May 23, 2025 (Perris, California)………Memorial Day weekend is approaching fast and that means that the Avanti Windows & Doors USAC CRA Sprint Cars will head to Perris Auto Speedway for the “Salute to Indy.”
Noted as one of the oldest sprint car races in the country, the Saturday, May 24th event promoted by Don Kazarian and presented by Heimark Distributors / Anheuser Busch will also feature the PAS Senior Sprint Cars, PAS Young Gun Sprint Cars, PASSCAR Street Stocks, and PASSCAR American Factory Stocks.
Located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California, the Spectator Gates will open at 5:00pm 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:
- ALL RACERS MUST PURCHASE THEIR USAC LICENSE / MEMBERSHIPS ONLINE PRIOR TO THE EVENT AT WWW.USACRACING.COM OR WWW.USACLICENSE.COM. (If racers have a membership question, contact Julie Tanaka at julietanaka@aol.com.)
- 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.
- TIRE RULE: Hoosier tires ARE REQUIRED ON ALL FOUR CORNERS of the car.
- 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.
- MUFFLER RULE: Mufflers ARE REQUIRED at Perris Auto Speedway.
- RULE BOOK: The series rule book is online at www.usacracing.com.
In 1948, Dempsey Wilson claimed the checkered flags at the inaugural “Salute to Indy” with the original California Racing Association (CRA). The event would enjoy a long and storied history but faded away when Ascot Park closed after the 1990 season. When Perris Auto Speedway opened their doors in 1996, the Riverside County oval brought the tradition back and NASCAR driver J.J. Yeley scored the victory. Last year, veteran driver Matt Mitchell topped his third “Salute to Indy” victory over the prestigious race over R.J. Johnson, “The Pride of Garden Grove” Brody Roa, Logan Williams, and A.J. Bender. The win list for this historic race is at the bottom of the release.
Entering the ninth championship round of 2025, Perris Auto Speedway has hosted 260 USAC CRA Sprint Car events since March 6, 2004. In all, forty-seven drivers have claimed victory at their “home track,” led by ten-time champion, “The Demon” Damion Gardner with fifty-one triumphs. During this season, point leader Ricky Lewis and 2024 Rookie of the Year, David Gasper took the checkered flags at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds while rain claimed the April 26th contest. Nic Faas set the 1-lap track record of 15.833 on February 25, 2012 and the complete Perris USAC CRA win list is at the end of this release.
Ricky Lewis of Oxnard, California leads the point chase by 16 markers over the competition. On May 3rd, the young driver raced the May Motorsports’ #8M RDM Mechanics, Keen Concrete machine to a seventh place finish at Santa Maria. As this writing goes to press, Lewis has four feature wins, two heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 102 feature laps led in the campaign. With eight career USAC CRA wins, Ricky primarily races in the Midwest and might miss the “Salute to Indy.”
Defending champion, R.J. Johnson of Laveen, Arizona ranks second in the chase for the USAC CRA championship. Driving the Petty Performance Racing #33P Avanti Windows & Doors / Apache Transport entry, Johnson placed fifth at Santa Maria Speedway after setting a new track record. To date, the multi-time Arizona Sprint Car Champion has three Woodland Auto Display / WC Friend Company Access Systems Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, six top-10 finishes, and 3 feature laps led on the year. Currently tied with “The Macho Man” Brady Bacon, “Dynamite” David Cardey, and Richard Vander Weerd with nine wins, R.J. will have his sights on adding the “Salute to Indy” to his resume.
After finishing third at Santa Maria, A.J. Bender of San Diego, California has climbed to third in the championship standings. At press time, the driver of the family owned #21 Bender Pool & Spa / Matrix Construction Services DRC has three heat race victories, one hard charger award, and five top-10 finishes to his credit. The former USAC Western States Midget Rookie of the Year will be looking for his second career USAC CRA triumph this Saturday night.
After charging from tenth to sixth at Santa Maria, David Gasper of Goleta, California has risen to fourth in the USAC CRA championship points. Piloting the Kittle Motorsports / Gasper Racing #18 Art Klee / Valley Precision Products DRC, Gasper has two feature wins, one Woodland Auto Display / WC Friend Company Access Systems Fast Time Award, one heat race victory, one Factory Wraps Semi-Main win, five top-10 finishes, and 57 feature laps led in the campaign. Last season’s rookie of the year is tied with Max Adams, Darren Hagen, Chase Johnson, C.J. Leary, Kevin Swindell, and Chris Windom with four USAC CRA wins and will be a favorite to watch at Perris Auto Speedway.
