After five races and five different winners, the Avanti Windows & Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will return to action this Saturday, May 25th, at Perris Auto Speedway. Promoted by Don Kazarian, the annual “Salute to Indy” has been a prestigious event in Southern California going back to 1948. The action packed card will also showcase the PAS Senior Sprint Cars, GAS Chassis PAS Young Gun Sprint Cars, PASSCAR Super Stocks, and PASSCAR Street Stocks. Located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California, the Spectator Gates will open at 5:00pm and racing at "America's Premier Dirt Track" will start at 7:00pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
USAC/CRA shows at Perris Auto Speedway WILL NOT be live streamed and beware of online scammers with fake video links. Race fans are encouraged to support the race track and watch the races in person.
NOTICE TO RACERS:
- ALL RACERS MUST PURCHASE THEIR USAC LICENSE / MEMBERSHIPS ONLINE PRIOR TO THE EVENT AT USACRACING.COM OR USACLICENSE.COM. (If racers have a membership question, contact Julie Tanaka at julietanaka@aol.com.)
- ENTRY FEE: There is an entry fee due at registration / pill pick.
- TRANSPONDERS: Transponders ARE MANDATORY and will be available to rent.
- ONE WAY RADIOS / RACECEIVERS: One way radios ARE MANDATORY.
- FRONT AXLE TETHER SYSTEMS: Front axle tether systems (2-Chassis, 1-King Pin to King Pin) ARE MANDATORY.
- FULL CONTAINMENT SEATS: Full containment seats ARE MANDATORY.
- COCKPIT ADJUSTABLE SHOCKS: Cockpit adjustable shocks ARE ALLOWED.
- RULE BOOK: The series rule book is online at usacracing.com, appendix E.
Since March 6, 2004, the Lake Perris Fairgrounds has held 252 USAC/CRA Sprint Car events and forty-five different drivers have claimed victory. “The Demon” Damion Gardner leads all series drivers with 51 “home track” wins and Matt Mitchell won the season opener on February 24th. David Gasper added his name to the record books on March 16th and A.J. Bender joined the winner’s list on April 27th. Nic Faas set the 1-lap track record of 15.833 on February 25, 2012 and the complete Perris USAC/CRA win list is at the end of this release.
In 1948, Dempsey Wilson claimed the checkered flags at the inaugural “Salute to Indy” with the original California Racing Association (CRA). The event would enjoy a long and storied history but faded away when Ascot Park closed after the 1990 season. When Perris Auto Speedway opened their doors in 1996, the Riverside County oval brought the tradition back and NASCAR driver J.J. Yeley scored the victory. Last year, Tommy “Thunder” Malcom topped the prestigious race over “The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams, Matt Mitchell, A.J. Bender, and Logan Williams. The “Salute to Indy” win list is at the bottom of the release.
Entering the sixth championship point race, Tommy “Thunder” Malcolm (Yucaipa, California) enjoys a 16-point advantage over the competition. Piloting Dino Napier’s #5X Indiana Truck Salvage / B&B Powder Coating DRC, Malcolm placed third on April 27th at Perris Auto Speedway. To date, the point leader has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, and five top-10 finishes on the season. Tommy will be looking to earn the fourth victory of his career and add another “Salute to Indy” to his resume.
After scoring fifth on April 27th, R.J. Johnson (Laveen, Arizona) has climbed to second in the championship standings. Driving Ricky and Michele Johnson’s #51 Avanti Windows & Doors / Martin Family Auto Museum Sherman, Johnson has one semi-main win, five top-10 finishes, and 9 feature laps led in the campaign. The multi-time Arizona Sprint Car Champion and 2005 Rookie of the Year will have his sights on the eighth USAC/CRA win of his career at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds.
