Chino Hills, CA — September 22, 2026 — Southern California racing veteran Eddie Tafoya Jr. will wrap up the Midwest portion of his racing season this Thursday and Saturday, September 24th and 26th, at the 44th Annual USAC Four Crown Nationals at Ohio's Eldora Speedway. The prestigious event will mark Tafoya's first appearance at the famous high-banked half-mile since 2023.
After a fifth-place finish in the August 15th USAC/CRA race at Perris Auto Speedway, Tafoya, who lives in Chino Hills, California, has confined his racing to the Midwest and East. Following three nights at Indiana's Kokomo Speedway Smackdown, the 2019 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year headed to Western Pennsylvania's Lernerville Speedway for the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Cars Commonwealth Clash.
Scheduled as a two-night affair, Tafoya, the 2018 Perris Auto Speedway Young Guns champion, was fast right out of the box in his first appearance at the track near Pittsburgh. He was sixth fastest in hot laps and qualified 10th fastest among the 24 cars on hand.
After a sixth-place finish in his heat race, Tafoya and the eye-catching #51T started on the outside of the third row in sixth for the 25-lap main event. He was racing around the top 10 when a rear end broke near the halfway mark, saddling him with a frustrating 21st-place finish.
Unfortunately, rain was the big winner on the second night in the Keystone State, and the race was canceled.
"Had some good speed over the weekend in Pennsylvania at the Lernerville Speedway with USAC Racing," Tafoya told his Facebook fans. "Went sixth quick in hot laps, 10th in qualifying and was battling around the top 10 before breaking a rear end around halfway. We are prepped and ready for Eldora Speedway USA."
Tafoya flew back to the Midwest for this week's races at Eldora. The last time he competed on the lightning-fast half-mile was for a pair of races in May 2023. He qualified for the main event both nights, finishing 19th and 20th.
Tafoya has kept the #51T in Indiana and has been flying back and forth since the middle of August. After Saturday's finale at Eldora, he will hit the road and drive the rig back west to conclude his 2026 season.
For those who want to see Tafoya in action at Eldora, both nights will be streamed live in their entirety on FloRacing.
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
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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
8/15/26 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 5th A Main
8/27/26 Kokomo Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars 5th C Main
8/28/26 Kokomo Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars 11th B Main
8/29/26 Kokomo Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars 13th B Main
9/11/26 Lernerville Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars 21st A Main
9/12/26 Lernerville Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars Rained Out
This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
