[admin]

11/8/17 8:03 PM CORY KRUSEMAN TO SERVE AS GRAND MARSHAL OF 2017 OVAL NATIONALS

http://usacracing.com/news/sprint-ca...oval-nationals



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CORY KRUSEMAN TO SERVE AS GRAND MARSHAL OF 2017 OVAL NATIONALS

By: Scott Daloisio

Perris, California………Two-time “Oval Nationals” winner Cory Kruseman will serve as Grand Marshal of the 22nd Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals Presented by All Coast Construction at Perris Auto Speedway. The race will take place on November 9th, 10th and 11th at the famous Riverside County half-mile clay oval that features USAC’s AMSOIL National and CRA Sprint Cars.

Kruseman, whose list of racing accomplishments includes driving Tony Stewart-owned cars to wins at the “Oval Nationals” in 2003 and 2004, is looking forward to being on hand for the big race.

“The only bad thing about it is I have to realize I am old enough to be a Grand Marshal,” Kruseman said with a laugh. “Seriously though, it is a big honor to be the Grand Marshal of such a big race. It is also so close to my home (Kruseman lives in Ventura) and I spent a lot of time racing there. It is very nice to be remembered with this and I am glad I am able to do it with so many of the guys I competed against who are racing in this year’s event. I have fond memories of not only winning the ‘Oval Nationals,’ but just of competing in them against the best drivers in the country. I also have great memories of Perris Auto Speedway, so this means a tremendous amount to me.”

Promoter Don Kazarian, who started the Grand Marshal program for the race more than a decade ago, is a huge fan of Kruseman on and off the track.

“Everything Cory Kruseman does and did on and off the track is so professional,” the longtime promoter said. “In the 22-year history of Perris Auto Speedway, he is one of its greatest ever competitors and one of its biggest ever winners. I could not be happier to have Cory as 2017 Oval Nationals Grand Marshal.”

“It is not just what Cory did at Perris Auto Speedway, but what he has done on racetracks across the country,” Kazarian continued. “He has won races everywhere and those race wins are backed up with championships. His resume is outstanding, and he is a shoo-in for the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and likely the Midget Hall of Fame, too. Nowadays, he is giving back to the sport with his successful driving classes and as a car owner giving many drivers a chance to fulfill their racing dreams.”

The “Oval Nationals,” which pays $25,000 to win on the final night, is three consecutive nights of full points-paying races for the USAC/CRA and USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series. Advance tickets for the most prestigious non-wing sprint car race in the nation are available at the following link: http://pas.tix.com/Schedule.aspx?OrgNum=7 or by calling 1-800-595-4849.

Practice night on Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 5-9pm begins the festivities for the 22nd “Oval Nationals” at Perris.* Complete programs with 30-lap features hit the track on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 9-10.* Pits open at noon both nights with front gates opening at 4pm.* The drivers meeting takes place at 4:30 with cars set for on-track activities at 5pm.* For Saturday’s $25,000-to-win main event, pits open at noon, front gates at 3pm, an autograph session at 3pm, drivers meeting at 4:15pm with cars set to hit the track at 4:45pm.

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All three nights of racing at the “Oval Nationals” will be streamed LIVE on http://www.speedshifttv.com/. *If you miss it or want to re-watch it again, http://www.loudpedal.tv/ will have flag-to-flag on-demand coverage of each night posted a day following the event.

[ossuks]

Cory is on a short list of the best I have seen in a life time that dates back to the late 50's! He was also on an even shorter list of one of the men I respected most, and at the top of the list of the coolest guy I ever met.

I don't claim to be a life long best friend, but he was the type of personality that made you feel that way. I only knew him for maybe 5 seasons when he ran all the National races with USAC, and a few events like Belleville. What I did know was I was stealing from him every chance I could get, I was taking everything I could get from him, in the maybe 20-25 conversation we had over those years I was stealing all the information I could from him. You just do not meet men like him often enough!

This is an example of the cool/respect that was Cory Kruesman ( he probably has no recollection of this but I will never forget, guess that is part of what being cool is): USAC constructs a deal to merge with CRA and the powers to be at USAC decide that I MUST go out and be the person in charge. I want no part of this, I do not want to go in someones backyard and be the new "authority" , CRA already had their guy, he did a great job, they all respected him, they did not want this @sshole from the mid west changing their landscape ( and I understood this and wanted no part). But, here I am in the pit area at Manzy trying to conduct a meeting with 0 support, there were cat calls, all types of derogatory comments directed at USAC and me, I am trying to get the meeting under way and the drivers, crews, owners are just getting louder and could give 2 sh1ts what I had to say. AND up rides Cory, he drives his mule up to the front of the meeting and without raising his voice simply says " lets hear what he has to say" and silence, me with one of the loudest deepest voices can not get one person to listen, but Cory in a normal voice among 100 men speaks and all go silent.

Another time he "rescued" me happened in my backyard! I arrive later than normal at a mid-week show in southeastern Indiana ( school teachers can't just leave early all the time). When I arrive the event is already standing room only and we have not even fired a car off. This is USAC's 1st time at this facility. The venue has already been inspected by USAC, well anyway, there are safety issues that have not been addressed. The track surface is below the footers for the walls, there are cars parked against the 1st turn wall and no type of catch fence, and going onto turn 3 is a exposed end to a concrete wall and a few other issues. I decide in the interest of safety to cancel the event. You can only imagine the reaction of many including my 2 superiors at USAC, I actually took a phone call from the president ( not Obama) that said I could not cancel this event. Cory was no longer a driver and was renting race cars and had towed all the way from the coast for a 3 race week, my guess is he lost some money because of my decision? Amidst all the term oil Cory walks past and yells "Carey", I look his way and all he says is "Thank You". I knew then I had made the right choice. That is the kind of respect I had/have for Cory. Excellent choice for your Grand Marshal and I hope your event is a huge success!

[Charles Nungester]

Ah, The ole Midget Week race that turned into a Blues Brothers Concert with State Police every five feet

Your forgiven, Although you don't need to be, if you felt it was what was best.