Rocket Raceway Park Race Track in Petty, Texas, USA

• dirt tracks
• USA
• Texas

Rocket Raceway Park Dirt Track Logo

Rocket Raceway Park races USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA Limited/B-Mods, USRA Factory Stocks, Eco Mods,
Jr. Limited Modifieds, and Trooper Cruisers. Formerly known as East Texas Speedway and 82 Speedway.

Rocket Raceway Park Dirt Track Location

• 16369 US Hwy 82
  Petty, Texas, 75470 USA
• lat: 33.612555, lng: -95.79089
• Link to Google Map
• Link to Apple Map
• Surface: 1/4 mile high banked dirt oval

Rocket Raceway Park Dirt Track Contacts

• Website
• Facebook
• Email: blastoff@rocketracewaypark.com
• Phone: 903-413-8003

Rocket Raceway Park Dirt Track Racing Schedule

Schedules are known to change without warning, double check with race track before heading out.

Rocket Raceway Park Dirt Track News

• 
  EDDIE TAFOYA JR. RETURNS TO PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY THIS SATURDAY

  (Chino, CA, March 14, 2023) After nearly a month off since opening the season in the USAC National Sprint Car Series, Eddie Tafoya Jr will return to where it all started for him in sprint cars, Perris Auto Speedway, for the "20th Annual Sokola Shootout" this Saturday, March 18th. It is the final race for Tafoya before he heads out on the road to rejoin the national series in Texas beginning on April 27th. 300527699_5498527833533287_4600155835606142636_n.jpg The long layoff was not in the original plans for the 25-year-old Chino Hills, California resident. After making the main event at the Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Florida on February 18th, Tafoya and his crew returned to Southern California. Plans were to be back in action with the USAC/CRA Series at the Central Arizona Raceway. However, rains early in the week left the racing facility just like the swamps Tafoya toured in his off days in Florida, and the two-night show was canceled. In 2022, Tafoya qualified for all nine USAC/CRA main events in Perris, which is only 35 miles away from his home. Three of those races were at November's Oval Nationals and included the top drivers from the USAC National Sprint Car Series. Of those nine appearances, the handsome driver placed in the top 10 five times and was in the top five on two occasions. His best finish at the track which is located 77 miles east of Los Angeles, came on June 25th when he placed fourth. His best finish in the USAC/CRA Series in 2022 came when he placed second at the Cocopah Speedway on January 28th. At the 2022 "Sokola Shootout, Tafoya finished eighth in the 30-lap main event. That came a little over a month after he was clobbered by another car and ended up in a heap against the turn one fence in the A main at the "So Cal Showdown." Fortunately, he climbed out of the car unscathed, but the machine was destroyed. After this week's "Sokola Shootout," Tafoya and the team will have over a month off before getting back on the track with an ambitious five-race, 10-day schedule. The five races will take place on three different tracks. Like many races on his 2023 schedule, the three tracks will all be new to Tafoya. The first of the five will be at Rocket Raceway in Petty, Texas. Following that event, Tafoya and crew will head 90 miles south to the famous Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite