USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS RETURN TO PERRIS FOR “SOKOLA SHOOTOUT”
By Lance Jennings
MARCH 13, 2023... This Saturday, March 18th, the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will return to Perris Auto Speedway for the “Sokola Shootout.” Promoted by Don Kazarian, the event will be the first of eight “home track” appearances for the non-winged 410s at the 1/2-mile oval. The action packed night will also feature the PAS Senior Sprint Cars, PAS Young Gun Sprint Cars, PASSCAR Super Stocks, and Street Stocks plus “Power of Purple Night” benefiting the American Cancer Society Relay For Life Riverside County East. 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.
Race fans are encouraged to support the race track and watch the races in person. Events at Perris Auto Speedway WILL NOT be live streamed on FloRacing in 2023.
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.)
- APPROVED/LEGAL MUFFLERS: EXTREME: 6014-3535, 3615-3535; SCHOENFELD: 14272535, 14272735-78; FLOWMASTER: 53545-10, 13516100, 13516101; COAST FABRICATION: 350x625x17-2S; B&B: FRAC-0375S; SPINTECH: 1545P SUPER STOCK
*Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
- 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.
Since March 6, 2004, the Lake Perris Fairgrounds has held 242 AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car events and forty-two different drivers have claimed victory. “The Demon” Damion Gardner leads all drivers with 51 “home track” wins and Nic Faas set the 1-lap track record of 15.833 on February 25, 2012. A complete Perris USAC/CRA win list is at the end of this release.
The "Sokola Shootout" has been a popular race on the West Coast since "The Cowboy" Tony Jones won the inaugural show at Manzanita Speedway on March 17, 2001. Originally called the "Sokola Classic" to honor past CRA President and USAC Sprint Supervisor Gary Sokola, the event has grown to also honor former driver Mark Sokola and their contributions to racing. Last season, Matt Mitchell topped the prestigious race in a near photo finish over “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., Gardner, “The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams, and “The Cadillac” Cody Williams. The win list for the “Sokola Shootout” is at the end of this release.
While rains cancelled the series debut at Central Arizona Raceway on March 3rd and 4th, “The Pride of Garden Grove” Brody Roa (Garden Grove, California) sits atop the point standings. Driving the Tom & Christy Dunkel / BR Performance #17R Inland Rigging / Dunkel Farms DRC, Roa won both of the opening races at Cocopah Speedway, posted one heat race victory, and has 35 feature laps led to his credit. With fifteen career USAC/CRA triumphs, the 2019 USAC SouthWest Champion will be looking to add the “Sokola Shootout” to his resume.
“The Cadillac” Cody Williams (Corona, California) ranks second in the championship point standings. Racing his #44 WC Friend Company / Trench Shoring DRC, Williams has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and two top-10 finishes on the season. “The Cadillac” has three career feature wins and will have his sights on gaining valuable points with a victory at the “Sokola Shootout.”
“KTJ” Kevin Thomas Jr. (Cullman, Alabama) is tied with Cody Williams for second in the point chase. Driving the Yeley/Petty Racing #2J Avanti Windows & Doors / Glenn Styres Racing Spike, Thomas has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and two top-10 finishes on the year. Primarily racing in the Midwest, it is unknown if the 3-time Oval Nationals Champion will be in action at Perris Auto Speedway.
Chase Johnson (Penngrove, California) sits fourth in the USAC/CRA point standings. Piloting Keith Ford’s #73 Surecan LLC / Naturipe Triple X, Johnson has two top-10 finishes and 7 feature laps led in the campaign. Johnson races across the West Coast in multiple classes and is a threat to win every night.
“Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (Buckeye, Arizona) ranks fifth in the championship point chase. Driving his #47 MP Environmental Services / Black Magic Bead Breaker DRC, Davis has one heat race victory and two top-10 finishes on the season. The 7-time Arizona Sprint Car Champion will be looking to add his name to the “Sokola Shootout” winner’s list.
