1/2/2019
2019 USAC/CRA Sprint Care Schedule Featcures 24 Dates at 10 Tracks
Entering their sixteenth season, the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will have twenty-four events at ten racetracks in 2019. Starting at Canyon Speedway Park on March 8th with the “Spring Showcase,” the champion will be crowned at Arizona Speedway’s November 16th finale of the “52nd Western World Championships.” The traditional 410 sprint cars are poised for another competitive season and the popular “6th Annual California Sprint Week” mini-series remains a highlight on the calendar.
Promoted by Doug Gabbard, Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Arizona will open the calendar on March 8th and 9th. Co-sanctioned with the Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest 410 Sprint Cars, the “2nd Annual Spring Showcase” will be a battle for bragging rights at the 1/3-mile oval. Last season, 7-time champion “The Demon” Damion Gardner took the opener of the “Spring Showcase” while rain cancelled the following night. Bryan Clauson leads all drivers with five Peoria victories and “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland set the 1-lap track record of 13.072 on November 15, 2014. Canyon Speedway Park is located at 9777 West Carefree Highway and for more details, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or call 602.258.RACE (7223).
Located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds, Perris Auto Speedway will host ten races on the schedule. Promoted by Don Kazarian, “America’s Premier Dirt Track” continues to showcase events like the “So-Cal Showdown” with the World of Outlaws on March 30th, the April 13th “Sokola Shootout,” the May 25th “Salute to Indy,” and the "Glenn Howard Classic" on September 21st. The Arizona based USAC SouthWest Sprints will clash with USAC/CRA on July 13th, the August 17th “California Racers Hall of Fame Night," and November’s prestigious “24th Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction” along with the USAC National Sprint Cars. Last season, USAC National driver Justin Grant earned four Perris 1/2-mile victories and other “home track” wins were claimed by Damion Gardner (2), Austin Williams (2), and Kevin Thomas Jr. won the $25,000 Oval Nationals for the second consecutive year. Gardner leads all USAC/CRA drivers with forty-five Perris wins and Nic Faas set the 1-lap track record of 15.833 on February 25, 2012. Perris Auto Speedway is located at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California and for more information, visit www.perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
Located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds, Jim Naylor’s Ventura Raceway will showcase the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Cars on May 4th. Last season, Brody Roa topped a special 40-lap feature and claimed his first series win at the 1/5-mile oval. 2006 Champion “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman leads all USAC/CRA drivers with six wins at “The Best Little Dirt Track in America” and “The Bullet” Blake Miller set the series track record of 11.675 on October 25, 2008. Ventura Raceway is located at 10 West Harbor Boulevard in Ventura, California and for more details, visit www.venturaraceway.com or call 805.648.RACE (7223).
Bakersfield Speedway returns to the AMSOIL USAC/CRA calendar on May 11th. Promoted by Scott Schweitzer, “The West’s Fastest 1/3-Mile High Banked Clay Oval” last featured the non-winged 410s on April 15, 2017 and “The Demon” Damion Gardner scored the win. “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman tops all USAC/CRA drivers with two Bakersfield wins and Gardner set the track record of 12.356 on March 12, 2005. Bakersfield Speedway is located at 5001 North Chester Extension in Bakersfield, California and for more information, visit www.bakersfieldspeedway.com or call 661.393.3373.
Promoted by Nick Duggan, the popular Santa Maria Raceway will host two nights on the schedule. The traditional 410 sprints will headline the July 6th “Doug Fort Memorial” and the finale of “California Sprint Week” on September 7th. Last season, Brody Roa won the “Fort Memorial” and Max Adams returned to victory circle at the fast 1/3-mile oval. Ryan Bernal leads all drivers with three Santa Maria triumphs and “The Bullet” Blake Miller set the track record of 13.230 on June 14, 2008. Santa Maria Raceway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo, California and for more details, visit www.santamariaraceway.com or call 310.493.4900.
Located on the Napa County Fairgrounds, the scenic Calistoga Speedway will open the “6th Annual California Sprint Week” on August 31st with two nights of action. Promoted by Tommy Hunt and HMC Promotions, the "12th Annual Louie Vermeil Classic" will also feature the winged King of the West NARC Sprint Cars, vintage cars, an autograph session, auctions, wine tasting, and more. Last season, “The Demon” Damion Gardner and Colby Copeland took the checkered flags at the big 1/2-mile oval. Gardner, Ryan Bernal, and Rico Abreu are tied with three Calistoga wins and Bernal set the track record of 18.869 on September 3, 2017. Calistoga Speedway is located at 1435 North Oak Street in Calistoga, California and for more information, visit www.calistogaspeedway.org, or call 916.773.7225.