for two nights on April 28th and 29th. The journey will continue when the team heads 1000 miles northeast to Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway in Ohio for the annual "Let's Race Two" weekend. There, Tafoya and the remainder of the USAC National stars will race two straight nights on a program that will include the legendary World of Outlaws. Like Devil's Bowl, Eldora is near the top of most sprint car fan's and driver's bucket lists. Tafoya qualified for two of the four main events during his February swing through Florida. One race was canceled by rain and Tafoya missed one show with fuel line problems on the great-looking #51T. In the two main events he qualified for, he placed 13th at Volusia Speedway Park on February 14th and was 21st at Bubba Raceway Park four days later. He is currently 22nd in USAC National Sprint Car points. The Specialty Fasteners #51T team is exploring corporate partnership opportunities for the 2023 campaign. If you or your company would like to be a partner, please contact Eddie Tafoya Jr. via phone at (909) 393-3999 or by e-mail at mailto:teamtafoya@aol.com. He will be happy to talk to you and lay out the team's plans. Tafoya's great-looking shirts and hoodies are available online at www.specialty-fasteners.com. Tafoya has a great YouTube channel at the following link https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1hrmC5L80EU. Fans can follow Tafoya on Instagram @eddietafoya51. Tafoya and the #51T team would like to thank Specialty Fasteners, DRC Chassis, Ryder Racing Engines, Simpson Safety Products, Bell, Benic Enterprises, BR Motorsports, PSC Powder Coating, Magik Graphics, Gasper Transportation, Owen's Insurance Services, and Weld Wheels for supporting its racing program. Eddie Tafoya Jr. 2023 USAC National Sprint Car Series Schedule February 13 Volusia Speedway Park Barberville, Florida DNS February 14 Volusia Speedway Park Barberville, Florida 13th A Main February 16 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala, Florida 8th B Main February 17 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala, Florida Rained Out February 18 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala, Florida 21st A Main March 3 Central Arizona Raceway Case Grande, Arizona Rained Out March 4 Central Arizona Raceway Case Grande, Arizona Rained Out March 18 Perris Auto Speedway Perris, California April 27 Rocket Raceway Park Petty, Texas April 28 Devil's Bowl Speedway Mesquite, Texas April 29 Devil's Bowl Speedway Mesquite, Texas May 5 Eldora Speedway Rossburg, Ohio May 6 Eldora Speedway Rossburg, Ohio June 2 Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, Iowa June 3 Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, Iowa July 21 Gas City I69 Speedway Gas City, Indiana July 22 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana July 23 Lawrenceburg Speedway Lawrenceburg, Indiana July 24 Circle City Raceway Indianapolis, Indiana July 26 TBA July 27 Lincoln Park Speedway Putnamville, Indiana July 28 Bloomington Speedway Bloomington, Indiana July 29 Tri-State Speedway Haubstadt, Indiana August 24 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana August 25 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana August 26 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com

