USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS RETURN TO PERRIS FOR “SO-CAL SHOWDOWN”
By Lance Jennings
MARCH 21, 2022... The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will return to Perris Auto Speedway this Saturday, March 26th, for the “So-Cal Showdown.” The fourth point race will also feature the NOS Energy Drink World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprint Cars, and the PAS Young Gun Sprint Cars. Located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds, 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 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .)
- APPROVED/LEGAL TIRES: Due to the current tire shortages, ANY Hoosier Right Rear Tire is legal for competition until further notice. All four corners must be Hoosier.
- 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.
- RULE BOOK: The USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series Rule Book can be found online at usacracing.com.
- 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 March 6, 2004, the Lake Perris Fairgrounds has held 233 AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car events and forty-two different drivers have claimed victory. “The Demon” Damion Gardner leads all drivers with 49 “home track” wins and Nic Faas set the 1-lap track record of 15.833 on February 25, 2012. A complete USAC/CRA win list at Perris is at the end of this release.
While covid mandates cancelled the last two “So-Cal Showdowns,” “The Pride of Garden Grove” Brody Roa topped the popular event in 2019. Gardner won the 2014 and 2017 shows and Richard Vander Weerd scored the victory in 2015. In 2016, Josh Hodges started fifteenth and took the checkered flags to win after a last corner pass.
After winning the season’s first three races at Yuma’s Cocopah Speedway, “The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, CA) has a 37-point advantage over the competition. Piloting Mark Alexander’s #1 PerformanceOnline.com / Carman Trucking Spike, Gardner has also posted one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, and 68 feature laps led to his credit. The “World’s Fastest Sprint Car Driver” has ninety-two series wins and will be looking to claim his third “So-Cal Showdown.”
“Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (Buckeye, AZ) ranks second in the championship point standings. Driving his #47 MP Environmental Services / Black Magic Bead Breaker RSS, Davis ran fifth, fourth, and fourth at Cocopah Speedway. The 1993 CRA Rookie of the Year has also posted one heat race victory in the campaign. The seven-time Arizona Sprint Car Champion has four USAC/CRA triumphs and will have his sights on another Perris triumph.
“The Pride of Garden Grove” Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA) sits third in the USAC/CRA point chase. Racing the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Burris Racing Eagle, Roa scored fourth, sixth, and fifth at Yuma. In addition, the 2016 USAC West Coast 360 Champion has one heat race victory on the season. With ten career USAC/CRA wins, the 2019 USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Champion will be a favorite to win at Perris Auto Speedway.
Eddie Tafoya Jr. (Chino Hills, CA) is currently fourth in the chase for the championship. Piloting the family owned #51T Specialty Fasteners / DRC Chassis machine, Tafoya claimed seventh, ninth, and second at Cocopah Speedway. The 2019 USAC/CRA and USAC SouthWest Rookie of the Year will be looking for his first career USAC/CRA win this Saturday night.
“The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, CA) ranks fifth in the USAC/CRA point standings. Driving the family owned #2 Digalert / Full Throttle Scissor Lift Rental DRC. Williams placed second, eighth, and eighth at the January Yuma shows. In addition, the 2009 Co-Rookie of the Year has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and one heat race victory on the season. “The Big Game Hunter” has eleven series wins and will have his sights on winning at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds.
Nate Schank (Santa Rosa, CA) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Piloting the family owned #1$ Joe Hunt Magnetos / Industrial Machine Maxim, Schank is twelfth in the point chase after running eleventh, thirteenth, and thirteenth at Cocopah Speedway.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Logan Williams, “Thunder” Tommy Malcolm, Chris Gansen, Matt Mitchell, Verne Sweeney, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Matt McCarthy, Shane Sexton, Austin Grabowski, “Showtime” Danny Sheridan, Brent Owens, Jake Hodges, Jeff Dyer, 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 perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134. Advance tickets are available online at worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars.
The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Bill’s Jerky, Factory Wraps, Flowdynamics, Hoosier Racing Tire, In Memory of Jim and Chet Gardner, Laser X Manufacturing, Woodland Auto Display, BR Motorsports, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Rod End Supply, 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.
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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
2022 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 3-Damion Gardner
PERRIS AMSOIL USAC/CRA 1-LAP QUALIFYING RECORD: Nic Faas – 15.833 (02/25/12)
PERRIS AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 49-Damion Gardner, 24-Mike Spencer, 19-Tony Jones, 17-Cory Kruseman, 9-Nic Faas, 8-David Cardey, 8-Richard Vander Weerd, 7-Rip Williams, 6-Bryan Clauson, 6-Mike Kirby, 6-Matt Mitchell, 6-Danny Sheridan, 6-Austin Williams, 5-Rickie Gaunt, 5-Justin Grant, 4-Robert Ballou, 4-Dave Darland, 4-R.J. Johnson, 4-Brody Roa, 3-Brady Bacon, 3-Garrett Hansen, 3-Kevin Thomas Jr., 2-Charles Davis 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-Jason York.
SO-CAL SHOWDOWN WINNERS: 2014-Damion Gardner, 2015-Richard Vander Weerd, 2016-Josh Hodges, 2017-Damion Gardner, 2018-Rained Out, 2019-Brody Roa, 2020-Cancelled, 2021-Cancelled.
2022 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Damion Gardner-246, 2. Charles Davis Jr.-209, 3. Brody Roa-195, 4. Eddie Tafoya Jr.-181, 5. Austin Williams-173, 6. Logan Williams-172, 7. Tommy Malcolm-166, 8. Mike Martin-147, 9. Chris Gansen-145, 10. Matt Mitchell-139, 11. Verne Sweeney-136, 12. Nate Schank ®-127, 13. Ricky Lewis-126, 14. Chase Johnson-119, 15. Cody Williams-118, 16. Matt McCarthy-106, ---. Shane Sexton-106, 18. Danny Parrish-102, 19. Dustin Cormany-89, 20. Jess Beckett-87, 21. Travis Buckley-75, 22. Dustin Burkhart-74, 23. Jonas Reynolds-57, 24. J.J. Yeley-47, 25. Austin Grabowski-40, 26. Austin Ervine-37, 27. Stevie Sussex-35, 28. Ikaika O'Brien-29, 29. Sterling Cling-13.
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 4: Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, CA (Rained Out)
March 5: Keller Auto Speedway – Hanford, CA (Rained Out)
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 3: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA
September 4: 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.