Promoted by Rick Faeth, Petaluma Speedway will host the third round of “California Sprint Week” for a rare Monday night race on September 2nd. Last season, Ryan Bernal added his name to the record books at “The Fastest 3/8-mile Dirt Oval in Northern California” and tightened the chase for the mini-series crown. At press time, 5-Time Champion Mike Spencer leads all series drivers with two victories at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds and Jake Swanson set the track record of 13.457 on September 7, 2015. Petaluma Speedway is located at 100 Fairgrounds Drive in Petaluma, California and for more details, visit www.petaluma-speedway.com or call 707.763.RACE (7223).
On Thursday, September 5th, the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will make their first appearance at Merced Speedway. Promoted by Chris Shannon and Paul Stone, the fourth round of “California Sprint Week” will also feature Non-Winged Micro Sprints, Hobby Stocks, and Mini Stocks. Regularly hosting an array of local stock car and modified classes, the 1/4-mile oval at the Merced County Fairgrounds has also featured BCRA Midgets and the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars. Merced Speedway is located at 900 Martin Luther King Way in Merced, California and for more information, visit www.racemerced.com or call 209.383.7799.
Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway will host the fifth round of “California Sprint Week” on Friday, September 6th. Promoted by John Prentice, the 1/4-mile oval at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds is a fan favorite. Last season, Brody Roa earned his third win of the campaign at Watsonville that helped propel him to the “California Sprint Week” title. To date, Mike Spencer leads all drivers with three Ocean wins and “The Demon” Damion Gardner set the track record of 12.500 on September 5, 2014. Ocean Speedway is located at 2601 E. Lake Avenue in Watsonville, California and for more details, visit www.racepmg.com/oceanspeedway or call 831.688.RACE (7223).
Arizona Speedway in San Tan Valley, Arizona has three nights on the 2019 schedule. Promoted by Jonah Trussel, the September 28th “Hall of Fame Classic” is co-sanctioned with the USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars. Starting November 15th, the fast 1/3-mile oval will host the prestigious “52nd Annual Western World Championships” for two nights of action with the USAC/CRA, USAC National, and USAC SouthWest Sprints along with the USAC National and Western States Midgets. Last season, Jake Swanson, “The Demon” Damion Gardner, Justin Grant, and “Sunshine” Tyler Courtney celebrated wins at San Tan Valley and “The Hanford Hornet” Chad Boespflug set the track record of 14.625 on November 5, 2016. Arizona Speedway is located within ET Motopark at 47800 N. Ironwood Road and for more information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
The USAC Western Awards Banquet will be held Saturday, February 16th at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Open to all USAC/CRA Sprint, USAC West Coast Sprint, USAC SouthWest Sprint, USAC Western States Midget, and USAC Speed 2 Western Midget racers, crews, family, friends, and fans, tickets are $75 per person and order forms can be downloaded at www.westcoastsprintcars.com/banquet.pdf. Orders must be received by February 11th and the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino is located at 129 East Fremont Street. For more room reservation information (Group Code: GSUSACW), call 800.331.5731.
The AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, All Coast Construction, BR Motorsports, Bullet Impressions, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Five Star Grafix, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, King Racing Products, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, 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 in 2019, contact PR Director Lance Jennings at lwjennings@earthlink.net.
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.
Loudpedal Productions has USAC/CRA DVDs and videos on demand available for purchase at www.loudpedal.tv and 805.407.7229.
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.
CALIFORNIA SPRINT WEEK CHAMPIONS: 2014-Damion Gardner, 2015-Ryan Bernal, 2016-Damion Gardner, 2017-Damion Gardner, 2018-Brody Roa.
2018 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 5-Damion Gardner, 5-Justin Grant, 3-Brody Roa, 2-Austin Williams, 1-Max Adams, 1-Ryan Bernal, 1-Colby Copeland, 1-Tyler Courtney, 1-Chase Johnson, 1-Austin Liggett, 1-Jake Swanson, 1-Kevin Thomas Jr., 1-Jace Vander Weerd.
2019 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE-TRACK-LOCATION
February 16: #Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, NV (Awards Banquet)
March 8: #Canyon Speedway- Peoria, AZ (Spring Showcase)
March 9: #Canyon Speedway- Peoria, AZ (Spring Showcase)
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: Merced Speedway - Merced, CA (CSW)
September 6: Ocean Speedway - Watsonville, 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)
Article Credit: Lance Jennings
