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AFTER MINI RETIREMENT CHUCK BECKER IS READY FOR PERRIS SEASON
 By Scott Daloisio

 (Perris, CA, April 7, 2020) To those who have been around the Southern California racing scene for years, the rumor that none of the famous Becker family would be competing in 2020 was preposterous. However, the rumor turned out to be true when Chuck Becker, who had just completed his 40th year of racing, sold both of his racecars and everything that went with them late last year. The three-time Perris Auto Speedway champion’s impending retirement meant 2020 was going to be the first season in over a half-century that no member of the famous racing clan would be turning left on So Cal ovals.

The Becker family tradition in racing goes back to his grandfather, “Pappy” Becker, who got it all started before Chuck was a twinkle in his father’s eyes. “Pappy’s” sons, Chuck Jr., Randy, and Rick, followed in their dad’s footsteps. The third generation of racing Beckers, consisted of Chuck and cousins Randy Jr., Robbie, Ryan, Rickie, Toby, and Derrick. Chuck’s son Brandon, who has competed with his dad at The PAS, represents the fourth generation of Becker’s to race in So Cal.

Last year when Chuck, who drove his first race at Ascot Park in 1979 when he was only 15, made the decision to retire it came as a surprise to many. After all, he won championships at the PAS in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and he still had a lot left in the tank. However, much to the delight of some of the competition who regularly finished behind him, he retired and good times were looming for them. Much to the chagrin of the same competitors, a few short weeks later word began to disseminate that the longtime racer’s retirement was one of the shortest in racing history.

“I was out of it for a little over a month,” Becker laughed. “Maybe five weeks. I got a deal I could not refuse (on another car). Joe Haresky had a pavement car that he traded for a dirt car from Devon Felkner. Obviously, Joe does not need two cars. The car is race ready and he told me he and Randy Thornell would go through it, put a new body on it, prep it, put new belts in it, a containment seat and do everything if I bought it. I could not turn that down.”

Becker had been thinking of getting out of racing for a while. In fact, he had stepped away for a bit before he sold everything because he was not having any fun.

“I was taking stuff to serious,” Becker said from his Yucaipa home. “I was working too hard and it took the fun out of it. I was allowing the pressure to get to me. I needed to back away from it a bit. I think by stepping away some, I realized how much I missed it. But I got an offer on my cars that I could not refuse. So, I sold them.”

While not racing for millions of dollars like those in racing’s major leagues, the pressures and frustrations can still be the same. Once inside the car and turning laps, the racing is fun. However, the car must be ready to race and there are countless hours in the garage getting it prepared to race on a Saturday night. Dealing with other drivers and officials can also supply ample pounds of frustration.

“Racing is a love/hate affair,” the soon to be 56-year-old driver said. “Randy Thornell and I are really close, and we have talked about how it has gotten so irritating on race nights that we have just thought about putting our cars together and renting the track to turn some laps and have a barbecue. That would be a lot of fun, but racing is as well. Now I am looking forward to getting back on the track as soon as we can.’’

Once the season finally gets underway, Becker’s racing plans will see him busy, but not overwhelmed. He plans on racing all the Perris Auto Speedway races. He will probably do a couple at Ventura and possibly some races at Barona and Bakersfield. It all depends on how he likes the car and how it works.

Becker wanted to thank Carpet Station, Huss Trucking, Lucas Oil, Eibach Springs, A First Impression, PRE 2.0, Twisted Chassis, BRT Racing and Ed Moore Driveline for sponsoring him in 2020.

Once the historic 25th Anniversary Season gets back underway at Perris Auto Speedway, the Modifieds, Super Stocks and Street Stocks will all be racing to win a guaranteed $1,000.00 at each event through the end of the year. The American Factory Stocks will be after a $300.00 winner’s paycheck.

To keep up with all the latest Perris Auto Speedway news, photos, gossip and receive special offers, please use the following links:

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Perris Auto Speedway is conveniently located on the SoCal Fair and Event Center (home of October’s Southern California Fair), approximately one-hour east of Los Angeles and one-hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, on the Ramona Expressway and go three miles east to the fairgrounds. For directions on MapQuest, the address to enter is: 18700 Lake Perris Drive and the zip code is 92571.

Perris Auto Speedway wants to thank its corporate partners for the 2019 season. Ahern Equipment Rentals, All Coast Construction, Battery Systems, Budweiser, Bud’s Tire Pro, Chris’ Hauling, City of Perris, Communication Innovations, Daytona Boat & RV Storage, Ed Moore Bullet Proof Driveshaft, Flowdynamics, HD Industries, Hoosier Tires, Inland Rigging, Living Water’s Hospice, LKQ Pick Your Part, Luke’s Transmission, Pepsi-Cola, Pole Position, PrintItNow.com, Rainbow Bolt & Supply, Rugged Radios, Shaver Specialties, Square H, Sunoco Race Fuels, Trench Shoring, Upland Rock, Varner Construction and Vista Paint.

Video and DVD productions of all racing sprint cars events at Perris Auto Speedway are available from Loudpedal Productions. For more information on these productions you can contact them by calling (805) 844-3854, E-mailing mailto:trtruex@gmail.com or you can visit the website LoudPedal Productions.

DVD’s of all the PASSCAR/IMCA racing and Nights of Destruction at The PAS are available from Fourvideos. For more information call (714) 225-9500.

racesatthepas@aol.com is the only authorized Internet address to issue official media news released from The Perris Auto Speedway or Oval Entertainment.