EDDIE TAFOYA JR. BACK ON TRACK THIS SATURDAY AT MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY
2024-04-06 01:17
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(Chino, CA, April 5, 2024) For only the fifth time in his career, Eddie Tafoya Jr. will be competing at the Mohave Valley Raceway this Saturday, April 6th, when the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series visits the fast 3/8 of a mile banked oval. It will be the first of two series appearances at the track that is located five minutes from the Colorado River and 20 minutes from downtown Laughlin, Nevada.
Saturday's race will be the sixth for the series at the track promoted by second-generation racers Ron & Bill Meyer along with their families. Tafoya, who lives 240 miles southwest of the facility in Chino Hills, California, has competed there four times. The only series race he missed at MVR was 11 months ago when he was away competing at Ohio's Eldora Speedway. His best finish of the four came in his initial outing at the track when he placed third on April 23rd, 2022. Six months later he came back to "Arizona's Baddest Bull Ring," and finished eighth.
In 2023 when Tafoya was back and forth between the Midwest and West Coast and was competing with the USAC National Sprint Car Series and USAC/CRA, he raced at the track on April 1st and October 13th. The now-veteran racer finished 12th and 13th. Neither finish was indicative of how the nights went. At the April 1st race, the 2019 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year turned in the third fastest time in qualifying in the 30-car field. He started sixth in his 10-lap heat and finished third. For the main, the pretty #51T started on the inside of row three and stayed in the top five in the early laps of the race. However, he slid to a stop in turn one and had to restart at the back.
After going to the rear for causing the yellow, Tafoya put on a show. Over the final 25 laps he passed more cars than any other driver in the race and ended up 12th.
When he returned last October he was quick again. After qualifying 10th fastest, he steered his eye-catching car to the win in his heat race. In the main, Tafoya drove to second three separate times. However, each time a yellow came out, the scoring reverted to the last completed lap and he went back to third. He was still third when a red flag halted the action. When the race restarted, Tafoya's engine started to lay down and he wisely rolled it back to the pits to avoid damaging the bullet. He was credited with a 13th-place finish.
Tafoya looks to get his season righted this week at Mohave. Through the first three series races of 2024, he has been plagued by bad luck and his best finish has been a 12th. Thus, he is ranked 15th in points. Despite that, he has an excellent chance to climb several spots in the standings at this week's race.
Gates at the popular track, which is located less than a half hour from downtown Laughlin, will open at 5:00 p.m. The first green flag of the night will wave at 7:00. Adult tickets are $25.00. For active military with proper id, it is $20.00. Kids 6-12 get in for just $15.00 and children five and under are free. It is cash only for tickets (no ATMs on site). Concessions, souvenirs, and the beer garden take cash or cards. For more information, the track website is https://www.mohavevalleyraceway.com/ and the office phone is (928) 346-6000.
After Saturday's race, Tafoya will be in one of the Inland Rigging Cars for the season opener for the Ultimate Sprint Car Series presented by Inland Rigging at the Ventura Raceway on April 13th. He will follow that up with a USCS race the following week at the Bakersfield Speedway and will close the month in the USAC/CRA race at Perris Auto Speedway on April 27th.
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
This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com