USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS 250th RACE AT PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY IS THIS SATURDAY By Scott Daloisio (Perris, CA, February 20, 2024) After a two-week delay due to opening night getting flooded out on February 10th, Perris Auto Speedway will kick off its 28th season this Saturday night, February 24th. Saturday’s program, which will be headlined by the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA 410 Sprint Cars, will be a historic one at the track. The race will be the 250th in series history at The PAS and it will also be the beginning of the 20th season for the popular sprint car club. Joining the powerful 410 sprint cars on the night of racing and clean family fun will be the GAS Chassis Young Gun Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints, and the PASSCAR Super and Street Stocks. The deluge of rain two weeks ago left the infield of the famous Riverside County half-mile clay oval looking more like Lake Perris that lurks just behind the tracks back straightaway. The track crew diligently pumped water out of the facility but could not get enough out and the track dried before the scheduled Night of Destruction presented by LKQ Pick Your Part. In the end, promoter Don Kazarian was forced to cancel that program. “We hated having to cancel the season-opening Night of Destruction,” Kazarian said. “We tried, but with that much rain, there was nothing we could do. With a few more inches of water in the infield, we probably could have raced boats. We finally got rid of the water and things dried out. We had cars on the track practicing the past two days and we will be ready to go with the sprint car, super stock and street stock opener this week.” While Kazarian and everyone at the track affectionately known as “The PAS” to its legion of fans was sad the February 10th event had to be canceled, they are very excited to be hosting the USAC/CRA Series 20th season opener. When the series was born in 2004, the first race was held at the track with Mike Kirby driving a Glenn Crossno car to the win. “We are pleased that the series opener is back at The PAS,” Kazarian stated. “We have been the home track to the series since day one and this will be the 250th USAC/CRA race at The PAS. It is the beginning of what we believe will be a very special year of racing. USAC/CRA has always supplied great racing and we expect that to continue this season. Tony Jones has done a great job securing a lot of extra money for the teams to race for in 2024. The action should be intense throughout the year.” 2024 will be a huge year for the series as Jones, the 2007 USAC/CRA champion, has labored hard to put more money in the pockets of the race teams and has drummed up nearly $60,000.00. That $60,000.00 is in addition to the normal series race purses! It will be handed out to the teams throughout the year and the season-long point fund. Working hard to ensure 410 non-wing racing grows on the West Coast, Jones hopes the extra incentives will pull more drivers and cars into the top non-wing sprint car series west of the Mississippi. “With Avanti Windows and Doors coming on board, plus Sexton Fire Protection and Woodland and all of the returning sponsors, we are going to have close to $60,000.00 for the racers. That is what excites me,” the fifth-year series director said. “It is going to be pretty much everything. Fast time awards, contingencies, and we may do some special awards for heat races. Avanti is putting an extra $500.00 cash to the winner of each main event. At the end of the year, we have $20,000.00 from Avanti to put towards the points. Plus the United States Auto Club puts in $10,000.00. So right there, you have $30,000.00 in point fund money. Plus whatever is left (from fast times, heat races, etc) will be put towards the point fund.” A lot goes into overseeing a series and Jones is very cognizant of what it takes to get cars onto the track and keep them coming back. Having been there and done that, he takes into account not only the teams but the tracks and fans as well. “This was all new to me, being on this end of it,” the 2000 Oval Nationals champion stated. “Seeing what all it takes to put a 30-race schedule together, it is pretty tough. Especially when you have the Central Valley with four or five tracks within two hours of each other. It is hard to schedule races there. We try to go to Arizona. Hopefully, we will open up some doors over there this year with how we are expanding and getting stronger. We are thankful for our home track, Perris Auto Speedway. They gave us 10 races this year and we are getting a few others here and there. I would love to have more. Next year is going to be a little bit different with gas prices and stuff. Maybe we can travel a little more up north and maybe put a sprint week together again.” “You figure every time these teams fill their toter homes up, you are looking at $300.00 or $400.00,” Jones went on. “That is why I try to keep these guys close. I do not have a racetrack beyond four hours from where we are based at. I am really conscious about that. It is hard for them to travel. We go over to Yuma; we are looking at three or four hours. Go north to Santa Maria, three or four hours. Without sponsors and help, it is tough for these guys to get up and down the road sometimes.” The first race of the 2024 campaign will take the green flag at 7:00 p.m. Spectator gates will open two hours earlier at 5:00. Adult tickets for the night of exciting dirt track racing action and clean family fun are $30.00. Seniors 65 and over get in for $25.00. For kids 6-12 it is only $5.00, and children 5 and under are admitted free. Advance tickets are available online at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/pas/7. They can also be ordered by phone at 1-800-595-4849. For fans who do not wish to purchase tickets in advance, we will have plenty available at the ticket window on Saturday. The fairgrounds charge $10.00 for parking. Perris Auto Speedway is conveniently located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Boulevard in the City of Perris (92571). Take the 215 freeway. Exit at the Ramona Expressway and go three miles east to the fairgrounds. 