USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS EYE SANTA MARIA’S “DOUG FORT MEMORIAL”
By Lance Jennings
JUNE 29, 2021... The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will head to Santa Maria Raceway this Saturday, July 3rd, for the “12th Annual Doug Fort Memorial” Promoted by Nick Duggan, the eighth point race is the first of two appearances at the 1/3-mile oval. The action packed card will also showcase California Lightning Sprints, IMCA Stock Cars, NMRA TQ Midgets, and Mini Stocks. Located in Nipomo, California, the front gates at "The West's Best Short Track" will open at 4:00pm, time trials at 5:30pm, and racing will begin at 6:00pm. For more information, visit the track’s website at santamariaraceway.com or call 310.493.4900. For those that cannot be at the races, floracing.com will broadcast a live stream of the night’s action over the internet.
SANTA MARIA NOTES:
- Fuel and a limited amount of tires will available for sale from the track vendor at Santa Maria.
- Pill Draw: 2:30pm, Driver’s Meeting: 3:30pm, Wheel Packing: 4:30pm.
- Grandstand tickets are available on race day!
NOTICE TO RACERS:
- The 2019 Rule Book will be followed in regards to race format and weight rule (1,325 lbs. with driver)
- 2021 APPROVED/LEGAL TIRES: THE HOOSIER RD20 RIGHT REAR TIRES ARE NOW USAC/CRA LEGAL. The 105/18 HTW, 105/16 Medium, 105/18 Hard, and 105/18 F85A are also legal with the series. Hoosier Tires are mandatory on all four corners.
- 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .)
- California state protocol calls for competitors, crews, officials, and anyone on the grounds to practice safe social distancing, proper sanitizing, and follow local regulations regarding the COVID-19 Coronavirus.
- 2021 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.
- TRANSPONDERS ARE MANDATORY: Series officials will have transponders to rent at the track for those racers that do not have them.
- ONE WAY DRIVER RADIOS ARE MANDATORY.
- FRONT AXLE TETHER SYSTEMS (2-Chassis, 1-King Pin to King Pin) ARE MANDATORY.
- FULL CONTAINMENT SEATS ARE MANDATORY.
- Cockpit adjustable shocks ARE ALLOWED.
Saturday’s point race honors Doug Fort, who built and operated the Santa Maria facility. Opening on Sunday, March 31, 1964 with the California Racing Association (CRA) Sprint Cars, Fort continued to serve as owner and promoter until his passing in 1999. During his tenure, the Santa Maria track was named the "Best Short Track Operation West of the Mississippi" on two separate occasions and hosted a wide variety of race cars.
Originally a winged 410 Golden State Challenge (GSC) Sprint car race, Tyler Walker claimed the inaugural “Doug Fort Memorial” in 2009. The USAC West Coast 360 Sprints headlined the event in 2012 and “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman won the next two memorials. The show became part of the USAC/CRA schedule in 2014 and “The Cadillac” Cody Williams added his name to the record books. The event was last held in 2019 and 2016 USAC West Coast 360 Champion, Brody Roa topped his second straight Central Coast Classic. Since its inception, the "Doug Fort Memorial” continues to be a popular event and the complete win list is at the bottom of this release.
Since June 18, 2005, Santa Maria Raceway has held twenty-seven USAC/CRA Sprint Car events and sixteen different drivers have claimed victory. Ryan Bernal, “The Demon” Damion Gardner, and Brody Roa lead all drivers with three wins and “The Bullet” Blake Miller set the 1-lap qualifying record of 13.230 on June 14, 2008. A complete Santa Maria USAC/CRA win list is at the end of this release.
Heading to Santa Maria, “The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, CA) holds a 63-point lead over the competition. Driving Mark Alexander’s #1 PerformanceOnline.com / Carman Trucking Spike, Gardner won the June 19th event at Perris Auto Speedway. To date, “The World’s Fastest Sprint Car Driver” has two feature wins, four Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, four heat race victories, six top-10 finishes, and 50 feature laps led in the campaign. The eight-time champion will be looking to earn the eighty-sixth USAC/CRA win of his career at Santa Maria.
After finishing third at Perris, “The Pride of Garden Grove” Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA) has climbed to second in the chase for the championship. Racing the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Burris Racing Eagle, Roa has posted one feature win, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, five top-10 finishes and 55 feature laps led on the year. The 2016 USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Champion will have his sights on adding another Santa Maria trophy to his collection.
“The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, CA) is third in the USAC/CRA point standings. Piloting Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Lucas Oil DRC, Williams finished seventeenth at Perris after an early exit. At press time, the 2009 Co-Rookie of the Year has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, five top-10 finishes and 11 feature laps led on the season. “The Big Game Hunter” will be looking to move up the point standings with a “Doug Fort Memorial” triumph.
Chris Gansen (Verdemont Heights, CA) ranks fourth in the championship point chase. Driving the family owned #4G Trench Shoring / Cam 2 Blue Blood Oil Maxim, Gansen ran ninth in the June 19th main event. To date, the veteran driver has posted one In Memory of Jim & Chet Gardner Hard Charger Award, seven top-10 finishes, and 1 feature lap led on the season. Chris will have his sights on claiming his first win at Santa Maria Raceway.