Leading rookie contender David Gasper (Goleta, California) sits third in the USAC/CRA point chase. Racing the Josh Ford Motorsports’ #73X Surecan LLC / King Racing Products Triple X, Gasper finished seventeenth at Perris after a flip ended his night. As this writing goes to press, the two-time California Lightning Sprint Champion has one feature win, one semi main win, one In Memory of Jim and Chet Gardner Hard Charger Award, three top-10 finishes, and 13 feature laps led on the season. David will be looking to gain valuable points with another victory at Perris Auto Speedway.
After racing from sixteenth to fourth at Perris on April 27th, “The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams (Corona, California) has climbed to fourth in the USAC/CRA point standings. Piloting Tom & Christy Dunkel’s #17W Inland Rigging / Dunkel Farms DRC, Williams has two heat race victories, one In Memory of Jim and Chet Gardner Hard Charger Award, two top-10 finishes, and 11 feature laps led on the year. This Saturday, the two-time “Salute to Indy” winner will have his sights on tying Bryan Clauson with the twelfth USAC/CRA victory of his career.
After earning the first USAC/CRA win of his career on April 27th, A.J. Bender (San Diego, California) has climbed to fifth in the chase for the USAC/CRA championship. Driving the family owned #21 Bender Pool & Spa / Matrix Construction Services DRC, Bender has one heat race victory, two top-10 finishes, and 21 feature laps led in the campaign. The 2022 USAC Western States Midget Rookie of the Year will be looking to top Saturday’s “Salute to Indy.”
While David Gasper leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors, Brent Sexton (Lakeside, California), Elexa Herrera (New Cuyama, California), Braden Chiaramonte (El Cajon, California), Joey Bishop (Camarillo, California), Mark Henry (Rosamond, California), Blake Hendricks (Simi Valley, California), Tom Dunkel (Menifee, California), and Camie Bell (Bakersfield, California) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Logan Williams, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Eddie Tafoya Jr., “The Gunslinger” Austin Grabowski, Logan Calderwood, Verne Sweeney, Grant Sexton, Matt Mitchell, “The Pride of Garden Grove” Brody Roa, Matt McCarthy, Jeff Dyer, Brent Owens, “Shugah” Shane Sexton, Chris Bonneau, Kyle Edwards, and more.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California. Adult tickets are $30, Senior tickets (65 & over) are $25, Kids tickets (6 to 12) are $5, and Children (5 and under) are FREE. The Fairgrounds charges $10 for parking. Advance tickets are available and for more event information, visit the track’s website at perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
The Avanti Windows & Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks BillsJerky.net, Factory Wraps, Flowdynamics Incorporated, The Gardner Family (In Memory of Jim and Chet Gardner), Sexton Fire Protection, WC Friend Company, and Woodland Auto Display, for their support.
For more information on the Avanti Windows & Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at usacracing.com and the social media for USAC Racing. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC/CRA Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
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AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS: 2004-Rip Williams, 2005-Damion Gardner, 2006-Cory Kruseman, 2007-Tony Jones, 2008-Mike Spencer, 2009-Mike Spencer, 2010-Mike Spencer, 2011-Mike Spencer, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Damion Gardner, 2014-Damion Gardner, 2015-Damion Gardner, 2016-Damion Gardner, 2017-Damion Gardner, 2018-Damion Gardner, 2019-Damion Gardner, 2020-NO AWARD, 2021-Damion Gardner, 2022-Damion Gardner, 2023-Brody Roa.