2024 Perris Auto Speedway Schedule February 24th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR SPRINTS, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUN SERIES AND PASSCAR SUPER AND STREET STOCKS March 9th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION: DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS March 16th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS PAS SENIOR SPRINTS, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUN SERIES AND PASSCAR STREET AND FACTORY STOCK CARS April 6th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION: DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS April 27th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR SPRINTS, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUN SERIES AND PASSCAR SUPER AND FACTORY STOCKS May 4th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION: DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS May 25th "SALUTE TO INDY" AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR SPRINTS, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUN SERIES AND PASSCAR SUPER AND STREET STOCKS June 1st LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION: DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS June 22nd AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR SPRINTS, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUN SERIES AND PASSCAR STREET AND FACTORY STOCKS July 4th “FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR AND SKY CONCERT” (TENTATIVE) LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION: DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS July 13th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS Senior Sprints, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUNS SERIES, AND PASSCAR SUPER AND FACTORY STOCKS August 10th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION: DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS August 17th CALIFORNIA RACER’S HALL OF FAME NIGHT, AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS Senior Sprints, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUNS SERIES AND PASSCAR SUPER AND STREET STOCKS September 7th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION: DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS September 21st AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS Senior Sprints, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUNS SERIES AND PASSCAR SUPER AND FACTORY STOCKS October 26th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION: DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS November 8th 27TH RUNNING OF THE OVAL NATIONALS Featuring AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR SPRINTS, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUN SERIES AND PASSCAR SUPER, STREET AND FACTORY STOCKS November 9th 27TH RUNNING OF THE OVAL NATIONALS Featuring AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR SPRINTS, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUN SERIES – JERRY DODD CHAMPIONS NIGHT, PASSCAR SUPER, STREET AND FACTORY STOCKS THIS SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Perris Auto Speedway is conveniently located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of the Southern California Fair), one hour east of Los Angeles and one hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, exit on the Ramona Expressway, and go three miles east to the fairgrounds. For directions online, the address to enter is: 18700 Lake Perris Drive and the zip code is 92571. USAC/CRA races from Perris Auto Speedway are not streamed online. Fans can stay up to date on track and driver news on The PAS social media efforts at the links below. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Perris-Auto-Speedway/113876798686480?ref=hl Twitter: Perris Auto Speedway on Twitter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perrisautospeedway/ Website: http://perrisautospeedway.com/ Perris Auto Speedway wants to thank the following corporate partners. Ahern Equipment Rentals, Anderson Chevrolet, Battery Systems, Bud’s Tire, Tire Choice Auto Service, Chris’ Hauling, City of Perris, Communication Innovations, Daytona Boat & RV Storage, Ed Moore Bullet Proof Driveshaft, Flowdynamics, GAS Chassis, HD Industries, Heimark/Anheuser Busch, Hoosier Tires, Inland Rigging, Living Water’s Hospice, LKQ Pick Your Part, Luke’s Transmission, Moose Racing, Pepsi-Cola, Performance Online, Pole Position Raceway, PrintItNow.com, Rainbow Bolt & Supply, Rene’s Bar & Grill, Rugged Radios, Shaver Specialties, Square H, Sunoco Race Fuels, Trench Shoring, Upland Rock, Varner Construction and Vista Paint. For information on 2024 billboard advertising at The PAS, please call 951-940-0134 and ask for Charlie Watson. DVDs of all the PASSCAR/IMCA racing and Nights of Destruction at The PAS are available from Fourvideos. For more information call (714) 225-9500.