From Lance Jennings
CALISTOGA, CA (September 5, 2026) — After a hard fought battle with Ryan Bernal during the closing laps, J.J. Yeley of Phoenix, Arizona emerged victorious at Calistoga Speedway’s opening night of the “15th Louie Vermeil Classic.” For Yeley, the $5,000 triumph was his second career Avanti Windows & Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Car victory and second opening night win at the Calistoga Fairgrounds.
Driving the Petty Performance Racing owned #3P Quick Change Liquid Energy Drink / Avanti Windows & Doors Sherman, Yeley also earned an extra $350 hard charger / “best passing job” bonus courtesy of Shane Scott and Steve Lafond Photos. The former USAC Triple Crown winner started seventh in the field after claiming the night’s First 12-lap Qualifier Race sponsored by Sexton Fire Protection.
While Yeley was thirteenth quick in time trials, it was Jadon Rogers that sat atop the Woodland Auto Display qualifications for the first time in his career. Making his first start in the Chase Johnson Racing #24 Price Family Dealerships / Toyota Maxim, the Worthington, Indiana driver turned in a time of 19.681 seconds over point leader R.J. Johnson, Logan Seavey, Ryan Bernal, “The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams, and Connor Lundy. The fastest six drivers earned direct transfers to the main event in the new format of the “Vermeil Classic.”
Roseville, California’s Josh Young made his first career start with USAC/CRA and won Calistoga’s Second 12-lap Qualifier Race backed by Roy Miller Freight Lines. The pilot of the Jeff Adell owned #17J Trocadero Club / Brace Mufflers & Welding Spike would later score thirteenth in the 30-lap feature.
Starting second, “The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams led the first thirteen laps of the “Vermeil Classic.” Following a restart after a failed rear-end retired Jadon Rogers from the feature, Connor Lundy took command after powering by teammates Williams and Bernal. The 2025 rookie of the year led the next five circuits until R.J. Johnson led the twentieth lap. Bernal was in control of the next six laps and then Yeley led the final four.
Justyn Cox won the winged 360 sprint car main event.
Louie Vermeil Classic
Calistoga Speedway
Calistoga, California
Saturday, September 5, 2026
USAC / CRA Sprint Car Series
USAC/CRA Qualifying
1. 24-Jaden Rogers, 19.681
2. 1P-RJ Johnson, 19.817
3. 57A-Logan Seavey, 19.875
4. 17-Ryan Bernal, 19.919
5. 17W-Austin Williams, 19.940
6. 97-Connor Lundy, 20.043
7. 18-David Gasper, 20.120
8. 63-Frankie Guerrini, 20.132
9. 83T-Tanner Carrick, 20.149
10. 17J-Josh Young, 20.246
11. 57-Connor Speir, 20.264
12. 3M-Marty Hawkins, 20.295
13. 3P-JJ Yeley, 20.325
14. 91R-Brody Roa, 20.351
15. 17X-Cole Wakim, 20.642
16. 1-Nate Schank, 20.761
17. 29T-Ryan Timmons, 20.907
18. 39-Jeff Dyer, 21.087
19. 98-Verne Sweeney, 21.164
20. 98B-Brecken Guerrero, 21.206
USAC/CRA Qualifier #1 (12 Laps)
1. 3P-JJ Yeley[4]
2. 18-David Gasper[1]
3. 83T-Tanner Carrick[2]
4. 17X-Cole Wakim[5]
5. 57-Connor Speir[3]
6. 98-Verne Sweeney[7]
7. 29T-Ryan Timmons[6]
USAC/CRA Qualifier #2 (12 Laps)
1. 17J-Josh Young[2]
2. 91R-Brody Roa[4]
3. 63-Frankie Guerrini[1]
4. 1-Nate Schank[5]
5. 3M-Marty Hawkins[3]
6. 98B-Brecken Guerrero[7]
7. 39-Jeff Dyer[6]
USAC/CRA-Main (30 Laps)
1. 3P-JJ Yeley[7]
2. 1P-RJ Johnson[5]
3. 97-Connor Lundy[1]
4. 18-David Gasper[9]
5. 17W-Austin Williams[2]
6. 91R-Brody Roa[10]
7. 17-Ryan Bernal[3]
8. 83T-Tanner Carrick[11]
9. 57A-Logan Seavey[4]
10. 17X-Cole Wakim[13]
11. 1-Nate Schank[14]
12. 57-Connor Speir[15]
13. 17J-Josh Young[8]
14. 98B-Brecken Guerrero[18]
15. 98-Verne Sweeney[17]
16. 63-Frankie Guerrini[12]
17. 3M-Marty Hawkins[16]
18. 24-Jaden Rogers[6]
19. 29T-Ryan Timmons[19]
DNS: 39-Jeff Dyer
Winged 360 Sprint Cars
Wing Sprints Feature (25 Laps)
1. 42X-Justyn Cox[2]
2. 17W-Austin Williams
3. 46JR-Joel Myers Jr[3]
4. 7C-Colby Copeland[7]
5. 88N-DJ Netto[5]
6. 2A-Austin Wood[8]
7. 83T-Tanner Carrick[6]
8. 92-Andy Forsberg[10]
9. 121-Caeden Steele[12]
10. 2D-Luke Hayes[11]
11. 35-Sean Becker[14]
12. 9F-Dustin Freitas[16]
13. 26-Billy Aton[20]
14. 12J-John Clark[17]
15. 21-Shane Hopkins[13]
16. 67-Brock Britton[15]
17. 94-Greg Decaires V[9]
18. X1-Chance Grasty[4]
19. 71-Walter Ball[18]
DNS: 17G-Shane Golobic
DNS: 17BP-Elijah Gile