“The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams of Yorba Linda, California sits fifth in the USAC CRA point chase. Racing the Tom & Christy Dunkel #17W Inland Rigging / Maxima Oil DRC, Williams earned best passing job honors at Santa Maria with a seventeenth to eighth place run. As this writing goes to press, the 2009 Co-Rookie of the Year has posted one heat race victory, one hard charger award, and eight top-10 finishes on the season. The middle son of Hall of Fame driver “The Ripper” Rip Williams is tied with Matt Mitchell with eleven career USAC CRA wins and will have his sights on his third “Salute to Indy” triumph.
Austin’s older brother, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams is tied for fifth in the championship points. Driving his #44 WC Friend Company Access Systems / Get-Er Done Racing DRC, Williams raced from seventh to fourth in the May 3rd feature. At press time, the 2008 National Non-Wing Co-Rookie of the Year has two Woodland Auto Display / WC Friend Company Access Systems Fast Time Awards, one heat race victory, and five top-10 finishes to his credit. “The Cadillac” is tied with “Sunshine” Tyler Courtney and Garrett Hansen with five career wins and will be looking for his second “Salute to Indy” victory.
Brody Wake of Lake Havasu City, Arizona leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors over Connor Lundy, Dayton Shelton, Connor Speir, Brecken Guerrero, Cole Wakim, Lonnie Oliver, Blake Hendricks, Caleb Stelzig, Colt Treharn, Lonnie Hochstetler, and Justin Kierce.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Tommy “Thunder” Malcolm, Logan Williams, Blake Bower, Logan Calderwood, “The Pride of Garden Grove” Brody Roa, Eddie Tafoya Jr., Verne Sweeney, Braden Chiaramonte, Elexa Herrera, “Shugah” Shane Sexton, Jeff Dyer, Gary Marshall Jr., Grant Sexton, Brent Sexton, and more.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California. General admission tickets (13 & over) are $35, Senior tickets (65 & over) are $30, Kids tickets (6 to 12) are $10, and Children (5 and under) are FREE. The Lake Perris Fairgrounds charges $20 for parking. Advance tickets are available online for an additional fee, and for more event information, visit the track’s website at www.perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
The Avanti Windows & Doors USAC CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Factory Wraps, The Gardner Family (In Memory of Jim and Chet Gardner), In Honor of Wiley Miller Sr. & Wiley Miller II, Sexton Fire Protection, Silbermann Solar, WC Friend Company Access Systems, and Woodland Auto Display for their support.
For more information on the Avanti Windows & Doors USAC CRA Sprint Car Series, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com and the social media for USAC Racing. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC CRA Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS 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-Damion Gardner, 2023-Brody Roa, 2024-R.J. Johnson.
"SALUTE TO INDY" WINNERS: 1948-Dempsey Wilson, 1949-Bob Denny, 1950-NO RACE, 1951-NO RACE, 1952-Colby Scroggin, 1953-Bob Denny, 1954-Harry Stockman, 1955-Rosie Roussel, 1956-Art Bisch, 1957-Ray Clark, 1958-Bud Rose, 1959-Roy Prosser, 1960-NO RACE, 1961-Jack Brunner, 1962-Colby Scroggin, 1963-Billy Cantrell, 1964-Hal Minyard, 1965-NO RACE, 1966-Bruce Walkup, 1967-Bob Hogle, 1968-Billy Wilkerson, 1969-Billy Wilkerson, 1970-NO RACE, 1971-Dick Zimmerman / Don Hamilton, 1972-Billy Wilkerson, 1973-Billy Wilkerson, 1974-Jimmy Oskie, 1975-Clark Templeman, 1976-Mike Shaw, 1977-John Redican, 1978-Dean Thompson / Tony Simon, 1979-Bobby Olivero, 1980-Bubby Jones / Dean Thompson / Dean Thompson, 1981-Dean Thompson / Dean Thompson, 1982-Dean Thompson / Bubby Jones, 1983-Rip Williams / Bubby Jones, 1984-Bubby Jones, 1985-Eddie Wirth, 1986-Bubby Jones, 1987-Mike Sweeney, 1988-Lealand McSpadden, 1989-Brad Noffsinger, 1990-Ron Shuman, 1991-NO RACE, 1992-NO RACE, 1993-NO RACE, 1994-NO RACE, 1995-NO RACE, 1997-Cory Kruseman, 1998-Mike Kirby, 1999-Troy Rutherford, 2000-Richard Griffin, 2001-Cory Kruseman, 2002-Mike Kirby, 2003-Damion Gardner, 2004-Damion Gardner, 2005-Cory Kruseman, 2006-Tony Jones, 2007-Blake Miller, 2008-RAIN, 2009-Blake Miller, 2010-David Cardey, 2011-Matt Mitchell, 2012-Mike Spencer, 2013-Matt Mitchell, 2014-Damion Gardner, 2015-Richard Vander Weerd, 2016-Austin Williams, 2017-Damion Gardner, 2018-Austin Williams, 2019-Hunter Schuerenberg, 2020-CANCELLED, 2021-Brody Roa, 2022-Cody Williams, 2023-Tommy Malcolm, 2024-Matt Mitchell. (Some events were two day shows or twin main events.)