Jim Vanzant (Prescott, Arizona) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors and ranks twelfth in the point standings. The owner/driver of the #3V Biltmore Automotive / Randy’s Paint & Body Mach 1 is followed by Grant Sexton of Lakeside, California.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “Thunder” Tommy Malcolm, “The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams, A.J. Bender, Logan Calderwood, “The Gunslinger” Austin Grabowski, Verne Sweeney, 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 AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks BillsJerky.net, Factory Wraps, Flowdynamics Incorporated, The Gardner Family (In Memory of Jim and Chet Gardner), Hoosier Racing Tires, Laserworx Manufacturing, Woodland Auto Display, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, and Wilwood Disc Brakes for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, contact Tony Jones at tonyjonesracing@gmail.com or PR Director Lance Jennings at lwjennings@earthlink.net.
For more information on the AMSOIL 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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AMSOIL 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 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 2-Brody Roa.
PERRIS AMSOIL USAC/CRA 1-LAP QUALIFYING RECORD: Nic Faas – 15.833 (02/25/12)
SOKOLA CLASSIC / SHOOTOUT WINNERS: 2001-Tony Jones, 2002-Jeremy Sherman, 2003-Jeremy Sherman, 2004-Cory Kruseman, 2005-Mike Kirby, 2006-Mike Kirby, 2007-Not Held, 2008-Not Held, 2009-Rickie Gaunt, 2010-Damion Gardner, 2011-Mike Spencer, 2012-Nic Faas, 2013-Bryan Clauson, 2014-Damion Gardner, 2015-Richard Vander Weerd, 2016-Bryan Clauson, 2017-Richard Vander Weerd, 2018-Damion Gardner, 2019-Richard Vander Weerd, 2020-Cancelled, 2021-Damion Gardner, 2022-Matt Mitchell.
PERRIS AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 51-Damion Gardner, 24-Mike Spencer, 19-Tony Jones, 17-Cory Kruseman, 9-Nic Faas, 8-David Cardey, 8-Richard Vander Weerd, 7-Matt Mitchell, 7-Rip Williams, 6-Bryan Clauson, 6-Mike Kirby, 6-Danny Sheridan, 6-Austin Williams, 5-Brady Bacon, 5-Robert Ballou, 5-Rickie Gaunt, 5-Justin Grant, 5-Brody Roa, 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-Blake Miller, 2-Jake Swanson, 2-Chris Windom, 1-Chad Boespflug, 1-Greg Bragg, 1-Daron Clayton, 1-Josh Ford, 1-Josh Hodges, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-C.J. Leary, 1-Adam Mitchell, 1-Johnny Rodriguez, 1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 1-Chase Stockon, 1-Scotty Weir, 1-Cody Williams, 1-Jason York.
2023 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Brody Roa-157, 2. Cody Williams-143, --. Kevin Thomas Jr.-143, 4. Chase Johnson-135, 5. Charles Davis Jr.-125, 6. Tommy Malcolm-124, 7. R.J. Johnson-120, 8. Sterling Cling-117, 9. Austin Williams-109, 10. A.J. Bender-90, 11. Logan Calderwood-84, 12. Jim Vanzant ®-68, 13. Grant Sexton ®-44, 14. Austin Grabowski-11.
2023 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
January 27: Cocopah Speedway – Yuma, AZ (Winner: Brody Roa)
January 28: Cocopah Speedway – Yuma, AZ (Winner: Brody Roa)
March 3: Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ (RAIN)
March 4: Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ (RAIN)
March 18: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Sokola Shootout)
March 24: Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA
March 25: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA
April 1: Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, AZ
April 15: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
April 22: Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA (Spanky Mathews Memorial)
April 29: The Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park – Bakersfield, CA (With USAC Western States Midgets)
May 6: Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, AZ
May 20: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA (Chris & Brian Faria Memorial)
May 27: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Salute to Indy)
June 10: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Bubby Jones & Ray Sheetz Memorial / 40 Laps)
June 24: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA (Richie McGowan Memorial)
July 1: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA
July 15: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
August 12: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA
August 19: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
September 9: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA
September 23: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
October 14: Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, AZ
November 3: Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 4: Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 11: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (40 Laps)
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TBA = To Be Announced.
This schedule is subject to change.
