USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS OPEN 2022 SEASON WITH TRIPLEHEADER AT YUMA
By Lance Jennings
JANUARY 22, 2022... The cars and stars of the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will open the 2022 season with a special tripleheader at Cocopah Speedway near Yuma, Arizona. Promoted by Brad Whitfield, the January 27 (Thursday), 28 (Friday), and 29 (Saturday) events will mark USAC/CRA’s return to the 3/8-mile oval since April 2013. The action packed card will also showcase the IMCA Hobby Stocks, IMCA Stock Cars, and IMCA Sport Compacts. The pit gates will open at 2:00pm, the spectator gates open at 4:00pm, hotlaps at 6:00pm, followed by time trials and racing. For more information, visit the track’s website at racecocopahspeedway.com or call 602.292.7607.
For those that cannot be at the races, a live stream will be broadcast locally by speedsport.tv over the internet.
NOTICE TO RACERS:
- APPROVED/LEGAL TIRES: Due to the current tire shortages, ANY Hoosier Right Rear Tire is legal for competition at Yuma’s Cocopah Speedway. All four corners must be Hoosier.
- 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. .)
- 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.
- MUFFLERS: MUFFLERS ARE NOT REQUIRED at Cocopah Speedway.
- 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.
- TIRES / FUEL: Tires and fuel will be available at the race track. Gordie's Speed Center will supply tires at the track and call ahead to place your order at 928-782-4744. The Hoosier HTW Right Rear Tires have been discontinued.
- PURSE: All three nights will pay a standard USAC/CRA purse.
Since June 12, 2012, Cocopah Speedway has held three (3) AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car events and two drivers have claimed victory. “The Demon” Damion Gardner has two wins and Brody Roa has one triumph. Nic Faas set the 1-lap track record of 16.451 on April 19, 2013 and the complete series win list at Yuma is at the end of this release.
Cocopah Speedway (formerly known as Yuma Speedway) has also showcased the original California Racing Association (CRA) and Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) traditional 410 sprint cars. On March 6, 1998, "The Gasman" Richard Griffin drove Ron Chaffin's car to victory with SCRA. In 1992, CRA hosted a TNN televised event on March 7th and "The Tempe Tornado" Lealand McSpadden won in a Frank Lewis entry. On November 7th of that same year, Mike Kirby claimed victory driving for Danny Pivovaroff. On September 29, 1989, "The Flying Shoe" Ron Shuman won the 30-lap main event in the famed Morales "Tamale Wagon."
After earning his ninth championship, “The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, CA) is back at the helm of Mark Alexander’s #1 PerformanceOnline.com / Carman Trucking Spike. Gardner closed out his championship run with six feature wins, eight Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, seven heat race victories, two Wilwood Disc Brakes Lucky 13 Awards, fourteen top-10 finishes, and 125 feature laps led. The “World’s Fastest Sprint Car Driver” has eighty-nine series wins and will be looking to start another title run with victories at Yuma.
“The Pride of Garden Grove” Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA) finished second in the championship point standings. Racing the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Burris Racing Eagle, Roa had two feature wins, three Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, five heat race victories, two Wilwood Disc Brakes Lucky 13 Awards, sixteen top-10 finishes and 59 feature laps led in the campaign. With ten career victories, the 2019 USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Champion will have his sights on sweeping the Yuma tripleheader.
“The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams (Corona, CA) ranked third in the chase for the championship. Piloting Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Lucas Oil DRC, Williams posted two feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, fifteen top-10 finishes and 72 feature laps led to his credit. The 2009 Co-Rookie of the Year will be looking for the twelfth victory of his career at Cocopah Speedway.
Chris Gansen (Verdemont Heights, CA) scored fourth in the USAC/CRA point standings. Driving the family owned #4G Trench Shoring / Cam 2 Blue Blood Oil Maxim, Gansen had one heat race victory, one In Memory of Jim & Chet Gardner Hard Charger Award, fifteen top-10 finishes, one Wilwood Disc Brakes Lucky 13 Award, and 9 feature laps led on the season. Chris will have his sights on earning his first USAC/CRA triumph at Yuma.
“The Cadillac” Cody Williams (Norco, CA) placed fifth in the series point chase. Racing his #44 Trench Shoring / CRW Designs and Machining DRC, Williams posted three heat race victories, nine top-10 finishes, and 17 feature laps led in the campaign. The 2010 Victorville Sprint Car Champion will be looking for the second USAC/CRA win of his career at Cocopah.
