Santa Maria Raceway Race Track in Nipomo, California, USA

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Surface: 1/3 mile clay oval

1900 Hutton Road
Nipomo, California, 93444 USA
lat: 35.003636, lng: -120.440265
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BRENT SEXTON WRAPPED UP HIS 2024 SEASON AT THE TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX
(Lakeside, CA, December 4, 2023) A little over 10 months after it all began, Sexton Gatlin Racing's Brent Sexton wrapped up the 2024 campaign on Thanksgiving weekend in the 83rd running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix at the Ventura Raceway. The veteran racer competed in the Inland Rigging Ultimate Sprint Car Series portion of the program. The two-night show matched Lakeside, California-based Sexton against a stellar field of drivers from around the nation. Friday's preliminary night saw 50 cars show up at the tiny 1/5 of a mile track on the beach at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Sexton, a 52-year-old Tennessee native, qualified fifth fastest in his group with a lap of 12.789. Powered by a former Rico Abreu Shaver 360 engine, the three-time lightning sprint car champion had a good starting position in his heat race on the inside of row three. Unfortunately, a tap with another car saw his right rear go flat. The deflation saw him finish 10th. That flat tire meant that Brent had to go to one of the B mains. The race was only 12 laps long and would go by in the blink of an eye on the little track. Starting ninth in the 10-car field, the wily veteran had to finish third to transfer to the A main. The laps wound down quickly and Sexton drove his way to sixth. However, time ran out before he could get past three more cars, and he was done for the night. The following evening, Brent had one shot at making the A-main. That came in one of the three B mains. It was a 12-lapper like Friday night, and he was starting ninth. However, this time he only had to get to fourth. Once again, he began passing cars and raced his way up to sixth. But like the night before, the laps ticked off quickly. Brent ended up two spots shy of the transfer. That ended his racing weekend and put wraps on his 2024 season. SGR is already making plans for the 2025 campaign, with the first race of the year coming in February. If you would like to join the team for a fun, exciting ride on the sprint car trail, call Brent Sexton or email him at the contact information at the top of this release. Sexton Gatlin Racing would like to thank the following companies for making the 2024 season possible. East County Electric Works, Keys Brothers, BR Motorsports, Maxima Oil, Automated Interiors, Valley Lubricant Services, Sexton Fire Protection, BK Wings, Troy Dirt. Brent Sexton 2024 Results 2/24/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 15th A Main 3/1/24 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Lightning Sprints 4th A Main 3/2/24 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Lightning Sprints 2nd A Main 3/8/24 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 12th A Main 3/9/24 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 16th A Main 3/16/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main 3/23/24 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 14th A Main 4/6/24 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 17th A Main 4/20/24 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 25th A Main 4/20/24 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 6th A Main 4/27/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 16th A Main 5/18/24 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 6th A Main 5/25/24 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 1st A Main 6/1/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 10th A Main 6/8/24 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 5th A Main 6/22/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main 7/6/24 Santa Maria Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 15th A Main 7/13/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th A Main 7/20/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 7th B Main 8/10/24 Santa Maria Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 14th A Main 8/31/24 Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main 9/1/24 Santa Maria Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 9th A Main 9/13/24 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 7th A Main 9/14/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 14th A Main 9/21/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 11th A Main 10/18/24 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main 10/19/24 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main 11/1/24 Mohave Valley Raceway Western World Championships 18th B Main 11/2/24 Mohave Valley Raceway Western World Championships 10th B Main 11/29/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Turkey Night Grant Prix 6th B Main 11/30/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Turkey Night Grant Prix 6th B Main Grant Sexton 2024 Results 2/24/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 18th A Main 3/8/24 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 9th A Main 3/9/24 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 5th A Main 3/16/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 21st A Main 3/23/24 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 16th A Main 4/6/24 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 11th A Main 4/20/24 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 16th A Main 4/27/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 19th A Main 5/11/24 Barona Speedway So Cal Lightning Sprints 3rd A Main 5/18/24 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Car Series 5th A Main 6/1/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 3rd A Main 6/22/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 6th A Main 7/6/24 Santa Maria Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 20th A Main 7/20/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 7th A Main 8/10/24 Santa Maria Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 23rd A Main 8/31/24 Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 20th A Main 9/1/24 Santa Maria Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 24th A Main 9/14/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 9th A Main 9/21/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 21st A Main 10/18/24 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 21st A Main 10/19/24 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 11th A Main 11/1/24 Mohave Valley Raceway Western World Championships 26th A Main 11/2/24 Mohave Valley Raceway Western World Championships 23rd A Main Braydin Collie 2024 Results 7/6/24 Santa Maria Speedway California Lightning Sprints 6th A Main 8/3/24 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 5th A Main 8/17/24 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 9th A Main 9/28/24 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 6th A Main 10/18/24 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Lightning Sprints 7th A Main 10/19/24 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Lightning Sprints 2nd A Main 10/26/24 Barona Speedway So Cal Lightning Sprints 7th A Main AJ Bender 2024 Results 9/14/24 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprints 5th A Main This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. Contact (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
