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  PERRIS YOUNG GUNS CHAMPION GUERRERO MAKES A BIG STEP UP TO THE USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS
By Scott Daloisio
(Perris, CA, February 10, 2025) In 2013, Perris Auto Speedway promoter Don Kazarian introduced the PAS Young Guns Sprint Car Series. Invented for young drivers with no prior sprint car experience, the idea was to graduate racers into the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Series. Over the years, many drivers have taken the giant leap in class, including past Young Gun Champions and now CRA regulars Logan Williams, Eddie Tafoya Jr., and Stevie Rogers. This year, another Young Guns Champion, Brecken Guerrero, is making the leap to “Big Boy Sprint Car Racing.”


Brecken Guerrero in action at Perris Auto Speedway in 2024. Doug Allen photo.

Guerrero, a high school student who lives in Westminster, California, has been around sprint cars for most of his life. However, last year he jumped into the cockpit for the first time. At the conclusion of the season, he was crowned 2024 Young Guns champion. When Perris Auto Speedway opens its 29th season this Saturday night, Guerrero will receive a championship trophy and a champion’s custom jacket. They will go along nicely with the brand-new GAS Sprint Car chassis he collected from the 2023 series sponsor.


Brecken Guerrero and his crew after one of his 2024 wins at Perris Auto Speedway. Doug Allen Photo.

On Tuesday evening, the well-spoken teen gave a pleasant interview about his upbringing around sprint cars, his championship season, expectations for this year and the future, and his life off the track.

PAS: The first obvious question is, how old are you?

Guerrero: I am only 17 years old, and last year when I was racing, I was 16. I am a Junior at Marina High School down in Huntington Beach.

PAS: How did you get involved in the sprint car racing world?

Guerrero: Verne (veteran USAC/CRA racer Verne Sweeney) is technically my stepdad. He is my dad, and he has been around since I was three. Racing has been the love of my life ever since. I was sitting up in the grandstands and then going down to the pits. Now I am racing. We had been wanting me to go down to the pits because it would be cool to experience. We saw one of Gansen’s (USAC/CRA driver Chris Gansen) kids in the pits. We talked to the owners of Perris and they said I was allowed to go down there.

PAS: How old were you when you first went down there?

Guerrero: Oh, shoot, I don’t remember. Still in the single digits probably. I was down there spectating and cleaning it (the car). Rubbing off some mud.

PAS: As a little kid, did you dream that one day you would be on the track racing?

Guerrero: When I was a little kid, I seen my dad race and heard all of these great stories. I always wanted to do it. Now that I am starting to race, it is actually unbelievable. It really is.

PAS: Did you race anything before last season?

Guerrero: Last year was my first year racing anything. I had no micro experience. Nothing.

PAS: How nerve-racking was it the first time you got in the sprint car? It is not like wheeling a used Volkswagen down the street.

Guerrero: No, not at all. At first, it is a little intimidating but you kind of learn to calm down your nerves. You learn the car and it gets easier.

PAS: How were your mom and Verne’s nerves when you first went out?

Guerrero: Oh my gosh! My mom was a nervous wreck I have to assume. Verne played it off cool and collected, but there was definitely a nervous pit crew that night.

PAS: Your mom is technically your car owner, right?

Guerrero: Mom is technically the car owner, yes.

PAS: So, did she have any advice, like if you do not bring it back in one piece, you will not get to race it again?

Guerrero: It is really mine and Verne’s, but if I flipped it again, she probably would not let me drive one. So, I try to keep all four wheels on the ground.

PAS: You said, “If I flipped it again.” I remember you flipping, and it was rather hard. How did that happen?

Guerrero: It was my second night out. It was a rookie mistake. I tried to pass a guy after the checkered flag around the top. I found out how that ends. That was from a heat race when I was in the back. You learn from it, and you move on. It is all a big learning experience.

PAS: In Verne, you have a guy helping you whose family ties in racing go back over a half-century. His uncle Max Sweeney, cousins Mike Sweeney and Steve Ostling all raced, and cousin Patty married Jac Haudenschild. That has to be a tremendous help when a guy with a racing heritage like that is helping you.