Tommy “Thunder” Malcolm (Corona, CA) sits fifth in the USAC/CRA point chase. Racing Dino Napier’s #5X Indiana Truck Salvage / B&B Powder Coating Maxim, Malcolm placed fifteenth at Perris on June 19th. At press time, the young driver has recorded one heat race victory and four top-10 finishes in the campaign. Tommy “Thunder” will be looking for his first career USAC/CRA win this Saturday night.
Austin Grabowksi (Riverside, CA) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Jake Hodges (Camarillo, CA), Ryan Timmons (Pleasant Hill, CA), Ikaika O’Brien (Oahu, HI), Brent Owens (Rancho Cucamonga, CA), and Shane Sexton (Warner Springs, CA) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Matt Mitchell, A.J. Bender, Verne Sweeney, Matt McCarthy, Logan Williams, Steve Hix, Eddie Tafoya Jr., Joel Rayborne, Austin Liggett, Kyle Edwards, “T Dub” Trent Williams, James Herrera, and more.
Santa Maria Raceway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo, California. Adult tickets are $25, Senior, Military, and Student Tickets are $23, Kids Tickets (6-12) are $6, and Kids (5 & Under) are FREE. For more event information, visit the track’s website at santamariaraceway.com or call 310.493.4900.
The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks All Coast Construction, BillsJerky.com, Component Repair Company, Factory Wraps, Flowdynamics, Hoosier Racing Tire, Huntington Beach Glass and Mirror, In Memory of Jim and Chet Gardner, Woodland Auto Display, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, FloRacing, Loudpedal Productions, Rod End Supply, surfNsprint.com, Saldana Racing Products, Sway-A-Way Torsion Bars, Ultra Shield Race 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or PR Director Lance Jennings at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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.
FloRacing.com has live, flag-to-flag coverage of the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series. You can catch the action by subscribing to FloRacing on a monthly or yearly basis to view their huge catalog of live and on-demand auto racing and sporting events.
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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 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 2-Max Adams, 2-Damion Gardner, 1-Chase Johnson, 1-Brody Roa, 1-Ryan Timmons.
“DOUG FORT MEMORIAL” WINNERS: 2009-Tyler Walker, 2010-Tommy Tarlton, 2011-Jonathan Allard, 2012-Cory Kruseman, 2013-Cory Kruseman, 2014-Cody Williams, 2015-Rickie Gaunt, 2016-Ryan Bernal, 2017-Max Adams, 2018-Brody Roa, 2019-Brody Roa, 2020-CANCELLED.
SANTA MARIA AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 3-Ryan Bernal, 3-Damion Gardner, 3-Brody Roa, 2-Max Adams, 2-Rickie Gaunt, 2-Cory Kruseman, 2-Mike Spencer, 2-Austin Williams, 1-Tyler Brown, 1-Nic Faas, 1-Garrett Hansen, 1-Mike Kirby, 1-Blake Miller, 1-Danny Sheridan, 1-Cody Williams, 1-Rip Williams.
2021 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Damion Gardner-508, 2. Brody Roa-445, 3. Austin Williams-430, 4. Chris Gansen-410, 5. Tommy Malcolm-354, 6. Cody Williams-334, 7. Matt Mitchell-328, 8. A.J. Bender-287, 9. Verne Sweeney-254, 10. Charles Davis Jr.-253, 11. Danny Faria Jr.-250, 12. Matt McCarthy-231, 13. Austin Grabowski ®-227, 14. Jake Hodges ®-203, 15. Max Adams-195, 16. Logan Williams-186, 17. Steve Hix-183, 18. Eddie Tafoya Jr.-168, 19. Ryan Timmons ®-166, 20. Joel Rayborne-157, 21. Austin Liggett-149, 22. Austin Ervine-128, 23. Stevie Sussex-125, 24. Brent Owens ®-124, 25. Rick Hendrix-119, 26. Davey Ray-105, 27. Troy Rutherford-97, 28. Ikaika O'Brien ®-96, 29. Kyle Edwards-87, 30. Dan Taylor-81, 31. Trent Williams-80, 32. Chase Johnson-78, 33. Tanner Boul ®-75, 34. R.J. Johnson-74, 35. Jeff Dyer-70, 36. Shane Sexton ®-68, 37. Nate Schank-58, 38. Cal Smith-53, 39. Randy Nelson-45, 40. James Herrera-44, 41. Tyler Hatzikian-42, 42. James Heling-41, 43. Travis Buckley-36, 44. Jonas Reynolds-34, 45. Kaleb Montgomery-32, 46. Tom Hendricks-28, 47. Daylin Perreira-10.
2021 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE:
March 12: The Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park– Bakersfield, CA (Winner: Ryan Timmons)
March 13: The Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park – Bakersfield, CA (Winner: Max Adams)
March 26: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA (Winner: Max Adams)
April 24: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Damion Gardner)
May 1: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (CANCELLED)
May 8: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA (Winner: Chase Johnson)
May 22: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Brody Roa)
June 19: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Damion Gardner)
July 3: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Doug Fort Memorial)
July 16: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (CANCELLED)
July 17: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Summer Campfest)
August 14: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Bud Stanfield Memorial)
August 21: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (California Racers Hall of Fame Night)
September 4: Silver Dollar Speedway – Chico, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 5: Silver Dollar Speedway – Chico, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 6: Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA
September 25: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
October 2: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
October 23: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
November 4: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
November 5: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
November 6: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
November 12: *Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 13: *Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Cars.
This schedule is subject to change.