USAC/CRA & SOUTHWEST SPRINTS BATTLE AT SAN TAN VALLEY’S $4,000-TO-WIN “HALL OF FAME CLASSIC”
By Lance Jennings
SEPTEMBER 24, 2019... After a hard fought “Glenn Howard Classic” at Perris, the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will invade San Tan Valley’s Arizona Speedway this Saturday, September 28th. Promoted by Jonah Trussel, the annual “Hall of Fame Classic” is also a co-sanctioned “grudge race” with the Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars. The San Tan Ford ASCS Desert Sprints will join the night’s card and the track will host a special legends autograph session that includes this year’s inductees to the Arizona Motorsports Hall of Fame. The spectator gates will open at 4:00pm and racing is scheduled for 7:00pm. For more event information, visit the track’s website at arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
NOTICE TO RACERS:
- 2019 APPROVED/LEGAL MUFFLERS: EXTREME: 6014-3535, 3615-3535, BILLY BOAT: FRAC-0375S, COAST FABRICATION: 350x625x17-2S, FLOWMASTER: 53545-10, 13516100, 13516101, SCHOENFELD: 14272535, 14272735-78, 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, 105/18 Hard, and 105/18 F85A 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 usacracing.com.
- USAC MEMBERSHIPS can be purchased at the track or online at 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.
The annual “Hall of Fame Classic” has been an Arizona tradition going back to 2000 at the legendary Manzanita Speedway. Originally sanctioned by the Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA), “The Shermanator” Jeremy Sherman won the inaugural race and since then, the event has been a part of the USAC/CRA, USAC National, and USAC SouthWest Sprint Car schedules. Current point leader, “The Demon” Damion Gardner leads all drivers with three “Hall of Fame Classic” victories and the event winner’s list is at the end of the release.
To date, there have been eight USAC/CRA events at the fast 1/3-mile clay oval. Since November 4, 2016, seven different drivers claimed victory, led by Chris Windom with two triumphs. “The Hanford Hornet” Chad Boespflug set the 1-lap track record of 14.625 on November 5, 2016 and the track’s series win list is at the end of this release.
Entering the eighteenth point race, there have been ten different winners with USAC/CRA. “The Demon” Damion Gardner has three victories, while Brody Roa, Hunter Schuerenberg, Jake Swanson, Richard Vander Weerd, and “The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams are tied with two wins. Josh Hodges, Chase Johnson, Austin Liggett, and Troy Rutherford have one victory in the campaign.
Heading to Arizona Speedway, “The Demon” Damion Gardner (Concord, CA) has a 59-point lead. Piloting Mark Alexander’s #4 Trench Shoring / All Coast Construction Spike, Gardner scored a third place finish in last Saturday’s “Glenn Howard Classic” at Perris Auto Speedway. To date, “The Demon” has three feature wins, nine Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, seven heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Pyrotect Racing Cells Semi-Main Win, one Wilwood Disc Brakes Lucky 13 Award, fourteen top-10 finishes, and 81 feature laps led on the season. Also ranked twelfth in USAC SouthWest points, the seven-time USAC/CRA champion leads all drivers with 83 wins and will be looking for his fourth “Hall of Fame Classic” victory.
Last Saturday, “The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, CA) claimed his second win of the year at the “Glenn Howard Classic.” Ranked second in the point chase, the driver of Tom and Laurie Sertich’s #92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror / Lucas Oil DRC has one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, three heat race victories, one Specialty Fasteners Hard Charger Award, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 27 feature laps led in the campaign. Currently sitting twelfth in USAC SouthWest standings, the 2009 USAC/CRA Co-Rookie of the Year is tied with Ryan Bernal, David Cardey, and Richard Vander Weerd with nine series wins and will have his sights on adding the “Hall of Fame Classic” to his resume.
Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA) sits third in the championship point standings. Making his first start in Dwight Cheney’s #42 Racing Optics / Sander Engineering Maxim, Roa briefly led at Perris before scoring fifth at the checkered flags. At press time, the 2016 USAC West Coast champion has two feature wins, three heat race victories, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 105 feature laps led to his credit. Currently tied with Dave Darland, Rickie Gaunt, and Danny Sheridan with eight USAC/CRA wins, the USAC SouthWest point leader is a threat to win his first “Hall of Fame Classic.”
Jake Swanson (Anaheim, CA) is fourth in the chase for the championship. Racing John Grau & Mike Burkhart’s #34AZ Stratis Construction / KSE Custom Drywall DRC, Swanson ran second to Austin Williams at the “Glenn Howard Classic.” To date, the Louie Vermeil Classic winner has two feature wins, two Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, one dash win, five heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Pyrotect Racing Cells Semi-Main win, eleven top-10 finishes, and 43 feature laps led to his credit. Also ranked sixth in USAC Southwest points, Jake is tied with Darren Hagen, Kevin Swindell, and Chris Windom with four USAC/CRA wins and will be looking to score another victory at Arizona Speedway.
