• dirt track racing news

EDDIE TAFOYA JR. FAST ON HIS RETURN TO CENTRAL ARIZONA SPEEDWAY

2025-04-20 00:19

(Chino, CA, April 16, 2025) Even though it had been six years since his last and only appearance at the Central Arizona Speedway, Eddie Tafoya Jr. looked like a track regular when he competed on the clay oval with the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Cars last Friday and Saturday. Two top-four qualifying efforts highlighted the 27-year-old driver's weekend at the newly revamped 3/8 mile oval.

Tafoya, who lives in Chino Hills, California, kicked off his two days of racing in the "Copper State" on Friday with the eighth fastest time of the 30 cars on hand in hot laps with a best lap of 16.956. When it came time to qualify, he turned it up a couple of notches and guided the gorgeous Specialty Fasteners #51T to its best qualifying effort of the year. His lap of 15.816 was the second-fastest time of the night.

Tafoya started sixth in the 10-lap second heat and steered his way all the way up to second at the finish. That guaranteed him a starting spot in the A main event. Like he did in qualifying, he turned in the second fastest lap of the race.

For the main, the veteran racer lined up on the inside of the third row for the 30-lapper. However, the setup on the car was too tight, and Tafoya slipped backwards and finished 13th.

Twenty-four hours later, Tafoya started off well again. He recorded the third fastest time in hot laps in the 26-car field. He took to the track in qualifying and raced around the oval in 15.966 seconds. That was good enough for the fourth-best time in time trials.

For the second straight night, Tafoya moved forward in his heat. After starting fifth, he passed one car and to place fourth in the 10-lapper. That move forward was important as it guaranteed Tafoya would start the main in third place.

Saturday's main event saw Tafoya turn in what may have been his best performance of 2025. Through the early laps of the race, he ran fifth. On lap nine, he moved up one spot to fourth and he was locked into a fierce battle that was delivering a tremendously exciting race for his fans.

A red flag flew on lap 23, bringing a temporary halt to the action. When the cars bumped back off for the restart, Tafoya was running in fifth and had his sights set on more. The car and the driver were both capable. However, when the green lights came back on, the #51T stumbled and slowed at the hit of the throttle. Tafoya steered the car to the bottom, and he pulled into the infield. He was out of fuel.

What could have been a top five ended up instead being a 19th. However, it was a very impressive race for Tafoya, who was at the top of his game and battling very hard. The 2019 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year can take solace in the fact that only three drivers in the field turned a better lap than the 16.456 he recorded on the fourth circuit. Two of the three who turned in quicker laps finished first and second in the race.

Despite the frustrating finishes, things were not all bad for Tafoya at Central Arizona. He was fast, and his car was, too. He can take that knowledge to his home track, Perris Auto Speedway, for another sprint car war on April 26th.

Fans can follow Tafoya on Instagram eddietafoya51.

Tafoya and the #51T team would like to thank Specialty Fasteners, 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 2025 racing endeavors.

Eddie Tafoya's 2025 Results

2/10/25 Volusia Speedway Park USAC National Sprint Cars 5th B Main

2/11/25 Volusia Speedway Park USAC National Sprint Cars 7th B Main

2/12/25 Ocala Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars 5th B Main

2/13/25 Ocala Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars 19th A Main

2/14/25 Ocala Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars 18th A Main

2/15/25 Ocala Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars 20th A Main

2/22/25 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 5th A Main

3/1/25 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main

4/5/25 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 8th A Main

4/11/25 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main

4/12/25 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 19th A Main

This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com