• 
  EDDIE TAFOYA JR. BEGINS THE 2023 SEASON IN FLORIDA WITH RACING AND FUN

  (Chino, CA, February 25, 2023) Eddie Tafoya Jr made his first racing foray in Florida on the second week in February and qualified for two of the first four races of the year in the USAC National Sprint Car Series. As well as racing, the young star worked in many of Florida's best tourist attractions during his mini vacation. thumbnail.jpg The Specialty Fasteners #51T ready for action in Florida. Malyssa Perkins photo. The five nights of racing began at the track billed as "The World's Fastest Half Mile," Volusia Speedway Park on February 15th. Hopes ran high in the #51T ranks going into the race, but things did not go as planned. From the outset, a fuel line issue plagued the squad. After going out to qualify, Tafoya did not get in another lap of competition on what turned out to be a disappointing night. "It was frustrating, but I tried to stay cool and calm," the 2019 USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series Rookie of the Year stated. "We have had three years of absolutely no problems or anything like that. At some point, it is going to come in racing. So, you have to pick up the pieces and move on to the next night." Twenty-four hours later, the team had the issue straightened out and expectations were rejuvenated. Tafoya attacked the track in qualifying and recorded the 16th fastest time of 17.212 in the field of 26 cars. That time placed the handsome 25-year-old on the pole for his eight-lap heat race. Early on the car seemed loose and he slipped all the way back to sixth. However, he got it dialed in and did not lose any more ground. In the end, he narrowly missed the transfer spot to the main. Forced to contest the B Main, the Chino Hills, California resident started on the inside of row #2. The race was 12 laps and you had to finish in the top seven to transfer into the A Main. Tafoya was more than up to the challenge staying in fourth from the green to the checkers and finished nearly a full straightaway ahead of the fifth-place racecar. The first main event of the year for the friendly driver saw him start in the 16th position. That is where he stayed through the first 1/3 of the 30 lapper. Two laps later, he swept by three cars and into the 13th place. For the duration of the race, he was fast and smooth and came home with a 13th-place finish at his first appearance on the famous 54-year-old speed plant. After its first race of the 2023 campaign, the Specialty Fastener's hauler headed 50 miles east to Ocala, Florida's Bubba's Raceway Park for the annual "Dirt Winter Games." Like Volusia, Tafoya was making his debut at Bubba's where there would be one night of practice followed by three nights of racing. Bubba's Raceway Park is unlike most ovals Tafoya has competed on. In fact, it is quite different from nearly every track in North America. It is egg-shaped and has a wide first bend. The opposite end of the track is very narrow and gets interesting as it is much like a hairpin turn in road racing. When qualifying ended on the first night, Tafoya was 23rd of the 29 cars to take laps with a time of 14.903. That placed him in the eighth starting spot for his heat race and he finished in the same position as he started. Not transferring out of the heat meant Tafoya would start 10th in the B Main. The race almost came to a premature end for him as cars in front of him tangled leaving him with nearly nowhere to go. He steered through most of it and got away with a light tap on the front end and another shot from behind. He ended up one spot out of a transfer by placing eighth. The big winner at Bubba's on night two was the rain as it wiped out the racing program. The weather moved on by the next night and Tafoya and all the other sprint car stars returned to action one last time. Qualification saw Tafoya record a lap of 14.680. That was 19th in the 27-car field. He placed eighth in his heat race and ended up in what turned out to be a very eventful B Main. Tafoya was in the second row for the start of the B main event that would only transfer the first seven finishers to the finale of "Winter Dirt Games." Multiple tries to get the race started were thwarted by crashes. Fortunately, Tafoya was not in any of the carnage. Once the race got going, he was in the 4th place spot. However, the race was halted by a spectacular crash that saw a car flip and rip down a large portion of the main straightaway fence. That incident resulted in a lengthy delay as track officials had to repair the damage before racing could continue. Once action resumed, Tafoya continued in fourth and qualified for his second main event in the four nights of racing in the southeastern state. He started the main event in 18th. After his performance in the B main event, it was