Chris Gansen (Verdemont Heights, CA) ranks fifth in the USAC/CRA point standings. Driving the family owned #4G Trench Shoring / Circle Track Performance Maxim, Gansen raced from eighth to a sixth place finish at Perris Auto Speedway. At press time, Chris has posted two Wilwood Disc Brakes Lucky 13 Awards, seven top-10 finishes, and 15 feature laps led in the campaign. Also placed twenty-first in USAC SouthWest points, Gansen will have his sights on his first USAC/CRA triumph this Saturday night.
Currently ranked tenth in points, Eddie Tafoya Jr. (Chino Hills, CA) leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Steve Hix (Ventura, CA), and Jeff Dyer (Bermuda Dunes, CA) are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “Thunder” Tommy Malcolm, Matt McCarthy, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., R.J. Johnson, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Stevie Sussex, Joel Rayborne, and more.
Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA) leads a strong contingent with the Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series. R.J. Johnson, Stevie Sussex, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Jake Swanson, Matt Lundy, “The Real American” Matt Rossi, Chris Bonneau, and Michael Curtis round out the top-10 drivers.
Arizona Speedway is located at 47800 N. Ironwood Road in San Tan Valley, just five minutes from Mesa, Arizona. To get to the track, exit Ironwood Drive on US 60, then head four miles south. Adult Tickets are $25, Senior Tickets are $25, Kids Tickets (11 & under) are FREE. For more event and ticket information, visit arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks All Coast Construction, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, 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, Sway-A-Way Racing Technology, Ultra Shield Race Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes, 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 the series, visit usacracing.com and the social media for USAC Racing. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC/CRA Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
FloSports has USAC/CRA Sprint Car live videos and on demand coverage available for purchase at floracing.com.
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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.
HALL OF FAME CLASSIC WINNERS: 2000-Jeremy Sherman, 2001-Tony Jones, 2002-Damion Gardner, 2003-Charles Davis Jr., 2004-Mike Kirby, 2005-Damion Gardner, 2006-Jeremy Sherman, 2007-Danny Sheridan, 2008-Cancelled, 2009-Not Held, 2010-Not Held, 2011-Bryan Clauson, 2012-Mike Martin, 2013-Chase Stockon, 2014-Bryan Clauson, 2015-Mike Spencer, 2016-R.J. Johnson, 2017-R.J. Johnson, 2018-Damion Gardner.
2019 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 3-Damion Gardner, 2-Brody Roa, 2-Hunter Schuerenberg, 2-Jake Swanson, 2-Richard Vander Weerd, 2-Austin Williams, 1-Josh Hodges, 1-Chase Johnson, 1-Austin Liggett, 1-Troy Rutherford.
SAN TAN VALLEY AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 2-Chris Windom, 1-Tyler Courtney, 1-Damion Gardner, 1-Justin Grant, 1-Thomas Meseraull, 1-Chase Stockon, 1-Jake Swanson.
AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Damion Gardner-1142, 2. Austin Williams-1083, 3. Brody Roa-1063, 4. Jake Swanson-975, 5. Chris Gansen-757, 6. Tommy Malcolm-666, 7. Matt McCarthy-608, 8. Charles Davis Jr.-592, 9. Danny Faria Jr.-583, 10. Eddie Tafoya Jr. ®-549, 11. Richard Vander Weerd-508, 12. Steve Hix ®-505, 13. R.J. Johnson-499, 14. Cody Williams-495, 15. Mike Martin-477, 16. Austin Liggett-453, 17. Verne Sweeney-391, 18. Jace Vander Weerd-351, 19. Stevie Sussex-350, 20. A.J. Bender-307.
SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Brody Roa-775, 2. R.J. Johnson-743, 3. Stevie Sussex-701, 4. Charles Davis Jr.-658, 5. Mike Martin-613, 6. Jake Swanson-470, 7. Matt Lundy-427, 8. Matt Rossi-413, 9. Chris Bonneau-362, 10. Michael Curtis-357, 11. Austin Williams-324, 12. Damion Gardner-269, 13. Josh Hodges-202, 14. Jonas Reynolds-201, 15. Isaac Chapple-200, 16. Dennis Gile-199, 17. Hunter Schuerenberg-197, 18. Daylin Perreira-194, 19. Tommy Malcolm-190, 20. Matt McCarthy-152.
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 (Winner: Brody Roa)
April 13: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Richard Vander Weerd)
May 4: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Winner: Troy Rutherford)
May 11: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA (Winner: Damion Gardner)
May 25: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Hunter Schuerenberg)
June 29: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Richard Vander Weerd)
July 6: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Winner: Brody Roa)
July 13: #Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Damion Gardner)
August 17: #Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Jake Swanson)
August 31: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Winner: Austin Williams)
September 1: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Winner: Jake Swanson)
September 2: Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, CA (Winner: Chase Johnson)
September 6: Merced Speedway – Merced, CA (Winner: Austin Liggett)
September 7: Santa Maria Raceway – Santa Maria, CA (Winner: Damion Gardner)
September 21: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Austin Williams)
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.