USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE RETURNS TO PERRIS
By Lance Jennings
JULY 9, 2024... After last Saturday’s clash at Santa Maria, the Avanti Windows & Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will return to Perris Auto Speedway this Saturday, July 13th. Promoted by Don Kazarian, the tenth championship point race will also feature the PAS Senior Sprint Cars, GAS Chassis PAS Young Gun Sprint Cars, PASSCAR Super Stocks, and PASSCAR American Factory 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 254 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 has won the February 24th season opener and the May 25th “Salute to Indy.” David Gasper added his name to the record books on March 16th, A.J. Bender joined the winner’s list on April 27th, and Tommy “Thunder” Malcolm topped the June 22nd show. 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.
After taking his second consecutive win, Tommy “Thunder” Malcolm (Yucaipa, California) has regained the point lead by a slim two point margin. Racing Dino Napier’s #5X Indiana Truck Salvage / B&B Powder Coating DRC, Malcolm also has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, one In Memory of Jim and Chet Gardner Hard Charger Award, eight top-10 finishes, and 50 feature laps led in the campaign. Tommy will be looking to continue his run for the championship with another Perris victory.
R.J. Johnson (Laveen, Arizona) enters the tenth point race ranked second in the USAC/CRA point standings. Driving Ricky and Michele Johnson’s #51 JUGO Superfoods / Avanti Windows & Doors Sherman, Johnson finished seventh at Santa Maria Speedway last Saturday night. To date, the multi-time Arizona Sprint Car Champion and 2005 Rookie of the Year has one feature win, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one semi-main win, eight top-10 finishes, and 23 feature laps led in the campaign. R.J. will have his sights on the ninth USAC/CRA win of his career this Saturday night.
After finishing second at Santa Maria, “The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams (Corona, California) has climbed to third in the chase for the championship. Piloting Tom & Christy Dunkel’s #17 Inland Rigging / Dunkel Farms DRC, Williams has three heat race victories, one In Memory of Jim and Chet Gardner Hard Charger Award, six top-10 finishes, and 11 feature laps led on the year. At Perris, the 2009 Co-Rookie of the Year will be looking to earn the twelfth USAC/CRA victory of his career.
Logan Williams (Yorba Linda, California) is fourth in the championship chase. Racing John McCarthy’s #5W Flowdynamics Incorporated / Drinkpak DRC, Williams drove from eleventh to eighth at Santa Maria. To date, the 2014 Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory, one In Memory of Jim and Chet Gardner Hard Charger Award, eight top-10 finishes, and 21 feature laps led to his credit. This Saturday, Williams will have his sights on the first win of his career at Perris Auto Speedway.
A.J. Bender (San Diego, California) sits fifth in the USAC/CRA point standings. Piloting the family owned #21 Bender Pool & Spa / Matrix Construction Services DRC, Bender scored nineteenth after an early exit at Santa Maria. At press time, the 2022 USAC Western States Midget Rookie of the Year has one feature win, two heat race victories, five top-10 finishes, and 21 feature laps led on the season. A.J. will be looking for another at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds.
Driving the Kittle Motorsports / Gasper Racing #18 DRC backed by Art Klee and Martin Roofing, David Gasper (Goleta, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Elexa Herrera, Brent Sexton, Braden Chiaramonte, Joey Bishop, Mark Henry, Jon DeWees, Blake Bower, Camie Bell, Tyler Hatzikian, Blake Hendricks, Tom Dunkel, and Aaron Altaffer are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Eddie Tafoya Jr., Verne Sweeney, “The Gunslinger” Austin Grabowski, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., Matt Mitchell, “The Pride of Garden Grove” Brody Roa, Grant Sexton, Matt McCarthy, Jeff Dyer, Chris Gansen, Brent Owens, Gary Marshall Jr., “Shugah” Shane Sexton, 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.
2024 AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Tommy Malcolm-579, 2. R.J. Johnson-577, 3. Austin Williams-542, 4. Logan Williams-534, 5. A.J. Bender-513, 6. David Gasper (R)-502, 7. Cody Williams-482, 8. Eddie Tafoya Jr.-397, 9. Verne Sweeney-362, 10. Austin Grabowski-326, 11. Charles Davis Jr.-285, 12. Matt Mitchell-281, 13. Elexa Herrera (R)-270, 14. Brody Roa-256, ---. Grant Sexton-256, 16. Brent Sexton (R)-250, 17. Ricky Lewis-233, 18. Matt McCarthy-210, 19. Logan Calderwood-203, 20. Jeff Dyer-192. The complete point standings can be found at usacracing.com/standings/sprint-cars/cra
2024 AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 2-Tommy Malcolm, 2-Matt Mitchell, 1-A.J. Bender, 1-Charles Davis Jr., 1-David Gasper, 1-R.J. Johnson, 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, 10-Matt Mitchell, 9-Nic Faas, 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-Tommy Malcolm, 3-Kevin Thomas Jr., 2-Darren Hagen, 2-Jesse Hockett, 2-Levi Jones, 2-C.J. Leary, 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 SERIES SCHEDULE
February 24: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Matt Mitchell)
March 16: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: David Gasper)
March 23: Cocopah Speedway – Somerton, AZ (Winner: Charles Davis Jr.)
April 6: Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, AZ (Winner: Kevin Thomas Jr.)
April 27: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: A.J. Bender)
May 25: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Matt Mitchell)
June 8: Dirt Track at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway – Bakersfield, CA (Winner: R.J. Johnson)
June 22: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Tommy Malcolm)
July 6: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Winner: Tommy Malcolm)
July 13: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
August 10: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA
August 17: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Brother Brett Classic at California Racer’s Hall of Fame Night)
August 31: Dirt Track at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway – Bakersfield, CA
September 7: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA
September 21: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
September 28: Dirt Track at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway – Bakersfield, CA
October 12: Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, AZ
October 18: Imperial Valley Raceway – Imperial, CA
October 19: Imperial Valley Raceway – Imperial, CA
November 1: Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 2: Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 8: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
November 9: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
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TBA = To Be Announced.
This schedule is subject to change.
