AMSOIL USAC/CRA & NATIONAL SPRINTS RUMBLE AT $20,000-TO-WIN PERRIS “OVAL NATIONALS”

By Lance Jennings

NOVEMBER 1, 2022... The chase for the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Championship returns to Perris Auto Speedway for the "26th Heimark/Anheuser Busch Budweiser Oval Nationals." Promoted by Don Kazarian, the prestigious co-sanctioned event with the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Cars opens with a special practice session on Wednesday, November 2nd, followed by three nights (November 3,4,5) of intense racing with a total purse reaching $118,270. The Thursday and Friday main events will pay $5,000-to-win and $600-to-start, with Saturday paying $20,000-to-win and $1,000-to-start. Located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds in Perris, California, the spectator gates at "America's Premier Dirt Track" will open at 5:00pm and racing is scheduled for 7:00pm. For more event information or advance tickets, visit perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134. 

For those that cannot be at the races, floracing.com will broadcast a live stream of the night’s action over the internet.

PRACTICE NIGHT: The festivities will begin on Wednesday, November 2nd with a special practice session for cars that are only entered in the Oval Nationals. Admission to the grandstands is FREE and cars will be on the track around 5:00pm. The concession stands will be open with $2 Pizza, Beer, and Soft Drink specials for fans in attendance.

EARLY ENTRY LIST: At press time, 41 cars have entered the event with more entries expected on race day. The current Oval Nationals pre-entry list is at the end of this release, courtesy of Perris Auto Speedway.

NOTICE TO RACERS: 

- The USAC National Rule Book will be followed and can be found at usacracing.com.

- APPROVED/LEGAL TIRES: Hoosier 105/16 Medium, 105/16 H15, 105/18 Hard, and 105/18 F85A are legal for the Oval Nationals. Hoosier Tires are mandatory on all four corners.

- TIRES / FUEL: Tires and fuel will be available at the race track. 

- 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. .)

- 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.

- PURSE: Thursday and Friday will pay $5,000-to-win and $600-to-start. Saturday will pay $20,000-to-win and $1,000-to-start. The full purse can be found at http://www.perrisautospeedway.com/2022/22ovalpurse.pdf 

-  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.

Since 1996, the Budweiser Oval Nationals has been one of the most prestigious events for non-wing sprint car racing across the country. “The Professor” Jimmy Sills won the inaugural race and there have been sixteen different drivers that have claimed the checkered flags. Bud Kaeding, “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland, “The Demon” Damion Gardner, and “KTJ” Kevin Thomas Jr. lead all drivers with three Oval National wins. Last year, Thomas added his third eagle trophy to his collection. The winner’s list is at the end of this release.

Since March 6, 2004, the Lake Perris Fairgrounds has held 239 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, including the “So-Cal Showdown” on March 26th and the “Glenn Howard Memorial” on September 17th. The April 30th “Sokola Shootout” was won by Matt Mitchell and “The Cadillac” Cody Williams topped the May 28th “Salute to Indy.” “The Pride of Garden Grove” Brody Roa topped the June 25th “Bubby Jones and Ray Scheetz Memorial” and “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. raced to victory at the August 20th “California Racers Hall of Fame Night.” Nic Faas set the 1-lap track record of 15.833 on February 25, 2012 and a complete USAC/CRA win list at Perris is at the end of this release.

Heading to the Oval Nationals, “The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, California) has a 212-point advantage over the competition. Driving Mark Alexander’s #1 PerformanceOnline.com / Carman Trucking Spike, Gardner finished twelfth at Yuma’s “Western World Championships” finale last Saturday night. To date, the nine-time champion has six feature wins, five Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, eight heat race victories, one hard charger award, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 179 feature laps led to his credit. Gardner has ninety-five USAC/CRA wins and will be looking to continue his championship bid with his fourth “Oval Nationals” victory.

After finishing fourteenth at Cocopah Speedway, Matt Mitchell (Yorba Linda, California) has climbed to second in the chase for the championship. At press time, the owner/driver of the #37 Roy Miller Freight Lines / Campbell Brothers Storage Maxim has one feature win, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, four heat race victories, one semi-main win, two hard charger awards, twelve top-10 finishes, and 46 feature laps led on the season. With eight career wins, Mitchell is currently tied with “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland, “Super” Rickie Gaunt, and “Showtime” Danny Sheridan. The 2014 USAC West Coast Sprint Car Champion will have his sights on earning his first Oval Nationals win and the $20,000 payday.

