PETERSEN MEDIA- Returning to Perris Auto Speedway on Saturday night for the first time since winning March’s Sokola Shootout, Richard Vander Weerd made a valiant effort to return to victory lane only to come up just one spot short and finish second.
“We had a really good battle with Damion Gardner on Saturday night, and fought hard for the lead, but he was just a little better and we ran second,” Richard Vander Weerd said.
With a total of 22 cars checked into the PAS on Saturday night for the USAC/CRA tilt, Richard Vander Weerd would time his Vander Weerd Construction/Stonegate Development/Mid-Valley Pipe backed No. 10 machine in sixth fastest in qualifying time trials.
Lining up fifth in his heat race, the Visalia, CA driver would get off to a a good start and work his way up to finish in the third spot, and eventually find himself on the pole for the 30-lap feature event.
As the race went green, Vander Weerd would slip back to the second spot as he chased after the early race leader, Brody Roa. Challenging Roa in the early goings of the race, Vander Weerd would surge into the lead on the seventh lap.
Vander Weerd’s lead would be short lived however, as a slight bobble with open the door to Gardner and he would fall back to second. Staying right with Gardner for the duration of the race, Vander Weerd would again challenge for the top spot, but could just not get close enough to make anything stick.
In the end, Vander Weerd would settle for a second place finish.
“It was another good night for the team,” Vander Weerd said. “We would have liked to have been one spot better, but Damion is always tough, and we are happy with being on the podium.”
Richard and his Vander Weerd Racing team would like to thank Vander Weerd Construction, Stonegate Development, Mid-Valley Pipe, Basic Industries, Factory Kahne Shocks, Steve Watt Enterprises, FK Rod Ends, PXP Racewear and K&N for their support in 2017.
2017 BY THE NUMBERS: Starts-7, Wins-1, Top 5’s-4, Top 10’s-6.
ON TAP: Richard Vander Weerd is scheduled to in action on Saturday night in Tulare, CA again with the USAC/CRA Series.
STAY CONNECTED: Stay connected with Vander Weerd Racing by ‘Liking’ them on facebook at www.facebook.com/VanderWeerdRacing.
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