USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS RETURN TO PERRIS FOR “SO-CAL SHOWDOWN”
By Lance Jennings
MARCH 25, 2019... After a break in the schedule, the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will return to Perris Auto Speedway this Saturday, March 30th. The “Annual So-Cal Showdown” will also feature the famed NOS Energy Drink World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprint Cars, and the PAS Young Gun Sprint Cars. In addition, the event is “American Cancer Society Night Benefitting the Up, Down ‘n Dirty 4 a Cure Mud Run.” Advance tickets with a FREE World of Outlaws “Fan Pit Pass” are available online at www.woosprint.com. The spectator gates will open at 4:00pm and racing at "America's Premier Dirt Track" will start at 7:00pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
NOTICE TO RACERS:
-2019 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.
- FRONT AXLE TETHER SYSTEMS (2-Chassis, 1-King Pin to King Pin) ARE MANDATORY.
- FULL CONTAINMENT SEATS ARE MANDATORY.
- Hoosier Tires are required on all four corners with the 105/16 Medium and the 105/18 Hard as the only approved right rear tires. The “Medium” is also legal with the USAC National, USAC SouthWest, USAC West Coast, and VRA Sprint Cars.
- Cockpit adjustable shocks ARE ALLOWED.
- USAC/CRA charges a $25 entry fee to all competitors and the series rule book can be found online at www.usacracing.com.
- USAC MEMBERSHIPS can be purchased at the track or online at www.usaclicense.com.
- USAC BONUS / Any racer who enters every event for both the AMSOIL USAC/CRA and Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Car schedules will have their entry fees reimbursed at the end of the year.
Since March 6, 2004, the Lake Perris Fairgrounds has held 213 AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car events and thirty-eight different drivers have claimed victory. “The Demon” Damion Gardner leads all drivers with 45 “home track” wins and the 1-lap track record of 15.833 was set by Nic Faas on February 25, 2012. While rain claimed last year’s “So-Cal Showdown,” Gardner topped the popular event in 2014 and 2017. Richard Vander Weerd scored the victory in 2015, and Josh Hodges took the checkered flags in 2016. A complete series win list at Perris is at the end of this release.
Entering the third point race, Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA) is tied for the series point lead. Driving the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Burris Racing Maxim, Roa finished second and third at Canyon Speedway Park’s two-night “Spring Showcase.” To date, the 2016 USAC West Coast Sprint Car Champion has also posted 13 feature laps led on the season. The second generation driver has six career USAC/CRA wins and will be looking to add the “So-Cal Showcase” to his resume.
R.J. Johnson (Laveen, AZ) is tied with Roa at the top of the point standings. Piloting the Bobby Martin Racing #51 Martin Family Auto Museum / BG Chemicals Sherman, Johnson had two fourth place finishes at the “Spring Showcase.” At press time, the five-time USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Champion also has one heat race victory and one feature lap led to his credit. The second generation driver will have his sights on claiming his seventh series win this Saturday night.
“The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, CA) ranks third in the chase for the championship. Racing Mark Alexander’s #4 Trench Shoring / Weld Racing Spike, Gardner posted seventh and second place finishes at Canyon Speedway Park. To date, the seven-time champion has also posted one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and one heat race victory in the campaign. This Saturday, “The Demon” will be looking to score his series leading eighty-first triumph.
Josh Hodges (Tijeras, NM) sits fourth in the USAC/CRA championship point chase. Driving the family owned #74X Jackson Compaction / Parts Plus DRC, Hodges won the opening night and placed ninth in the “Spring Showcase” finale. At press time, the 2009 ASCS Southwest Sprint Car Rookie of the Year has one heat race victory, one Specialty Fasteners Hard Charger Award, and 29 feature laps led on the season. Josh won the Perris “So-Cal Showdown” in 2016 and will have his sights on his third USAC/CRA victory.
Isaac Chapple (Willow Branch, IN) is currently fifth in the USAC/CRA point standings. Piloting his #52 CFH Enterprises / Superior Consulting DRC, Chapple ran third and eighth at the Peoria, Arizona oval. The USAC National Sprint Car Series driver has returned to the Midwest and is not expected to compete this Saturday at Perris Auto Speedway.