“The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, California) ranks third in the championship point standings. Racing the family owned #2 Digalert / Full Throttle Scissor Lift Rental DRC, Williams scored tenth in the semi-main of the “Western World Championships.” To date, “The Big Game Hunter” has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, one Wilwood Disc Brakes “Lucky 13 Award,” eleven top-10 finishes, and 13 feature laps led in the campaign. The 2009 Co-Rookie of the Year ranks seventh with eleven career triumphs and will be looking for his first win of the year at the “Oval Nationals.”

Eddie Tafoya Jr. (Chino Hills, California) is fourth in the USAC/CRA point standings. Driving the family owned #51T Specialty Fasteners / DRC Chassis entry, Tafoya scored sixteenth in the “Western World” finale. At press time, Eddie has posted one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, one semi-main win, one Wilwood Disc Brakes “Lucky 13 Award,” thirteen top-10 finishes, and one feature lap led on the season. The 2019 USAC/CRA and USAC SouthWest Rookie of the Year will have his sights on the first win of his career at Perris Auto Speedway.

Tommy “Thunder” Malcolm (Corona, California) ranks fifth in the USAC/CRA point chase. Piloting Dino Napier’s #5X Indiana Truck Salvage / B&B Powder Coating DRC, Malcolm placed eleventh in the “Western World Championships.” To date, “Thunder” has recorded four heat race victories, one semi-main win, one hard charger award, ten top-10 finishes, and 47 feature laps led in the campaign. Tommy will be looking to earn the first victory of his career at the “Oval Nationals.” 

Nate Schank (Santa Rosa, California) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors and ranks eleventh in the point chase. The pilot of the family owned #1$ Joe Hunt Magnetos / Sonoma Paint Center entry will have his sights the first win of his career at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds.

Justin Grant (Ione, California) leads the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series point chase over “The Macho Man” Brady Bacon, C.J. Leary, Robert Ballou, Emerson Axsom, Logan Seavey, Chase Stockon, Matt Westfall, Jake Swanson, and Jadon Rogers.

Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California. The Fairgrounds charges $10 for parking and Advance tickets are available. 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, Floracing.com, Flowdynamics Incorporated, The Gardner Family (In Memory of Jim and Chet Gardner), Hoosier Racing Tires, In Memory of Shawn McDonald, Laserworx Manufacturing, Woodland Auto Display, BR Motorsports, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Vahlco Wheels, 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. 

-----------------------------------------------

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.

HEIMARK/ANHEUSER BUSCH BUDWEISER OVAL NATIONALS PRESENTED BY ALL COAST CONSTRUCTION WINNERS: 1996-Jimmy Sills, 1997-Rip Williams, 1998-Rodney Argo, 1999-Rickie Gaunt, 2000-Tony Jones, 2001-Bud Kaeding, 2002-Bud Kaeding, 2003-Cory Kruseman, 2004-Cory Kruseman, 2005-Dave Darland, 2006-Dave Darland, 2007-Bud Kaeding, 2008-Jesse Hockett, 2009-Damion Gardner, 2010-Chris Windom, 2011-Damion Gardner, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Dave Darland, 2014-Robert Ballou, 2015-Bryan Clauson, 2016-Damion Gardner, 2017-Kevin Thomas Jr., 2018-Kevin Thomas Jr., 2019-C.J. Leary, 2020-Not Held, 2021-Kevin Thomas Jr.

2022 HEIMARK/ANHEUSER BUSCH BUDWEISER OVAL NATIONALS PRESENTED BY ALL COAST CONSTRUCTION ENTRY LIST: (courtesy of Perris Auto Speedway) 1-Damion Gardner, 1J-Jake Neal, 1$-Nate Schank, 2-Austin Williams, 4-Justin Grant, 4G-Chris Gansen, 5-Tye Mihocko, 5W-Logan Williams, 5X-Tommy Malcolm, 6-Logan Calderwood, 8M-Chase Johnson, 12-Danny Sheridan, 12-Robert Ballou, 14-Jaden Rogers, 15-Chris Bonneau, 17GP-Kevin Thomas Jr., 19AZ-Mitchell Moles, 21-A.J. Bender, 21AZ-Jake Swanson, 22AZ-Jason McDougal, 28M-Matt McCarthy, 33M-Matt Westfall, 34-Sterling Cling, 39E-Kyle Edwards, 39T-Troy DeGaton, 41-Ricky Lewis, 42-Logan Seavey, 44-Cody Williams, 47-Charles Davis Jr., 47BC-Emerson Axsom, 51-R.J. Johnson, 51T-Eddie Tafoya Jr., 69-Brady Bacon, 71-Brent Owens, 72-Austin Grabowski, 72-Gary Marshall Jr., 74-Shane Sexton, 77M-C.J. Leary, 91R-Brody Roa, 98-Verne Sweeney, T5-Dan Taylor

2022 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 6-Damion Gardner, 3-Brody Roa, 2-Cody Williams, 1-Emerson Axsom, 1-Ryan Bernal, 1-Tanner Boul, 1-Charles Davis Jr., 1-Austin Liggett, 1-Matt Mitchell, 1-Jake Swanson.

