THE FIRST OF THREE MAY RACES FOR EDDIE TAFOYA JR. THIS SATURDAY AT KERN
2024-05-04 14:47
dirtFan website https://dirtfan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/dirtfan-200x200.jpg
(Chino, CA, May 2, 2024) Veteran sprint car racer Eddie Tafoya Jr. will begin a busy month of racing this Saturday night, May 4th, in the Ultimate Sprint Car Series Presented by Inland Rigging at Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway. After taking the Mother's Day weekend off, he will be at the Bakersfield Speedway for the next USCS race on the 18th and at Perris Auto Speedway for the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series annual Salute to Indy on the 25th.
Tafoya, 26, comes into Saturday's race ranked 10th after the historical first race of the USCS at the Bakersfield Speedway two weeks ago. Wheeling the Tom and Christy Dunkel #17T at that first race, Tafoya was the ninth fastest of the 30 cars on hand in qualifying. He followed qualifying up with a second-place finish in his heat.
In the main, Tafoya, the 2019 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year, was moving forward after starting eighth. He marched up to sixth and was streaking toward the top five when mechanical issues forced him to the sidelines with a 22nd place finish.
For fans wanting to travel to this week's race, adult tickets are $25.00. For kids 6-13 it is only $10.00. Children 5 and under are free. Advance tickets are available from the track's website at https://www.kernraceway.com/. Hot laps will begin at approximately 5:00 p.m. with opening ceremonies at 6:30. The track is located at 13500 Raceway Boulevard in Bakersfield, California. The office phone number and email are (661) 835-1264 mailto:info@kernraceway.com.
Last week at Perris, Tafoya contested his 10th race of the 2024 campaign. He was driving the familiar Tafoya family-owned #51T at the track where he captured The PAS Young Gun title in 2018. The personable Chino Hills, California resident came into the night 12th in the series point standings. A lap of 16.873 was the 12th fastest of the night, placing the pretty car with the red chrome trim inside the second row of heat race #3. He pushed the car to a fifth-place finish in the 10-lapper.
For the 30-lap main, which turned wild over the last 10 laps with a couple of red flags and numerous yellows, Tafoya started 12th and drove forward to finish ninth. It was his second top 10 in a row in the USAC/CRA Series and was only surpassed by his sixth-place finish at Perris on March 16th. The performance shot Tafoya up to ninth in the championship standings, only 12 points out of eighth heading into the next series race at Perris on Memorial Day Weekend.
Friendly Tafoya is always happy to meet the fans in the pits after every race. He will be signing autographs, posing for photos, and will also have his beautiful 2024 team shirts for sale. For fans who cannot attend the races, the team shirts are available at www.specialty-fasteners.com.
Fans can follow Tafoya on Instagram @eddietafoya51.
Tafoya and the #51T team would like to thank Specialty Fasteners, Inland Rigging, BR Motorsports, King Racing Products, Gasper Transportation, CMI Precision Machining, Owen's Insurance Services, Keen Concrete, DRC Chassis, and Rider Racing Engines for supporting its racing program.
Eddie Tafoya Jr. 2024 USAC National Results
January 11 Tulsa Expo Raceway Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 22nd A Main
January 14 Tulsa Expo Raceway Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 7th D Main
February 24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 21st A Main
March 9 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 13th A Main
March 10 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 17th A Main
March 16 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 16th A Main
March 23 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 12th A Main
April 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 6th A Main
April 20 Bakersfield Speedway Ultimate Sprint Car Series 22nd A Main
April 27th Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th A Main
This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com