Currently ranked twenty-second in points, Ryan Cully (Alger, WA) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Eddie Tafoya Jr. (Chino, CA), Stephen Sanchez (Flagstaff, AZ), and Jeff Dyer (Bermuda Dunes, CA) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams, Stevie Sussex, “The Real American” Matt Rossi, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., Tommy “Thunder” Malcolm, Jake Swanson, Chris Gansen, Matt McCarthy, “The Bull” Tye Mihocko, A.J. Bender, Joel Rayborne, Verne Sweeney, Kyle Edwards, and more.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134. Advance tickets with a FREE World of Outlaws “Fan Pit Pass” are available online at www.woosprint.com.
The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks All Coast Construction, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Five Star Grafix, Flowdynamics, Hoosier Racing Tire, Loudpedal Productions, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Saldana Racing Products, Specialty Fasteners, surfNsprint.com, Ultra Shield Race Products, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, contact PR Director Lance Jennings at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
For more information on USAC/CRA, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. 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 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 1-Josh Hodges, 1-Hunter Schuerenberg.
SO-CAL SHOWDOWN WINNERS: 2014-Damion Gardner, 2015-Richard Vander Weerd, 2016-Josh Hodges, 2017-Damion Gardner, 2018-RAIN.
PERRIS AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 45-Damion Gardner, 24-Mike Spencer, 19-Tony Jones, 17-Cory Kruseman, 9-Nic Faas, 8-David Cardey, 7-Rip Williams, 6-Bryan Clauson, 6-Mike Kirby, 6-Matt Mitchell, 6-Danny Sheridan, 6-Richard Vander Weerd, 5-Rickie Gaunt, 5-Justin Grant, 4-Robert Ballou, 4-Dave Darland, 4-R.J. Johnson, 4-Austin Williams, 3-Garrett Hansen, 2-Darren Hagen, 2-Jesse Hockett, 2-Levi Jones, 2-Blake Miller, 2-Kevin Thomas Jr., 2-Chris Windom, 1-Chad Boespflug, 1-Greg Bragg, 1-Daron Clayton, 1-Charles Davis Jr., 1-Josh Ford, 1-Josh Hodges, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Adam Mitchell, 1-Brody Roa, 1-Johnny Rodriguez, 1-Chase Stockon, 1-Scotty Weir, 1-Jason York.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Brody Roa-142, -. R.J. Johnson-142, 3. Damion Gardner-139, 4. Josh Hodges-131, 5. Isaac Chapple-126, 6. Jason McDougal-124, 7. Hunter Schuerenberg-119, 8. Austin Williams-115, 9. Stevie Sussex-110, 10. Matt Rossi-92, --. Mike Martin-92, 12. Charles Davis Jr.-84, ... Landon Cling-84, 14. Tommy Malcolm-78, 15. Matt Lundy-70, 16. Michael Curtis-68, 17. Jake Swanson-67, 18. Chris Gansen-62, ... Dennis Gile-62, 20. Matt McCarthy-59.
2019 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
March 8: #Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Winner: Josh Hodges)
March 9: #Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Winner: Hunter Schuerenberg)
March 30: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (So-Cal Showdown)
April 13: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Sokola Shootout)
May 4: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
May 11: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA
May 25: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Salute to Indy)
June 29: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
July 6: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Doug Fort Memorial)
July 13: #Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
August 17: #Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (California Racers Hall of Fame Night)
August 31: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / CSW)
September 1: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic / CSW)
September 2: Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA (CSW)
September 5: TBA
September 6: Merced Speedway – Merced, CA (CSW)
September 7: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (CSW)
September 21: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
September 28: #Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Hall of Fame Classic)
November 7: *#Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
November 8: *#Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
November 9: *#Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals)
November 15: *#Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 16: *#Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Cars.
# = Co-Sanctioned Event with Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars.
CSW = California Sprint Week.
This schedule is subject to change.