USAC CRA Sprint Season Begins February 15 at Perris
By: Lance Jennings
Perris, California (February 8, 2025).........The Avanti Windows & Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Cars are ready to take their first green flag of the season on Saturday, February 15th, at Perris Auto Speedway.
Promoted by Don Kazarian, the opening night will also feature the PAS Senior Sprint Cars, PAS Young Gun Sprint Cars, PASSCAR Super Stocks, PASSCAR Street 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 30 minutes earlier than usual at 6:30pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
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.
- TIRE RULE: Hoosier tires ARE REQUIRED ON ALL FOUR CORNERS of the car.
- 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.
Since March 6, 2004, the Lake Perris Fairgrounds has held 258 USAC/CRA Sprint Car events and forty-seven drivers have claimed victory. Ten-time champion, “The Demon” Damion Gardner leads all drivers with 51 “home track” series wins and Nic Faas set the 1-lap track record of 15.833 on February 25, 2012. The complete Perris USAC/CRA win list is at the end of this release.
After posting strong finishes throughout the season, R.J. Johnson (Laveen, Arizona) claimed the 2024 Avanti Windows & Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Car Championship. Starting the year in the Yeley Racing #2, R.J. switched to Ricky and Michele Johnson’s #51 JUGO Superfoods / Avanti Windows & Doors Sherman and became the first driver to earn Rookie of the Year honors (2005) and the series championship. To his credit, the first Arizona racer to win the crown earned two feature wins, three Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, one semi-main win, seventeen top-five finishes, twenty-one top-10 finishes, and 84 feature laps led on the season. The new pilot of the Petty Performance Racing #33P backed by Avanti Windows & Doors has nine career wins and will be looking start his title defense with a Perris victory.
Tommy “Thunder” Malcolm (Yucaipa, California) finished second in the USAC/CRA point standings. Racing Dino Napier’s #5X Indiana Truck Salvage / B&B Powder Coating Maxim, Malcolm led the series with four feature wins and also posted one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, six heat race victories, one In Memory of Jim and Chet Gardner Hard Charger Award, seven top-five finishes, eighteen top-10 finishes, and 86 feature laps led in the campaign. Tommy is currently tied with Robert Ballou, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., and “KTJ” Kevin Thomas Jr. with seven career wins and he will have his sights on winning the opening night feature.
“The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, California) placed third in the USAC/CRA point chase. Piloting Tom & Christy Dunkel’s #17W Inland Rigging / Dunkel Farms DRC, Williams recorded six heat race victories, two In Memory of Jim and Chet Gardner Hard Charger Awards, ten top-five finishes, sixteen top-10 finishes, and 17 feature laps led on the year. At press time, the 2009 Co-Rookie of the Year is tied with Matt Mitchell with eleven wins and will be looking to start the season with a Lake Perris Fairgrounds triumph.
A.J. Bender (San Diego, California) ran fourth in the chase for the USAC/CRA championship. Racing the family owned #21 Bender Pool & Spa / Matrix Construction Services DRC, Bender earned his first series win on April 27th at Perris and posted seven heat race victories, one semi-main win, seven top-five finishes, sixteen top-10 finishes, and 44 feature laps led in the campaign. The 2022 USAC Western States Midget Rookie of the Year will have his sights on another win at Perris Auto Speedway.
David Gasper (Goleta, California) placed fifth in the championship points and earned Rookie of the Year honors. Starting the year in the Josh Ford Motorsports #73X, Gasper switched to the Kittle Motorsports & Gasper Racing #18 Art Klee / Martin Roofing DRC and posted two feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, three Factory Wraps semi-main wins, five In Memory of Jim and Chet Gardner Hard Charger Awards, fourteen top-10 finishes, and 59 feature laps led on the season. The two-time California Lightning Sprint Champion will be looking to score his third career victory at the season opener.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Logan Williams, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., Verne Sweeney, “The Gunslinger” Austin Grabowski, Eddie Tafoya Jr., Elexa Herrera, Brent Sexton, Logan Calderwood, Grant Sexton, Blake Bower, Matt Mitchell, Jeff Dyer, “The Pride of Garden Grove” Brody Roa, Stevie Rogers, Blake Hendricks, Gary Marshall Jr., “Shugah” Shane Sexton, Tom Dunkel, 2024 PAS Young Gun Champion Brecken Guerrero, and more.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California. General admission tickets (13 & over) are $35, Senior tickets (65 & over) are $30, Kids tickets (6 to 12) are $10, and Children (5 and under) are FREE. The Lake Perris Fairgrounds charges $20 for parking. Advance tickets are available and for more event information, visit the track’s website at perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
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.
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-R.J. Johnson.
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-Charles Davis Jr., 4-R.J. Johnson, 4-Tommy Malcolm, 3-Garrett Hansen, 3-Kevin Thomas Jr., 2-Darren Hagen, 2-Jesse Hockett, 2-Levi Jones, 2-C.J. Leary, 2-Blake Miller, 2-Jake Swanson, 2-Cody Williams, 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-Ricky Lewis, 1-Adam Mitchell, 1-Johnny Rodriguez, 1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 1-Chase Stockon, 1-Scotty Weir, 1-Jason York.
2025 AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
February 15: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
February 22: Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, AZ
March 1: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
March 14: Imperial Valley Raceway – Imperial, CA
March 15: Imperial Valley Raceway – Imperial, CA
April 5: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
April 11: Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ
April 12: Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ
April 26: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
May 3: Santa Maria Speedway – Nipomo, CA
May 24: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Salute to Indy)
June 21: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
July 5: Santa Maria Speedway – Nipomo, CA
July 19: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
August 16: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
August 30: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
August 31: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 6: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
September 27: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
October 4: Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, AZ
October 18: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
October 24: *Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ (Western World)
October 25: *Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ (Western World)
November 8: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC National Sprint Cars.
This schedule is subject to change.