PERRIS AMSOIL USAC/CRA 1-LAP QUALIFYING RECORD: Nic Faas – 15.833 (02/25/12)

PERRIS AMSOIL USAC NATIONAL 1-LAP QUALIFYING RECORD: Mike Spencer – 15.891 (11/02/12)

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-Rickie Gaunt, 5-Justin Grant, 5-Brody Roa, 4-Robert Ballou, 4-Dave Darland, 4-R.J. Johnson, 3-Brady Bacon, 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.

2022 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Damion Gardner-1195, 2. Matt Mitchell-983, 3. Austin Williams-964, 4. Eddie Tafoya Jr.-963, 5. Tommy Malcolm-870, 6. Brody Roa-820, 7. Logan Williams-815, 8. Charles Davis Jr.-786, 9. Cody Williams-785, 10. Matt McCarthy-657, 11. Nate Schank (R)-625, 12. Verne Sweeney-622, 13. Austin Grabowski-544, 14. A.J. Bender-519, 15. Chris Gansen-489, 16. Chase Johnson-426, 17. Kyle Edwards-401, 18. Trent Williams-391, 19. Shane Sexton-275, 20. Ricky Lewis (R)-255, 21. Chris Bonneau-235, 22. Mike Martin-233, 23. Logan Calderwood-227, 24. Tanner Boul-204, 25. Jake Hodges-192, ... Shon Deskins-192, 27. Dan Taylor-186, 28. Jake Swanson-164, 29. Dustin Cormany-162, ... Jeff Dyer-162, 31. Joel Rayborne-159, 32. Brody Fuson-147, 33. Emerson Axsom-145, 34. C.J. Leary-142, 35. Robert Ballou-136, 36. Austin Liggett-135, 37. Troy Rutherford-125, 38. Justin Grant-119, 39. Sterling Cling-117, 40. Matt Westfall-116, 41. Brady Bacon-114, 42. Steve Hix-111, ... Max Adams-111, 44. Logan Seavey-109, ... Mitchel Moles-109, ... Travis Buckley-109, 47. Kyle Cummins-108, 48. Danny Parrish-102, 49. Jonas Reynolds-88, 50. Kevin Thomas Jr.-83, 51. Dustin Burkhart-74, 52. Randy Nelson-67, 53. Gordon Rodgers-61, 54. Jadon Rogers-59, 55. Jake Helsel-45, 56. Grant Sexton-41, 57. James Herrera-39, 58. Stevie Sussex-35, 59. Andrew Sweeney-34, ... Justin Zimmerman-34, 61. Trent Carter-30, 62. Tony Everhart-26, ... Ben Worth-26, 64. Ryan Timmons-24, 65. Brent Owens-23, 66. Camie Bell-20, ... Jeremy Jonas-20, ... Jake Neal-20, 69. Troy DeGaton-10, ... Tuesday Calderwood-10.

2022 AMSOIL USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1-Justin Grant-2351, 2-Brady Bacon-2268, 3-C.J. Leary-2245, 4-Robert Ballou-2168, 5-Emerson Axsom-2115, 6-Logan Seavey-2007, 7-Chase Stockon-1711, 8-Matt Westfall-1685, 9-Jake Swanson-1612, 10-Jadon Rogers-1604.

2022 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE:

January 27: Cocopah Speedway – Yuma, AZ (Winner: Damion Gardner)

January 28: Cocopah Speedway – Yuma, AZ (Winner: Damion Gardner)

January 29: Cocopah Speedway – Yuma, AZ (Winner: Damion Gardner)

March 26: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Damion Gardner)

April 1: Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA (Winner: Austin Liggett)

April 2: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA (Winner: Ryan Bernal)

April 23: Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, AZ (Winner: Damion Gardner)

April 30: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Matt Mitchell)

May 14: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA (Winner: Cody Williams)

May 28: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Cody Williams)

June 11: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Winner: Tanner Boul)

June 25: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Brody Roa)

August 6: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Winner: Brody Roa)

August 20: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Charles Davis Jr.)

September 17: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Damion Gardner)

October 8: Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, AZ (Winner: Brody Roa)

October 28: *Cocopah Speedway – Yuma, AZ (Winner: Emerson Axsom)

October 29: *Cocopah Speedway – Yuma, AZ (Winner: Jake Swanson)

November 3: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)

November 4: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)

November 5: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)

-----------------------------------------------

* = Co-Sanctioned Event with AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Cars.

TBA = To Be Announced.    

This schedule is subject to change.