"SALUTE TO INDY" WINNERS: 1948-Dempsey Wilson, 1949-Bob Denny, 1950-NO RACE, 1951-NO RACE, 1952-Colby Scroggin, 1953-Bob Denny, 1954-Harry Stockman, 1955-Rosie Roussel, 1956-Art Bisch, 1957-Ray Clark, 1958-Bud Rose, 1959-Roy Prosser, 1960-NO RACE, 1961-Jack Brunner, 1962-Colby Scroggin, 1963-Billy Cantrell, 1964-Hal Minyard, 1965-NO RACE, 1966-Bruce Walkup, 1967-Bob Hogle, 1968-Billy Wilkerson, 1969-Billy Wilkerson, 1970-NO RACE, 1971-Dick Zimmerman / Don Hamilton, 1972-Billy Wilkerson, 1973-Billy Wilkerson, 1974-Jimmy Oskie, 1975-Clark Templeman, 1976-Mike Shaw, 1977-John Redican, 1978-Dean Thompson / Tony Simon, 1979-Bobby Olivero, 1980-Bubby Jones / Dean Thompson / Dean Thompson, 1981-Dean Thompson / Dean Thompson, 1982-Dean Thompson / Bubby Jones, 1983-Rip Williams / Bubby Jones, 1984-Bubby Jones, 1985-Eddie Wirth, 1986-Bubby Jones, 1987-Mike Sweeney, 1988-Lealand McSpadden, 1989-Brad Noffsinger, 1990-Ron Shuman, 1991-NO RACE, 1992-NO RACE, 1993-NO RACE, 1994-NO RACE, 1995-NO RACE, 1997-Cory Kruseman, 1998-Mike Kirby, 1999-Troy Rutherford, 2000-Richard Griffin, 2001-Cory Kruseman, 2002-Mike Kirby, 2003-Damion Gardner, 2004-Damion Gardner, 2005-Cory Kruseman, 2006-Tony Jones, 2007-Blake Miller, 2008-RAIN, 2009-Blake Miller, 2010-David Cardey, 2011-Matt Mitchell, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Matt Mitchell, 2014-Damion Gardner, 2015-Richard Vander Weerd, 2016-Austin Williams, 2017-Damion Gardner, 2018-Austin Williams, 2019-Hunter Schuerenberg, 2020-CANCELLED, 2021-Brody Roa, 2022-Cody Williams, 2023-Tommy Malcolm. (Some events were two day shows or twin main events.)
2024 AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 1-A.J. Bender, 1-Charles Davis Jr., 1-David Gasper, 1-Matt Mitchell, 1-Kevin Thomas Jr.
PERRIS AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC/CRA 1-LAP QUALIFYING RECORD: Nic Faas – 15.833 (02/25/12)
PERRIS AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 51-Damion Gardner, 24-Mike Spencer, 19-Tony Jones, 17-Cory Kruseman, 9-Nic Faas, 9-Matt Mitchell, 8-David Cardey, 8-Richard Vander Weerd, 7-Brody Roa, 7-Rip Williams, 6-Bryan Clauson, 6-Justin Grant, 6-Mike Kirby, 6-Danny Sheridan, 6-Austin Williams, 5-Brady Bacon, 5-Robert Ballou, 5-Rickie Gaunt, 4-Dave Darland, 4-R.J. Johnson, 3-Charles Davis Jr., 3-Garrett Hansen, 3-Kevin Thomas Jr., 2-Darren Hagen, 2-Jesse Hockett, 2-Levi Jones, 2-C.J. Leary, 2-Tommy Malcolm, 2-Blake Miller, 2-Jake Swanson, 2-Chris Windom, 1-A.J. Bender, 1-Chad Boespflug, 1-Greg Bragg, 1-Daron Clayton, 1-Josh Ford, 1-David Gasper, 1-Josh Hodges, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Adam Mitchell, 1-Johnny Rodriguez, 1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 1-Chase Stockon, 1-Scotty Weir, 1-Cody Williams, 1-Jason York.
2024 AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1-Tommy Malcolm-324, 2-R.J. Johnson-308, 3-David Gasper-288, 3-R.J. Johnson-243, 4-Austin Williams-281, 5-A.J. Bender-273, 6-Logan Williams-269, 7-Cody Williams-248, 8-Charles Davis Jr.-244, 9-Ricky Lewis-233, 10-Eddie Tafoya Jr.-22. The complete point standings can be found at usacracing.com/standings/sprint-cars/cra