EDDIE TAFOYA JR GETS A LITTLE TIME OFF BEFORE RETURNING TO THE SPRINT CAR WARS IN FEBRUARY
(Chino, CA, November 19, 2024) Veteran sprint car racer Eddie Tafoya Jr of Chino Hills, California, is looking forward to getting some time off before he returns to the sprint car warfare in February. Plans right now call for him to make his 2025 debut in the family-owned #51T when the USAC National Sprint Car Series heads to Florida for its season openers. It will be the start of his sixth season racing 410 sprint cars. While not chasing any championships in 2024, Tafoya, who was the 2019 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year, finished third in the championship standings of the first-year Ultimate Sprint Car Series. The talented racer also finished 11th in points in the USAC/CRA series. All told he started 27 sprint car main events during the season. He finished in the top ten 13 times with a season-best second-place finish in the USCS race at Santa Maria on June 15th. His best finish in the USAC/CRA Series came the week before when he placed fourth at Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway in Bakersfield. Last Friday, on a day off from work and with no races on his schedule until 2025, the 27-year-old answered some questions about the 2024 season and what is on the horizon for next year. S.D.: First, the obvious question: how happy were you with the way 2024 went? Tafoya: I feel good. Always as a racer, I guess you always want more and want to do better. Definitely a solid year. About halfway through, we started picking and choosing what we wanted to do just to mellow out. We have been wide open for five years. We just wanted to give ourselves some time and make sure we were doing everything right and give ourselves the best shot going into the new year and see what we can do. S.D.: After a tough start to the season at Perris when you got clobbered from behind, I think you rolled it into the trailer every night. Tafoya: This year, I was really, really good on equipment. I really did not hurt much except maybe a bent axle or something minor like that. S.D.: That has to feel good knowing you do not have to repair and replace a bunch of torn-up stuff. Tafoya: Money wise it is always good. It is also good for your momentum. If you are tearing stuff up, you can kind of lose your way and get down. It can take too many races to get back to where you want to be. I like to keep pushing forward and not have too many setbacks. This year, we were really good about that stuff. S.D.: Were you guys getting burned out? Tafoya: It is not really the racing. It is all the stuff you have to do with a family team. Me and my dad are the only ones who do anything on our vehicles. We do have another guy, Curt, who helps me out a bunch. Other than that, when we break stuff or wreck stuff, it is just me and my dad in the shop late nights fixing stuff. It definitely takes a toll on you. Last year we were on the road traveling for eight weeks. It is just a big task to do when you both have full-time jobs. Between the both of us, we just kind of decided not to overwork ourselves this year. S.D. What does the equipment situation look like for 2025? Tafoya: We built a whole new car last year. Now I have three really, really good cars. So, we will just tear them down and rebuild them just to make sure we do not have any parts failures and stuff. As far as the package goes and our stuff, we are definitely happy with it. We are just going to make it nice and brand new again for next year. S.D. Will you run the same type of schedule in 2025 as you did this year, or will you try chasing points? Tafoya: I definitely want to do good in points, and a lot of cards have to fall in place. The last two years, we've had some freak stuff kind of go on that put us out of the points. Instead of banging our heads against the wall and scratch and claw for every point, we just kind of go to have fun and do the best we can do. That is usually when I am driving my best. S.D.: So, you have some time to get away from the race cars right now. What are you going to do? Tafoya: Yeah, for a little while. Off-season is not a full-time break for three months for sure. We will definitely go through our entire program and rebuild a lot of stuff and make sure we are all squared away and our ready to put our best foot forward in February. S.D.: A couple of weeks ago, you told me you wanted to open the season in February in Florida with the USAC National Sprint Cars. Is it the same plan now? Tafoya: The talk right now is to start in Florida in February, but that is about as far as it has gotten. We have our eyes set on that. See where it goes from there and just try to be in contention. Fans can follow Tafoya on Instagram @eddietafoya51. Tafoya and the #51T team would like to thank Specialty Fasteners, Inland Rigging, 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 racing program. Eddie Tafoya Jr. 2024 USAC National Results January 11 Tulsa Expo Raceway Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 22nd A Main January 14 Tulsa Expo Raceway Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 7th D Main February 24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 21st A Main March 9 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprints 13th A Main March 10 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprints 17th A Main March 16 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 16th A Main March 23 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 12th A Main April 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 6th A Main April 20 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 22nd A Main April 27th Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th A Main May 11th Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway USCS Sprint Cars Rained Out May 18 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 20th A Main May 25 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cas Series 8th A Main June 1 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 23rd A Main June 5 Lawrenceburg Speedway 410 Sprint Cars 8th A Main June 6 Lincoln Park Speedway 