Guerrero: It is awesome. He basically has all of the answers. Working on the cars, he knows everything about them. When we are not working on them, just hearing the stories of Ascot and Manzanita. He is just a cool guy to be around. I have soaked so much of it in.

PAS: Do you have any racing heroes besides Verne?

Guerrero: Oh my gosh! I cannot even name them all! I love the old guys. Leland McSpadden, Ron Shuman, Haudenschild, and all those guys. New young heroes are Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, David Gravel, Brady Bacon, Justin Grant. The list goes on and on.

PAS: You just named some guys who retired before you were born. It sounds like you have a great sense of sprint car racing history.

Guerrero: Oh yeah. With Verne, you get the full history. When I went to the Knoxville Nationals to watch this last year, I actually got to meet Ron Shuman there. That was pretty cool.

PAS: I did not know you went there. Who did you go there with?

Guerrero: I went with my mom. We just went to watch. Verne had to stay back here and work. So, it was just us two.

PAS: A second ago you just mentioned a bunch of winged guys among your favorites. Would you someday like to race winged cars with the World of Outlaws or High Limit?

Guerrero: Yeah, it would be pretty cool. Whatever chance or opportunity I get that comes my way. Hopefully, it’s a good one that I could take, and it will help me down the line and make it my career. Outlaws or National (USAC) Sprint Cars. Either would be pretty cool.

PAS: So, you never raced anything before and you come out and win a championship. What were your keys to victory?

Guerrero: Just showing up and being consistent. In the first couple races, I just showed up and ran laps. As it got towards the end of the season, I ran a little harder and was passing people. I was finishing better, getting more laps, and being more comfortable, really.

PAS: You are starting all over again on Saturday racing with the big boys. 410 Sprint Car Racing is “Big Boy Sprint Car Racing.” Any trepidation or nervousness coming into it, or are you relaxed?

Guerrero: I kind of understand the feel for the car now. Getting to race with a lot more people on the track that go a lot faster with a lot more experience. It is definitely a little bit more nerves. I just try to keep them under control and run my own race and do the best I can.

PAS: How long do you think it will take you to get up to speed with those drivers and do you have any goals?

Guerrero: Hopefully, it will not take too long. My goal is, by midseason to be able to finish comfortably in like, 13th or 14th in midfield.

PAS: Thus far, we have just talked about racing. But that is not the only thing in your life. I have heard you are in the Boy Scouts and you play ice hockey.

Guerrero: I am one rank away from becoming an Eagle Scout. That is pretty exciting. I started in the Cub Scouts when I think I was about five-years-old. I just kept with it all the way through Boy Scouts and now I am almost an Eagle. Going on campouts and meeting new people is really awesome.

PAS: Now let’s talk about my favorite sport. I hear you are a pretty fair hockey player.

Guerrero: I have been playing ice hockey for eight years. I think after this season is done, I am going to be done with hockey so I can focus more on racing. Hockey is great. It gets you athletic and you meet a lot of people. It is just so fun. I play in the high school league organized by the Anaheim Ducks (NHL). A whole bunch of high schools come together to make different teams. We play in Westminster, Lakewood, Anaheim, Irvine.

PAS: That is a really good league you are playing hockey in. How hard will it be for you to give it up?

Guerrero: It is really fun. It will take some time to get used to having a wider schedule. I love hockey. When I get older I will probably play in an adult league just to stay with.

PAS: Man you are busy! Anything else?

Guerrero: Yes, I almost have a black belt in karate. I have been doing that for nine years.

To see Guerrero’s USAC/CRA debut this Saturday, spectator gates at Perris Auto Speedway will open at the normal 5:00 p.m. for the first race of the track’s 29th season of operation. However, racing will start 30 minutes earlier than normal at 6:30.

Tickets for those ages 13 and over are $35.00. Seniors 65 and over get in for $30.00. For kids 6-12, it is $10.00, and children 5 and under are free. The fairgrounds charge $20.00 for parking. Advance tickets, with a small convenience fee, are available online at tix.com or by calling 1-800-595-4849. For fans who do not want to purchase advance tickets, there will be plenty available at the ticket window on race night.

Advance tickets for the first Kubota High Limit Sprint Car Series race at The PAS on March 22nd are available at https://bit.ly/4h1ijAa. Tickets for the September 13th return of the World of Outlaw NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars at The PAS are available at https://bit.ly/42Dssil. 

