes!!! adorned with their goodies they headed up to the reserved section and settled in to watch an awesome night for wheel to wheel racing.
24 - 410 powered sprint cars took to the track -- and adding to the evenings excitement was a 2nd Moose Racing car, 92m - wheeled by one of Jake's good buddies, Ronnie Gardner. Ronnie, who has been the USAC West Coast midget champion. Whereas Ronnie competes regularly in the midget divsion, it's been about a year since he strapped into a sprintcar, and he settled in feeling compfortable after just several laps. Strange weather for June in California, as clouds and overcast were on Mother Nature's schedule for the day, making the track tacky all evenig long. Going out for his qualifying lap 2nd -- the track was still sticky, making the first set of cars to qualify not near as fast as usual. Jake, went out 20th, turning a lap of 16.969, putting him 5th out of the 24 qualifying cars. Steve Sussex of Arizona, visiting " The Pas" for the 1st time in 2016 would set Quick Time !
Scary time as Austin WIlliams ot he throttle, either hit a rut, or something broke on his #2 John Jory sprinter and the first time in the tracks 25 years, saw the black beauty clear the turn 1 catch fence and land outside the racing surface!! Austin did get out the car under his own power and although sore and a bit wabbly was in the pits to watch his 2 other brorhers. Series Champion Damion Gardner won Heat 1 ----
It would figure, Jake in 92 & Ronnie in the 92M would be in the same Heat
Race., heat 2. With Jake setting the faster qualifying time, it would see him line up right behind Ronnie. Lap 2 an unexpected " wiggle" and amost full spin saw Ronnie dropping back to last --- on a restart, Jake got smacked hard in the rear, which broke bolts for the rear nerf bar and on the next restart, it came off, bringing out the yellow flag, and sending Jake to the back of the pack. SO, here we are, 92m & 92 running in the back, but striving to finish in the top 4 to get direct transfers to The Main event. On the throttle, Jake seemingly with ease worked his way back up to 2nd and Ronnie, ,muscled his way to 4th -- Both Moose Mobiles, had direct transfers!!! Jeremy Ellertson won the Heat --- Logan Williams, Austin's brother would claim Heat 3.
Jake's qualifying effort of 5th would see him sitting on the outside of the front row for the 3 laps Main Event. Ronnie would start 10th. Just shy of 1/2 way Ronie steered the 92m back to the pit area - not wanting to risk any major damage, Ronie said that "something " sound wise in the engine changed.... so better be safe then sorry and unfortunately his run in the Moosemobile was done for the evening. Jake on the other hand was battling up front --- running 2nd and edging closer and closer to the leader Richard VanderWeerd... He was setting up, watching, ready to make a great move, when the yellow flag flew for a few spinning cars. Charges from behind from Steve Sussex... but Jake hunkered down and head on the the 2nd spot as the Checkered Flag flew!!!
Elated Moose Fans flocked to the front straightaway to give Jake and team Moose their CONGRATS on a great race!! He defiantly gave them alot to cheer about!!!
Main Finish :FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Richard Vander Weerd, 2. Jake Swanson, 3. Stevie Sussex, 4. Brody Roa, 5. Damion Gardner, 6. Mike Spencer, 7. Chris Gansen, 8. Jeremy Ellertson, 9. Corey Ballard, 10. Andrew Sweeney, 11. Tom Hendricks, 12. Verne Sweeney, 13. Anthony Lopiccolo, 14. Jeff Dyer, 15. Trent Williams, 16. Logan Williams, 17. Tommy Malcolm, 18. Cody Williams, 19. Jace Vander Weerd, 20. Tony Everhart, 21. Ronnie Gardner, 22. Eddie Tafoya.
It takes a group of dedicated Team Members to keep the car mechinaclly sound: Dave, Jim, Chris, Jimmy, Rich, Nikole, Gunk & Dan ... and helping this night was also, Mitch, Kurt & Steven.... Great job Moosers!!!!
Without the help of many marketing partners, none of this could be possible : Huntington Beach Glass, Clackamas Rigging, Phil & Eileen King, Lucas Oil, Circle Track, Extreme Mufflers, Keizer Wheels, Kistler Engines, RC Performance, Specialized Powdercoating, Wilwood Brakes, Schroeder Torsion Bars,King Race Products, Rod End Supply, K & N, West Evans Motorsportd. Schoenfeld Headers.
Next up for TeamMoose: Friday July 1st at Santa Maria and Saturday July 2nd for the Fireworks at Perris Auto Speedway... hope to see you there!
Submitted By: Laurie Sertich
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