PERRIS, Calif. — A.J. Bender started on the pole, but had to battle from behind to win Saturday’s USAC-CRA Sprint Car Series feature at Perris Auto Speedway.
Bender led the first three laps, but gave way to R.J. Johnson on lap four. Bender regained the point on lap 11 and paced two circuits before Johnson regained the point.
Bender led laps 14 through 19, but Johnson inched ahead on lap 20, only to see Bender regain the lead on lap 21 and lead the remainder of the 30-lap event on the half-mile track.
Cody Williams came on strong to finish second, with Tommy Malcolm, Austin Williams and Johnson rounding out the top five.
The finish:
Feature (30 laps): 1. A.J. Bender (1), 2. Cody Williams (4), 3. Tommy Malcolm (2), 4. Austin Williams (16), 5. R.J. Johnson (3), 6. Matt McCarthy (14), 7. Brody Roa (15), 8. Chris Gansen (11), 9. Eddie Tafoya Jr. (12), 10. Joey Bishop (22), 11. Verne Sweeney (18), 12. Elexa Herrera (20), 13. Austin Grabowski (17), 14. Matt Mitchell (6), 15. Chris Bonneau (9), 16. Brent Sexton (19), 17. David Gasper (10), 18. Charles Davis Jr. (5), 19. Grant Sexton (8), 20. Braden Chiaramonte (13), 21. Shane Sexton (21), 22. Logan Williams (7).