anticipated he would have a good run in the 35-lap finale. However, the rising star hit a slick spot on the track early on. He almost spun and by the time he gathered it back in and got back up to speed, he was nearly a straight behind the pack. Racing smartly, he decided to stay out of the leader's way when they caught up to him and he ended up 21st. "Volusia was super cool, and I feel like that was right up my alley," Tafoya reflected after returning to Southern California. "Banking and fast and big, you have to be smooth on the wheel and find the grip where you can. Not really much of a cushion you can bang off or anything like that so you have to be good on the foot. I feel it really suited my style. We were running down some of the big guys at the end there. I wish we could have had two nights there and skipped the little problem (fuel line) we ran into." "Ocala (Bubba's), if I had to say one thing about that place it would be, whoever had the experience there was going to do good. That is because it is two different tracks coming into turn three or turn one. I kind of had to find a happy medium on the setup to get through. I could have been way, way tighter on the car in one and two, but I would not have been able to get around and rotated in three and four. So it is kind of pick and choose your battles on that track and be good where you want to be good and survive the other half." The trip to Florida was not just about the races. Tafoya arrived in the "Sunshine State" days before the races began and he used that time to do the tourist routine. "Me and my dad checked out the beach and all kinds of stuff there," Tafoya said with a laugh. "We went to Daytona Speedway and did a tour. We ended up playing some golf, went to supercross, me and Malyssa (fellow sprint car driver and longtime crew member Malyssa Perkins) went to Disneyworld, saw a World of Outlaws race, went on an airboat, saw some gators, went kayaking. We did all kinds of stuff. We found time to do stuff we had not done before. It was cool." thumbnail (1).jpg Eddie Tafoya Jr. leading the hunt for gators in Florida. Tafoya's next Competition will come on March 3rd and 4th when the USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series travels to the Central Arizona Raceway. Two weeks after that, he will be back on his home track, Perris Auto Speedway, for the annual Sokola Shootout on March 18th. The Specialty Fasteners #51T team is exploring corporate partnership opportunities for the 2023 campaign. If you or your company would like to be a partner, please contact Eddie Tafoya Jr. via phone at (909) 393-3999 or by e-mail at mailto:teamtafoya@aol.com. He will be happy to talk to you and lay out the team's plans. Tafoya's great-looking shirts and hoodies are available online at www.specialty-fasteners.com. Tafoya has a great YouTube channel at the following link https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1hrmC5L80EU. Fans can follow Tafoya on Instagram @eddietafoya51. Tafoya and the #51T team would like to thank Specialty Fasteners, DRC Chassis, Ryder Racing Engines, Simpson Safety Products, Bell, Benic Enterprises, BR Motorsports, PSC Powder Coating, Magik Graphics, Gasper Transportation, Owen's Insurance Services, and Weld Wheels for supporting its racing program. Eddie Tafoya Jr. 2023 USAC National Sprint Car Series Schedule February 13 Volusia Speedway Park Barberville, Florida DNS February 14 Volusia Speedway Park Barberville, Florida 13th A Main February 16 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala, Florida 8th B Main February 17 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala, Florida Rained Out February 18 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala, Florida 21st A Main March 3 Central Arizona Raceway Case Grande, Arizona March 4 Central Arizona Raceway Case Grande, Arizona March 18 Perris Auto Speedway Perris, California April 27 Rocket Raceway Park Petty, Texas April 28 Devil's Bowl Speedway Mesquite, Texas April 29 Devil's Bowl Speedway Mesquite, Texas May 5 Eldora Speedway Rossburg, Ohio May 6 Eldora Speedway Rossburg, Ohio June 2 Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, Iowa June 3 Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, Iowa July 21 Gas City I69 Speedway Gas City, Indiana July 22 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana July 23 Lawrenceburg Speedway Lawrenceburg, Indiana July 24 Circle City Raceway Indianapolis, Indiana July 26 TBA July 27 Lincoln Park Speedway Putnamville, Indiana July 28 Bloomington Speedway Bloomington, Indiana July 29 Tri-State Speedway Haubstadt, Indiana August 24 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana August 25 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana August 26 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com

