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Tafoya Places Fifth in Arizona — Eyes Return on May 16 After Hand Surgery

2026-05-08 21:54

Chino Hills, CA — May 5, 2026 — Eddie Tafoya Jr. recorded another impressive fifth-place finish when the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series visited the Central Arizona Speedway on April 18th. The talented veteran driver, who underwent hand surgery three days after the race, plans on returning to USAC/CRA action when the series visits the same track on May 16th.

Tafoya, who will turn 29 in July and who has yet to finish outside the top six in five starts in 2026, began the night in the Copper State by qualifying seventh fastest in the 19-car field. That placed the veteran driver in the third starting spot in the first heat race. He maintained that position throughout the race, guaranteeing himself at least a seventh-place starting spot in the main event.

Unfortunately for the Chino Hills, California-based driver, the six cars who qualified ahead of him also finished in the top four spots in their respective heat races. Had even one of them not done so, Tafoya would have started on the pole for the 30-lap main. Instead, he was relegated to the seventh starting spot.

During the early stages of the race, Tafoya found himself battling for ninth. However, around the halfway point, he began charging toward the front of the field, and it quickly became clear he was one of the fastest cars on the track. He steadily worked his way forward. With less than three laps remaining, he briefly raced into fourth before ultimately finishing fifth at the checkered flag.

"That was the first race back with that motor I had in there," Tafoya said about the Central Arizona event. "Qualifying I was a little hesitant. It would have been better if I was one spot faster and started on the front row. The more laps I was doing the more comfortable I was getting. Just figuring out how much throttle I could put into it and reading the track. Definitely, the car setup came in later."

"Towards the end I was coming on pretty strong. I think I could have gotten a couple more. I looked at some of the lap times and my best lap was on lap 23. Nobody else's was better after lap 13. I definitely had something for them at the end."

"Yeah, for sure," Tafoya responded when asked if the recent performances were giving him more confidence. "I have been just trying to stay pretty steady and have a good night as a whole rather than just parts of the night. I guess the last piece is just starting a little farther forward. I will put a little extra emphasis on qualifying and see what it does for us."

Three days after the Central Arizona race, Tafoya underwent surgery to repair damage done to his hand in a crash at Perris last season. The surgery kept him out of last Saturday's race at Ventura Raceway. However, he plans to be back in the cockpit at Central Arizona when the USAC/CRA Series returns on the 15th and 16th of this month. He will follow that up with the prestigious Salute to Indy at Perris Auto Speedway on Labor Day Weekend.

"The crash, I just must have hit the metal roll cage over by the in and out shifter," Tafoya said before his surgery. "It was just like a bunch of built up and left over tissue from a hematoma. Last year I was waiting until the end of the season to get it done. Then I had to wait more and more to get it done. Just all kinds of stuff."

"It has been good," Tafoya said last week about the surgery. "I have been on some pain killers. I will have stitches in until around the fifth."

Eddie Tafoya can be followed on Instagram at eddietafoya51.

Team Tafoya Racing 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. If you would like to join forces with the team for another fun and exciting year of racing in 2026, please contact Tafoya at Eddie Tafoya Jr. at (909) 393-3999 or mailto:teamtafoya@aol.com

Eddie Tafoya's 2026 Results

2/28/26 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 3rd A Main

3/12/26 The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Ultimate Sprint Cars 6th A Main

3/13/26 The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Ultimate Sprint Cars 6th A Main

3/21/26 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 5th A Main

4/18/26 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 5th A Main

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