For the shows headlined by the USAC/CRA, PASSCAR and LKQ Pick Your Part Nights of Destruction, spectators can buy advance tickets at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/pas/7 or by calling 1-800-595-4849.

Perris Auto Speedway 2025 Schedule

February 15th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/ YOUNG GUN SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER, STREET and FACTORY STOCKS (Front Gates open at 5:00 Showtime 6:30)

February 22nd LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS

March 1st AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS PAS SENIOR/ YOUNG GUN SPRINTS, PASSCAR STREET AND FACTORY STOCK CARS

March 15th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS

MARCH 22nd Kubota High Limit Racing, a 410 winged NATIONAL sprint car series owned by NASCAR champion Kyle Larson and five-time World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet. FIRST APPEARANCE AT THE PAS, COME BE A PART OF HISTORY! TICKETS ON SALE SOON.

April 5th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUN SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER AND FACTORY STOCKS

April 12th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS

April 26th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/ YOUNG GUN SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER AND STREET STOCKS

May 3rd LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS

May 24th "SALUTE TO INDY" AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/ YOUNG GUN SPRINTS, PASSCAR STREET AND FACTORY STOCKS

June 14th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS

June 21st AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/ YOUNG GUN SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER AND STREET STOCKS

JUNE 28TH “FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR AND SKY CONCERT” LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS

July 19th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER AND FACTORY STOCKS

July 26th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS

August 9th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS

August 16th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER AND STREET STOCKS

September 6th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINTS, PASSCAR STREET AND FACTORY STOCKS

SEPTEMBER 13TH THE “GREATEST SHOW ON DIRT”! THE WORLD OF OUTLAWS

September 20th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS

September 27th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER AND FACTORY STOCKS

October 18th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER AND STREET STOCKS

October 25th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS

November 8th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINTS, “JERRY DODD CHAMPIONS NIGHT” PASSCAR SUPER, STREET AND FACTORY STOCKS

(Front Gates open at 5:00 - Showtime 6:30)

THIS SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

The PAS is conveniently located on the freeway close Lake Perris Fairgrounds, home of the Southern California Fair, in nearby Riverside County. Take the 215 freeway. Exit at 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.

To keep up with everything happening at The PAS, please visit the track’s social media efforts on Facebook and Instagram and visit the website at perrisautospeedway.com.

The PAS would like to thank all of its 2024 marketing partners.

Avanti Doors and Windows - https://www.avantiwindow.com/
Budweiser- https://us.budweiser.com/
Chris’s Hauling
Ed Pink Racing Engines – edpink.com
Heimark Distributors - https://heimark.com/
Hoosier Tire - https://www.hoosiertire.com/
Jugo Superfoods – https://jugobrands.com/
Living Waters Hospice - https://livingwatershospice.com/
LKQ Pick Your Part - https://www.lkqpickyourpart.com/
Marjon RV’s - https://marjonrvs.com/
Mike’s Produce
Performance Online - https://www.performanceonline.com/
Premier Medical Transportation - https://pmtpremier.com/
Rapid Tire and Automotive – https://rapidtireauto.com/
Rapid Wraps - https://www.rapidwrapsandtint.com/
Sunoco Race Fuels - https://www.sunocoracefuels.com/
Symbiosis - https://symbiosiscare.com/
Trench Shoring - https://www.trenchshoring.com/
Team Stites - https://teamstites.com/
Vista Paint - https://www.vistapaint.com/
Weathertight Roofing - https://weathertightroofing.com/
Wind N Sea Towing - https://windnseatowing.com/

For information on 2025 billboard advertising at The PAS, please call 951-940-0134 and ask for Charlie Watson.

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/ 

The PAS has a segment on Dave Stall’s Racer Radio Show every Sunday afternoon. The show airs from 3:00-5:00 p.m. PST and The PAS segment comes on at 3:30. Fans can listen live online at kcbq.com or 1170 AM on the radio if they are in the San Diego area. Replays are available at http://www.perrisautospeedway.com/radioshow.html.

mailto:perrisautospeedway1@gmail.com is the only authorized Internet address to issue official media news released from The Perris Auto Speedway or Oval Entertainment