• 
  EDDIE TAFOYA JR. OPENS BUSY 2023 SEASON MONDAY AT FLORIDA'S VOLUSIA SPEEDWAY PARK

  (Chino, CA, February 12, 2023) Eddie Tafoya Jr. will open the most ambitious season in his burgeoning sprint car career when he contests the USAC National Sprint Car Series race at Florida's Volusia Speedway Park on Monday, February 13. It will be the first of five races in six nights in the "Sunshine State" and the first of 23 USAC National races on Tafoya's schedule. Tafoya and his team headed to Florida last week and have been enjoying the sites before getting down to business on Monday. Included have been visits to the beach, Daytona International Speedway, a World of Outlaws Sprint Car race, a round of golf, Disneyworld, and Supercross. The sites will be in the team's rearview mirror on Monday and the focus will be on racing for six straight nights. 314055795_5535085573194466_3931267134230796799_n.jpg Eddie Tafoya in action at Perris Auto Speedway in 2022. Doug Allen photo. The Chino Hills, California racer and 2019 USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series Rookie of the Year, will set his first wheel to a Florida track at Volusia for the "Federated Dirt Car Nationals" on Monday. Joining Tafoya and the other open-wheel stars at the doubleheader will be the Dirt Car Late Models. Opening night at Volusia will feature a 25-lap, $5,000.00-to-win main event. Twenty-four hours later, the 54-year-old high-speed half-mile dirt oval will host the same two classes and the sprint cars will be racing for some extra incentives. The drivers will duke it out for five more laps and the $10,000.00 winner's share of the purse. After his first racing experience at Volusia, 25-year-old Tafoya, and his team will journey 53 miles east to Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala. The 2018 Perris Auto Speedway Young Guns champion will get his first sample of the 3/8 of a mile semi-banked clay oval at a practice session on Wednesday night, the 15th. He will then race on the 16th, 17th, and 18th in "Winter Dirt Games XIV." The first two nights will feature 30-lap main events paying $5,000.00 to win at Bubba's. Saturday's finale will see an additional five laps and an extra $5,000.00 poured into the winner's check making it worth $10,000.00. The 23 national series races currently on Tafoya's schedule will be at 13 different tracks. In addition to Volusia and Bubba's, other tracks he will be competing on for the first time include Texas venues Rocket Raceway Park, and Devil's Bowl Speedway. He will also debut at Iowa's Knoxville Raceway, Circle City Speedway in Indianapolis, and Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway in Ohio. He will race in Indiana on the more familiar Gas City I69, Kokomo, Lawrenceburg, Lincoln Park, and Tri-State Speedways. "I do not want to plateau yet," Tafoya said last month when asked why he wanted to race so much in the national series. "I feel like I still have a lot to learn and I want to learn it quickly. I think going and running with the national guys, by the time I come back here it will put me in a lot better position. I just really want to win races. Really want to learn and to get faster. I want to up my experience in a quicker amount of time." In between the trips back and forth to the Midwest, Tafoya plans to get some races in on the West Coast. After the journey to Florida, Tafoya will be returning to Southern California. His first date in his home state should be the March 18th "Sokola Shootout" for the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars on his old stomping grounds, Perris Auto Speedway. For fans who are not headed to see "Mr. Smooth" in action in Florida, all five races will be streamed live online via pay-per-view. The Volusia events will be available on DirtVision at https://www.dirtvision.com/. All three of the competitions at Bubba Raceway Park will be streamed on Flo Racing at https://www.floracing.com/. The Specialty Fasteners #51T team is exploring corporate partnership opportunities for the 2023 campaign. If you or your company would like to be a partner with the highly visible team in 2023, please contact Eddie Tafoya Jr. via phone at (909) 393-3999 or by e-mail at mailto:teamtafoya@aol.com. He will be happy to talk to you and lay out the team's plans. Tafoya's great-looking shirts and hoodies are available online at www.specialty-fasteners.com. Tafoya has a great YouTube channel at the following link https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1hrmC5L80EU. Fans can follow Tafoya on Instagram @eddietafoya51. Tafoya and the #51T team would like to thank Specialty Fasteners, DRC Chassis, Ryder Racing Engines, Simpson Safety Products, Bell, Benic Enterprises, BR Motorsports, PSC Powder Coating, Magik Graphics, Gasper Transportation, Owen's Insurance Services, and Weld Wheels for supporting its racing program. Eddie Tafoya Jr. 2023 USAC National Sprint Car Series Schedule February 13 Volusia Speedway Park Barberville, Florida February 14 Volusia Speedway Park Barberville, Florida February 16 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala, Florida February 17 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala, Florida February 18 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala, Florida April 27 Rocket Raceway Park Petty, Texas April 28 Devil's Bowl Speedway Mesquite, Texas April 29 Devil's Bowl Speedway Mesquite, Texas May 5 Eldora Speedway Rossburg, Ohio May 6 Eldora Speedway Rossburg, Ohio June 2 Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, Iowa June 3 Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, Iowa July 21 Gas City I69 Speedway Gas City, Indiana July 22 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana July 23 Lawrenceburg Speedway Lawrenceburg, Indiana July 24 Circle City Raceway Indianapolis, Indiana July 26 TBA July 27 Lincoln Park Speedway Putnamville, Indiana July 28 Bloomington Speedway Bloomington, Indiana July 29 Tri-State Speedway Haubstadt, Indiana August 24 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana August 25 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana August 26 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com

