Eddie Tafoya Jr. Returns to the Podium With Third-Place Finish at Perris
2026-07-25 13:42
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Chino Hills, CA — July 16, 2026 — Eddie Tafoya Jr. capped another successful night by driving his immaculate #51T to a third-place finish in last Saturday's Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Car main event at Perris Auto Speedway. For the popular driver, it was his third third-place result of the year and his sixth top-five finish in 10 starts.
The Chino Hills, California, resident qualified sixth on the famous Riverside County clay oval. That placed him on the outside of the second row for his eight-lap heat race. With a top-five finish needed to advance into the pool for the main event inversion, Tafoya did exactly what was required and came home fourth.
The combination of his strong qualifying effort and fourth-place heat race finish placed the 2018 PAS Young Gun champion on the outside of the front row for the main event.
When the green flag dropped on the 30-lapper, the inside row jumped, and before Tafoya knew it, he had slipped back to fifth. By the end of the third circuit, he had worked his way back into fourth, where he appeared to be locked in for much of the race.
At the halfway point, Tafoya trailed the third-place car by nearly half a straightaway. However, that was about to change.
Tafoya refused to give up. Slowly but surely, he erased the deficit during the second half of the main event. In an impressive display of patience and driving ability, he tracked down the third-place car and completed the pass to earn the final spot on the podium.
"It was a pretty good night," Tafoya told the crowd after the race. "Of course, all of us racers want more. I just gave up so many spots at the beginning. We were all ripping the top pretty fast. So it kind of took a mistake from someone to make up any ground."
"I tried searching around, but everything was pretty even," he continued. I sat there trying to not make any mistakes and just kind of crept back in (into the top three)."
Earlier in the evening, longtime infield announcer Chris Holt made a deal with Tafoya's mother: If her son finished in the top three, she could serve as his trophy girl. At the conclusion of the post-race interview, Holt invited her to step forward and join her son—something the driver, who had recently celebrated his 29th birthday, greatly appreciated.
"It pretty awesome to have so much support from my parents," the happy driver said. "Two individuals who would do anything and give me anything I need in racing. It just makes it easier for me to do my job. We will be back in a few weeks and try to go two spots better."
With the third-place result, Tafoya lowered his overall main event finishing average to 4.90 for the season. He also improved his average finish at Perris by half a point, lowering it to 4.50.
Tafoya will head out on vacation at the end of the month but will return in time for the August 15 race at Perris Auto Speedway.
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
5/15/26 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 5th A Main
5/16/26 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 6th A Main
5/23/26 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 3rd A Main
6/20/26 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 7th A Main
7/11/26 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 3rd A Main
This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com