2025 AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 4-Ricky Lewis, 2-David Gasper, 1-Kaleb Montgomery, 1-Jake Swanson.
PERRIS AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC CRA 1-LAP QUALIFYING RECORD: Nic Faas – 15.833 (02/25/12)
PERRIS AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC CRA SPRINT CAR WINS: 51-Damion Gardner, 24-Mike Spencer, 19-Tony Jones, 17-Cory Kruseman, 10-Matt Mitchell, 9-Nic Faas, 8-David Cardey, 8-Richard Vander Weerd, 7-Brody Roa, 7-Rip Williams, 6-Bryan Clauson, 6-Justin Grant, 6-Mike Kirby, 6-Danny Sheridan, 6-Austin Williams, 5-Brady Bacon, 5-Robert Ballou, 5-Rickie Gaunt, 4-Dave Darland, 4-Charles Davis Jr., 4-R.J. Johnson, 4-Tommy Malcolm, 3-Garrett Hansen, 3-Kevin Thomas Jr., 2-David Gasper, 2-Darren Hagen, 2-Jesse Hockett, 2-Levi Jones, 2-C.J. Leary, 2-Ricky Lewis, 1-Blake Miller, 2-Jake Swanson, 2-Cody Williams, 2-Chris Windom, 1-A.J. Bender, 1-Chad Boespflug, 1-Greg Bragg, 1-Daron Clayton, 1-Josh Ford, 1-Josh Hodges, 1-Bud Kaeding, 1-Adam Mitchell, 1-Johnny Rodriguez, 1-Hunter Schuerenberg, 1-Chase Stockon, 1-Scotty Weir, 1-Jason York.
2025 AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Ricky Lewis-524, 2. R.J. Johnson-508, 3. A.J. Bender-440, 4. David Gasper-434, 5. Austin Williams-433, --. Cody Williams-433, 7. Charles Davis Jr.-380, 8. Tommy Malcolm-378, 9. Logan Williams-344, 10. Blake Bower-327, 11. Jake Swanson-299, 12. Brody Wake-293, 13. Logan Calderwood-286, 14. Connor Lundy-278, 15. Brody Roa-247, 16. Eddie Tafoya Jr.-236, 17. Verne Sweeney-225, 18. Braden Chiaramonte-204, 19. Elexa Herrera-182, 20. Dayton Shelton-164.
2025 AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
February 15: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (RAIN)
February 22: Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, AZ (Winner: Jake Swanson)
March 1: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: Ricky Lewis)
March 14: Imperial Valley Raceway – Imperial, CA (Winner: Ricky Lewis)
March 15: Imperial Valley Raceway – Imperial, CA (Winner: Ricky Lewis)
April 5: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Winner: David Gasper)
April 11: Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ Winner: Ricky Lewis)
April 12: Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ (Winner: David Gasper)
April 26: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (RAIN)
May 3: Santa Maria Speedway – Nipomo, CA (Winner: Kaleb Montgomery)
May 24: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Salute to Indy)
June 21: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
July 5: Santa Maria Speedway – Nipomo, CA
July 19: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
August 16: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
August 30: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
August 31: Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA (Louie Vermeil Classic)
September 6: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
September 27: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
October 4: Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, AZ
October 18: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
October 24: *Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ (Western World Championships)
October 25: *Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 1: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
November 8: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC National Sprint Cars.
This schedule is subject to change.
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