by Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – DECEMBER 16, 2011… Amsoil USAC/CRA Series Director Chris Kearns has released the 2012 schedule. Showcasing twenty-two nights of action, the traditional 410 cubic-inch powered cars will open their campaign at Perris with the “Sokola Shootout” on February 25th. The group will also return to the clay ovals of Hanford, Santa Maria, Watsonville, Calistoga, Chico, and Peoria, Arizona’s Canyon Speedway Park. In 2012, the series will make their debut at Yuma, Arizona’s Cocopah Speedway.
Don Kazarian’s Perris Auto Speedway will host eleven dates on the calendar. The “home track” for USAC/CRA will continue to feature special events like the “Salute To Indy” on May 26th and the “Firecracker 30” on July 4th. The “California Racers Hall of Fame Night” is July 28th, the “Glenn Howard Memorial” will be September 15th, and the two day Budweiser Oval Nationals will start November 2nd. For more information on the Perris shows, visit perrisautospeedway.com.
On May 19th, Scott Woodhouse’s Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway in Hanford will present the USAC/CRA 410 sprints. The Central California facility had a wild feature last May as Bud Kaeding scored the victory after restarting at the back. Nic Faas raced to second from nineteenth and Matt Mitchell finished third after starting thirteenth. For more details on the Hanford event, visit giantchevroletspeedway.com.
Yuma, Arizona’s Cocopah Speedway will showcase the USAC/CRA series for the first time on June 2nd. Now owned by the Cocopah Indian Tribe, the fast 3/8-mile track last featured non-winged 410s on March 6, 1998 when “The Gasman” Richard Griffin won with SCRA. For more information on the Yuma race, visit cocopahspeedway.com.
John Prentice’s Ocean Speedway in Watsonville will feature two dates on the schedule. The Friday night events on June 15th and August 10th are co-sanctioned with the USAC Western Classic Racing Series and will open a special doubleheader with Santa Maria. For more details on the Watsonville shows, visit oceanspeedway.com.
Chris Kearns’ Santa Maria Speedway will showcase two events on the schedule, coming on June 16th and August 11th. Co-sanctioned with the USAC Western Classic Racing Series and the final rounds of a doubleheader with Watsonville, these races could play a key role in the series championship. For more information on the Santa Maria dates, visit racesantamariaspeedway.com.
Starting on September 1st, the scenic Calistoga Speedway will feature the two day Louie Vermeil Classic. Co-sanctioned with the USAC Western Classic Racing Series, the former “home track” of the Northern Auto Racing Club will host an autograph session, auctions, and wine tasting for fans to enjoy. For more details on the Calistoga shows, visit calistogaspeedway.org.
Dennis Gage’s Silver Dollar Speedway will host a rare Wednesday night show for USAC/CRA on September 5th. The popular event during the “Gold Cup Race of Champions” will once again be co-sanctioned with the USAC Western Classic Racing Series. Last season’s race saw Kyle Larson race to victory from fourteenth ahead of “The Wild Child” Jac Haudenschild. For more information on the Chico race, visit silverdollarspeedway.com.
Kevin Montgomery’s Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Arizona will host the two day “Hall of Fame Classic” starting October 26th. Co-sanctioned with the USAC National Series, events at the 3/8-mile facility will showcase local “hot shoes” against the best from the Midwest, California, and New Mexico. For more details on the Canyon events, visit canyonspeedwaypark.com.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series would like to thank 2011 series sponsors Hoosier Tire, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Donovan Engineering, Electro Tech Powder Coating, Extreme Mufflers, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror, Keizer Wheels, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Sander Engineering, and So-Cal Performance for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series for the upcoming 2012 season, please email PR Director Lance Jennings at lwjennings@earthlink.net.
For more information on the USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, please visit usacracing.com or follow the series on facebook.
2012 AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
February 25: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
March 31: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
April 28: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
May 19: Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway – Hanford, CA
May 26: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
June 2: Cocopah Speedway – Yuma, AZ
June 15: **Ocean Speedway – Watsonville, CA
June 16: **Santa Maria Speedway – Santa Maria, CA
July 4: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
July 28: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
August 10: **Ocean Speedway – Watsonville, CA
August 11: **Santa Maria Speedway – Santa Maria, CA
August 18: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
September 1: **Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA
September 2: **Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, CA
September 5: **Silver Dollar Speedway – Chico, CA
September 15: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
October 6: Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
October 26: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ
October 27: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ
November 2: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
November 3: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA
* = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC National Sprints.
** = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC Western Classic Racing Series.
This schedule is subject to change.