Kruseman’s Last Lap Wins at Oval Nationals

Cory Kruseman didn’t have the car to beat, but it didn’t matter after he collected a $30,000 check Saturday for winning one of sprint car racing’s most prestigious events, the ninth annual USAC Budweiser Oval Nationals at Perris Auto Speedway.

Kruseman’s last-lap pass of Josh Ford ended a 12-lap sprint to the finish, giving the experienced Ventura driver for Tony Stewart a second consecutive nationals title on a track he knew well.

“Son of a gun, he almost won 30 grand,” Kruseman said. The difference between second place was more than $15,000 of the $100,000 purse.

Ford, 21, took the lead on Lap 42 while Kruseman and two-time winner Bud Kaeding focused on each other, surprising the two more experienced driver by taking the bottom line.

Several times Kruseman took the lead on the backstretch taking the high line, but Ford’s position down low gave him the lead at the start-finish line. Kruseman won by less than a car length.

Mike Kirby had the car to beat, stretching his lead by a straightaway through 30 laps. But when he lost the lead on lap 39 to Damion Gardner, their cars hooked and brought out the third yellow flag. After four attempted restarts, Kruseman’s battle with Ford made the wait worth it.

Levi Jones took third, Kaeding fourth, and Tony Elliott fifth.

-- Martin Henderson

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John Force clinched his 13th Funny Car season title, qualifying seventh in the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas.

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Matt Kenseth held off Kyle Busch in a two-lap sprint to the finish, winning the Busch race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga, by 0.119 of a second. Kenseth also won the final International Race of Champions event, clinching the IROC series championship.