410 Sprint Cars 12th A Main June 7 Bloomington Speedway 410 Sprint Cars 6th B Main June 8 Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 4th A Main June 15 Santa Maria Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 2nd A Main June 22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 8th A Main July 13 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 7th A Main July 27 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 21st A Main August 17 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 10th A Main August 31 Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th A Main September 1 Santa Maria Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 17th A Main September 14 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 7th A Main September 21 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 6th A Main October 5 Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 8th A Main November 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 14th A Main November 2 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 25th A Main November 9 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 11th A Main This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
EDDIE TAFOYA JR HEADS TO MOHAVE VALLEY FOR THE 57TH WESTERN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
(Chino, CA, October 30, 2024) With a dazzling new wrap on his hauler, Eddie Tafoya Jr. is ready for the biggest race of his 2024 season this Friday and Saturday, November 1st and 2nd, at the Mohave Valley Raceway. The event is the historic 57th annual Avanti Windows and Doors Western World Championships for the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars. Each night, the program will feature full shows with qualifying, heat races, and main events. The two nights of racing this weekend will take place at one of Tafoya's favorite tracks. The racy 1/3 mile banked oval, which is just minutes from the Colorado River and less than a half hour from downtown Laughlin, Nevada, is known for some of the best wheel-to-wheel action in the country. Every time he is there, Tafoya is in the thick of the wild battles, and he can usually be found rim-riding at the top. "I don't know if it is the track shape, or maybe the banking, I am just really confident getting the car in there," Tafoya said before his last trip to Mohave in October. "Ever since I was there the first time, I have had a good base setup. I just jell well (there). So, it is really exciting to go back there. I think that is the only track I have been good at every single time. I need to figure out what I am doing there and carry it on to the other places." This weekend will be Tafoya's third time at the track this year. He placed in the top 10 in his first two appearances. On April 6th, the 27-year-old veteran racer was the second-fastest qualifier on the night. He started sixth in his heat race and moved forward to finish fourth. That night, he began the main event on the inside of row three in fifth and placed six. Last month, when Tafoya returned to battle on the edge-of-your-seat track, he turned in the eighth-fastest qualifying time and dazzled the crowd with a brave ride around the top to win the second 10-lap heat race. He began the 30-lap feature in the eighth spot and finished seventh. The first time he ever saw the "Copper State" track on April 22nd, 2022, he finished third in the USAC/CRA main event. "Driving-wise, it is one of my favorite racetracks," Tafoya said. "You can be really aggressive for most of the night until it slicks off. Even when it was slick last year, I think I was the only one running the top until I got to the front and showed those guys that. It is fun, and it is a racy little place. Hopefully, some moisture stays in the dirt for us." Gates at Mohave Valley Raceway will open at 5:00 p.m. each day, with racing at 7:00. An adult two-day ticket is $45.00. Single-day tickets are $25.00 for adults and $15.00 for children. Online advance tickets are available until November 1st at 12:00 a.m. Central Standard time at https://www.myracepass.com/tracks/2145/tickets/1413705. It is cash only for tickets (no ATMs on site). Concessions, souvenirs, and the beer garden take cash or cards. For more information, the track website is https://www.mohavevalleyraceway.com/, and the office phone is (928) 346-6000. Tafoya will wrap up the USAC/CRA portion of his season on November 9th at Perris Auto Speedway. Fans can follow Tafoya on Instagram @eddietafoya51. Tafoya and the #51T team would like to thank Specialty Fasteners, Inland Rigging, 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 racing program. Eddie Tafoya Jr. 2024 USAC National Results January 11 Tulsa Expo Raceway Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 22nd A Main January 14 Tulsa Expo Raceway Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 7th D Main February 24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 21st A Main March 9 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprints 13th A Main March 10 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprints 17th A Main March 16 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 16th A Main March 23 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 12th A Main April 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 6th A Main April 20 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 22nd A Main April 27th Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th A Main May 11th Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway USCS Sprint Cars Rained Out May 18 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 20th A Main May 25 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cas Series 8th A Main June 1 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 23rd A Main June 5 Lawrenceburg Speedway 410 Sprint Cars 8th A Main June 6 Lincoln Park Speedway 410 Sprint Cars 12th A Main June 7 Bloomington Speedway 410 Sprint Cars 6th B Main June 8 Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 4th A Main June 15 Santa Maria Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 2nd A Main June 22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 8th A Main July 13 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 7th A Main July 27 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 21st A Main August 17 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 10th A Main August 31 Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th A Main September 1 Santa Maria Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 17th A Main September 14 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 7th A Main September 21 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 6th A Main October 5 Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 8th A Main This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com