PERRIS, Calif. – This Saturday the AMSOIL USAC-CRA Sprint Car Series will return to Perris Auto Speedway for the Sokola Shootout.
Promoted by Don Kazarian, the fourth point race of the year for the AMSOIL USAC-CRA Sprint Car Series will also showcase the PAS Senior Sprint Cars and the PAS Young Gun Sprint Cars.
The Sokola Shootout has been a popular race on the West Coast since Tony Jones won the inaugural show at Manzanita Speedway on March 17, 2001. Originally called the Sokola Classic to honor past CRA President and USAC Sprint Supervisor Gary Sokola, the event has grown to also honor former driver Mark Sokola and their contributions to racing.
Last year, fast qualifier Brody Roa, Jake Swanson, Danny Faria Jr. and Charles Davis Jr. followed Damion Gardner to his third Sokola victory.
Since March 6, 2004, the Lake Perris Fairgrounds has held 214 AMSOIL USAC-CRA Sprint Car Series events and thirty-eight different drivers have claimed victory. Gardner leads all drivers with 45 home track wins and the one-lap track record of 15.833 seconds was set by Nic Faas on Feb. 25, 2012.
Entering Saturday’s event, Roa sits atop the point standings with a 14-point advantage. Driving the BR Performance No. 91R HD Industries/Burris Racing Maxim, Roa has one win, three top-10 finishes and 28 feature laps led. The 2016 USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series champion is tied with Matt Mitchell, Richard Vander Weerd, and Austin Williams for 14th on the USAC-CRA win list and will be looking for his eighth series triumph.
Gardner ranks second in the chase for the championship. Racing Mark Alexander’s No. 4 Trench Shoring/All Coast Construction Spike, Gardner finished seventh in the Perris So-Cal Showdown. To date, the seven-time champion has also posted one Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award, two heat race victories and three top-10 finishes on the year. This Saturday, Gardner will have his sights the eighty-first USAC-CRA feature win of his career.
Settling into his new ride, Williams is third in the USAC-CRA point chase. Piloting Tom and Laurie Sertich’s No. 92 Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror/Lucas Oil DRC, Williams finished third at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds on March 30. He has three top-10 finishes on the season and will be looking for his eighth series win.
R.J. Johnson ranks fourth in the USAC-CRA championship point standings. Driving the Bobby Martin Racing No. 51 Martin Family Auto Museum/Pro Flyer Race Engines Sherman, Johnson was in contention for the Marth 30 win until a lap 16 flip resulted in a 16th-place finish. To date, the five-time USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series champion has posted two heat race victories, two top-10 finishes and 16 laps led in the campaign. The second generation driver will have his sights on claiming his seventh USAC-CRA victory.
Stevie Sussex is currently fifth in the USAC-CRA point standings. Racing Robbie & Gaye Allen’s No. 12 ABC Body Shop/PPG Automotive Finishes Maxim, Sussex charged to fifth in the So-Cal Showdown after starting 10th. At press time, the 2017 USAC National Sprint Car Rookie of the Year has three top-10 finishes and will be looking to earn his first USAC-CRA main event win.