Austin Grabowksi (Riverside, CA) earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2021. Piloting his #72 Grabowski Speed Shop / Mustang Motel Eagle, Grabowski ran fifteenth in points on the strength of one In Memory of Jim & Chet Gardner Hard Charger Award, one Wilwood Disc Brakes Lucky 13 Award, and three top-10 finishes on the season. Austin will have his sights on his first USAC/CRA main event win at Yuma.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., Tommy “Thunder” Malcolm, Eddie Tafoya Jr., Verne Sweeney, Logan Williams, Matt McCarthy, A.J. Bender, Matt Mitchell, R.J. Johnson, “Sugar” Shane Sexton, Austin Ervine, and more.
Cocopah Speedway is located at 3450 West County 15th Street in Somerton, Arizona at the intersection of US Highway 95 and County 15th Street. Adult tickets are $20, Senior/Military tickets are $18, and Kids (11 & Under) are FREE. Pit Passes are $35. For more information, visit racecocopahspeedway.com or call 602.292.7607.
If you or your company would like to become part of the series, contact USAC/CRA Director 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.
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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
2021 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 6-Damion Gardner, 2-Max Adams, 2-Brady Bacon, 2-Brody Roa, 2-Austin Williams, 1-Charles Davis Jr., 1-Chase Johnson, 1-Logan Seavey, 1-Carson Short, 1-Jake Swanson, 1-Kevin Thomas Jr., 1-Ryan Timmons.
YUMA AMSOIL USAC/CRA 1-LAP QUALIFYING RECORD: Nic Faas – 16.451 (04/19/13)
YUMA AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 2-Damion Gardner, 1-Brody Roa.
YUMA NON-WINGED 410 SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS:
09/29/89: Ron Shuman - Alex Morales Inc. #2 (CRA)
03/07/92: Lealand McSpadden - Frank Lewis #91 (CRA)
11/07/92: Mike Kirby - Danny Pivovaroff #59 (CRA)
03/06/98: Richard Griffin - Ron Chaffin #50 (SCRA)
06/02/12: Brody Roa - BR Performance #91R (USAC/CRA)
04/19/13: Damion Gardner - Mark Alexander #4A (USAC/CRA)
04/20/13: Damion Gardner - Mark Alexander #4A (USAC/CRA
FINAL 2021 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Damion Gardner-1352, 2. Brody Roa-1314, 3. Austin Williams-1183, 4. Chris Gansen-1036, 5. Cody Williams-993, 6. Charles Davis Jr.-941, 7. Tommy Malcolm-929, 8. Eddie Tafoya Jr.-708, 9. Verne Sweeney-676, 10. Logan Williams-605, 11. Matt McCarthy-590, 12. A.J. Bender-589, 13. Danny Faria Jr.-521, 14. Matt Mitchell-519, 15. Austin Grabowski ®-492, 16. Stevie Sussex-474, 17. Chase Johnson-406, 18. R.J. Johnson-386, 19. C.J. Leary-357, 20. Brady Bacon-354.
2022 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE:
January 27: Cocopah Speedway – Yuma, AZ
January 28: Cocopah Speedway – Yuma, AZ
January 29: Cocopah Speedway – Yuma, AZ
February 19: Longshadow Ranch & Winery – Temecula, CA (2021 USAC/CRA Awards Banquet)
March 4: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA
March 5: Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA
March 19: TBA
March 26: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (So Cal Showdown)
April 1: Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA
April 2: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA (Chris & Brian Faria Memorial)
April 23: Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, AZ
April 30: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Sokola Shootout)
May 14: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA
May 28: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Salute to Indy)
June 11: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
June 25: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Bubby Jones & Ray Sheetz Memorial)
July 2: TBA
July 8: Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA (Spanky Mathews Memorial)
July 9: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA
August 6: TBA
August 20: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (California Racers Hall of Fame Night)
September 1: TBA
September 3: TBA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 4: TBA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 5: TBA
September 17: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Glenn Howard Classic)
October 1: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
October 8: Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, AZ
October 28: *TBA (Western World Championships)
October 29: *TBA (Western World Championships)
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)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Cars.
TBA = To Be Announced.
This schedule is subject to change.