Nipomo, California (September 7, 2024)………R.J. Johnson took a big leap in his pursuit of a first career Avanti Windows & Doors USAC CRA Sprint Car title on Saturday night at Nipomo, California’s Santa Maria Speedway.
The Laveen, Arizona native started fourth in the field of the 30-lap feature but surged his way to the front of the pack by lap 18 when he moved past racelong leader David Gasper to score his second victory of the USAC CRA season, his first since June at The Dirt Track at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway and the first of his career at Santa Maria.
Johnson, in his family owned Jugo Superfoods machine, led the final 13 laps of the contest to earn his ninth career USAC CRA victory, tying him for 12th all-time alongside Brady Bacon, David Cardey, Matt Mitchell and Richard Vander Weerd.
Johnson crossed the line ahead of top USAC CRA Rookie David Gasper who finished second after starting from the pole position and leading the initial 17 laps. Logan Williams (Yorba Linda, Calif.) took third with Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, Calif.) fourth and Tommy Malcolm (Corona, Calif.) fifth.
In the process, Johnson shaved his USAC CRA championship point deficit behind Malcolm from 26 to seven. Meanwhile, Malcolm endured a flip during his heat race, then recovered to run top-five in the feature and retained the point lead with nine races left.
A.J. Bender (San Diego, Calif.) won the 10-lap Flowdynamics Incorporated / BillsJerky.net / In Honor of Wiley Miller Sr. and Wiley Miller Jr. First Heat Race. Austin Williams topped the 10-lap W.C. Friend Company / In Memory of Jim & Chet Gardner / Sexton Fire Protection / Factory Wraps Second Heat Race. After starting 10th and placing fourth in the feature, he also earned a $100 hard charger bonus that was donated by Steve Lafond.
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AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES RACE RESULTS: September 7, 2024 – Santa Maria Speedway – Nipomo, California
WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY QUALIFYING: 1. Blake Bower, 3F, Finkenbinder-13.933; 2. Logan Williams, 5w, McCarthy-14.089; 3. R.J. Johnson, 51, Johnson-14.093; 4. Austin Grabowski, 72, Grabowski-14.144; 5. Logan Calderwood, 4, Calderwood-14.186; 6. David Gasper, 18, Kittle/Gasper-14.220; 7. Andrew Sweeney, 98A, Guerrero-14.228; 8. Tommy Malcolm, 5x, Napier-14.266; 9. Bryce Eames, 50, Abeytia-14.291; 10. Austin Williams, 17w, Dunkel-14.597; 11. A.J. Bender, 21, Bender-14.621; 12. Stevie Rogers, 11, Burgeson/Rogers-14.664; 13. Verne Sweeney, 98, Guerrero-14.712; 14. Elexa Herrera, 5E, Herrera-15.139; 15. Jon DeWees, 63D, DeWees-15.198.
FLOWDYNAMICS INCORPORATED / BILLSJERKY.NET / IN HONOR OF WILEY MILLER SR. & WILEY MILLER JR. FIRST HEAT: (10 laps, all transfer to feature) 1. A.J. Bender, 2. Logan Calderwood, 3. Blake Bower, 4. R.J. Johnson, 5. Andrew Sweeney, 6. Bryce Eames, 7. Verne Sweeney, 8. Jon DeWees. NT
IN MEMORY OF JIM & CHET GARDNER / WC FRIEND COMPANY / SEXTON FIRE PROTECTION / FACTORY WRAPS SECOND HEAT: (10 laps, all transfer to feature) 1. Austin Williams, 2. Logan Williams, 3. Austin Grabowski, 4. David Gasper, 5. Elexa Herrera, 6. Stevie Rogers, 7. Tommy Malcolm. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. R.J. Johnson (4), 2. David Gasper (1), 3. Logan Williams (5), 4. Austin Williams (10), 5. Tommy Malcolm (8), 6. Austin Grabowski (3), 7. Andrew Sweeney (7), 8. A.J. Bender (11), 9. Verne Sweeney (13), 10. Bryce Eames (9), 11. Logan Calderwood (2), 12. Jon DeWees (15), 13. Stevie Rogers (12), 14. Elexa Herrera (14), 15. Blake Bower (6). NT
**Tommy Malcolm flipped on lap 5 of the second heat.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-17 David Gasper, Laps 18-30 R.J. Johnson
IN MEMORY OF JIM & CHET GARDNER HARD CHARGER: Austin Williams (10th to 4th)
NEW AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC CRA SPRINT CAR POINTS: 1-Tommy Malcolm-927, 2-R.J. Johnson-920, 3-Austin Williams-844, 4-Logan Williams-821, 5-A.J. Bender-815, 6-David Gasper-777, 7-Cody Williams-734, 8-Verne Sweeney-601, 9-Austin Grabowski-580, 10-Eddie Tafoya Jr.-553.
NEXT AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC CRA SPRINT CAR RACE: September 21 – Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, California
