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Eddie Tafoya Jr. Ready for Perris' Biggest Sprint Car Night of 2025

2025-09-09 15:05

Chino Hills, CA — September 7, 2025 — After a weekend off following three straight nights of racing in Northern California, Eddie Tafoya Jr. returns to action this Saturday, September 13th, when Perris Auto Speedway hosts its biggest sprint car program of the season. Tafoya will pilot his familiar #51T in the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series that sharing the spotlight with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars in a rare and exciting open-wheel doubleheader.

The 27-year-old Chino Hills, California racer comes into the event with momentum, fresh off his best finish of 2025 — a fourth-place run in the Ultimate Sprint Car Series at Petaluma Speedway on Labor Day. In just his second career start with the USCS, and his first appearance at Petaluma since 2019, Tafoya charged forward from seventh on the grid to secure the top-five result on the tight 3/8-mile oval.

Earlier that evening, Tafoya was third-fastest in his qualifying group, seventh overall of the 20 cars on hand and recorded a third-place finish in his 10-lap heat race.

"The night went well," Tafoya said of Petaluma. "The track changes a lot. You kind of start tightening up the car and then go back to where you started for the main event. Just had to make sure the car was drivable after the two previous nights."

The strong Petaluma outing came on the heels of Tafoya's participation in the historic reopening of Calistoga Speedway over Labor Day weekend. Racing returned to the iconic half-mile for the first time in six years in front of sellout crowds. On night one, Tafoya timed in eighth-fastest among 34 cars, finished fifth in his heat, and transferred through the B-main before ending the A-main in 16th. Night two saw him post the 18th-quickest qualifying lap, grab a second in his heat, and lock into the feature, where he placed 18th.

"I was pretty excited to go back there," Tafoya said of his return to the big half mile. " I am always happy to go to big fast racetracks. Unfortunately, the results didn't necessarily pan out how we wanted but we still had fun up there. The first night I had a good starting spot in eighth. I just think I was way to tight. I was trying to compensate on how slick the dirt was getting but then it ended up getting rough so I was kind of caught in a sticky situation. I was just stuck."

"The second night, it felt a lot better in the heat race and I almost won it," Tafoya continued. " In the main, we had a right rear shock let go. So I was all over the place and on the verge of being out of control, so I brought it in early."

Tafoya, the 2019 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year, will now look to build on that experience as he tackles one of the biggest stages of the season at Perris Auto Speedway.

"I really do not think about it once I am inside the racecar," Tafoya said when asked about racing in front of big crowds. "It is definitely cool to see afterwards when the people come down and appreciate the things we do. We are definitely small compared to a lot of other motorsports so its nice to have some recognition."

Event Info:

Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Location: Perris Auto Speedway, 18700 Lake Perris Drive, Perris, CA
Tickets: Advance tickets available at worldofoutlaws.com. Plenty of walk-up tickets will also be available.
Track Info: perrisautospeedway.com | 951-940-0134

Tafoya can be followed on Instagram at @eddietafoya51.

The Tafoya Racing 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 their continued support of the 2025 season.

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

5/24/25 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th A Main

6/7/25 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 9th A Main

6/21/25 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 5th A Main
7/19/25 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 10th A Main

8/16/25 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 8th A Main

8/30/23 Calistoga Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 16th A Main

8/31/25 Calistoga Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 20th A Main

9/1/25 Petaluma Speedway Ultimate Sprint Car Series 4th A Main

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