• 
  ASCS Elite Non-Wing Lines Up 20 Dates For 2023 Run

  Bryan Hulbert - DRUMRIGHT, Okla. (January 27, 2023) Taking on a 20-night slate in 2023, the ASCS Elite Non-Wing Series presented by Abilene Powder Coating will feature events in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. With several marque events on the docket, the tour will also go head-to-head multiple times with the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship. Still basing the bulk of the tour in Texas, 11 dates will take place in the "Lone Star State". Four trips just across the line to Arkansas, one of the largest events of the year, will happen at Texarkana 67 Speedway with the continuation of the Wingless Short Track Nationals. The March event has upped the purse to $10,000 to win, $500 to start. A trio of trips into Oklahoma, the two-night season finale at Red Dirt Raceway is among the dates paired with USAC. Completing the list of racing destinations is a May swing into Louisiana at Boothill and Ark-La-Tex. The ASCS Elite Non-Wing Series presented by Abilene Powder Coating, is owned and operated by Nathan Moore and operates under the sanction of the American Sprint Car Series. The ASCS Elite Non-Wing Series presented by Abilene Powder Coating operates under its own rules, which can be found at https://www.ascsracing.com/series-info/rules.aspx. Nathan can be reached at (903) 780-9934 or by email at elitenonwingsprints@gmail.com. The 2023 season will mark the 32nd year of competition for the American Sprint Car Series. Spearheaded by the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network, the ASCS Nation includes Regional Tours that encompass both wing and non-wing competition. For other news, notes, and information on any of the tours under the ASCS banner, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com, follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@LucasOilASCS). 2023 ASCS Elite Non-Wing Lineup: 3/11/2023-Kennedale Speedway Park - Kennedale, TX 3/24/2023-Texarkana 67 Speedway - Texarkana, AR 3/25/2023-Texarkana 67 Speedway - Texarkana, AR 4/8/2023-Abilene Speedway - Abilene, TX 4/26/2023-Texarkana 67 Speedway - Texarkana, AR 4/27/2023-Rocket Raceway Park - Petty, TX 4/28/2023-Devil's Bowl Speedway - Mesquite, TX 4/29/2023-Devil's Bowl Speedway - Mesquite, TX 5/26/2023-Texarkana 67 Speedway - Texarkana, AR 5/27/2023-Boothill Speedway - Greenwood, LA 5/28/2023-Ark-La-Tex Speedway - Vivian, LA 7/14/2023-West Texas Raceway - Lubbock, TX 7/15/2023-Route 66 Motor Speedway - Amarillo, TX 8/4/2023-Heart O' Texas Speedway - Waco, TX 8/5/2023-Devil's Bowl Speedway - Mesquite, TX 8/11/2023-Boyd Raceway - Boyd, TX 8/12/2023-Lawton Speedway - Lawton, OK 9/30/2023-Rocket Raceway Park - Petty, TX 10/27/2023-Red Dirt Raceway - Meeker, OK 10/28/2023-Red Dirt Raceway - Meeker, OK

• 
  EDDIE TAFOYA JR. HAS A BUSY USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE IN 2023

  (Chino, CA, January 8, 2023) Eddie Tafoya Jr., the 2019 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year and 2018 Perris Auto Speedway Young Guns Sprint Car Champion, will take the next step in his racing career with an expanded schedule in the USAC National Sprint Car Series in 2023. Starting February 13th and 14th with a pair of special events at the Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Florida, and finishing at the 11th Annual "Smack Down" at Indiana's Kokomo Speedway on August 24th, 25th, and 26th, he will compete 23 times in the premiere traditional sprint car series in the world. PAS 3-26-22=51t=0614-3.jpg Eddie Tafoya at Perris in 2022. Doug Allen photo. Last year the Chino Hills, California resident had a career-best season in 410 sprint cars. He made 24 starts in the USAC/CRA Series and placed in the top 10, 13 times. Of the 13, six of those were top five. His best outing of the campaign came when he placed second at Arizona's Cocopah Speedway on January 29th. His hard work ended up in a third-place finish in the standings. Tafoya wants to build on the success of the 2022 season and feels the best way to do that is by expanding his participation in the USAC National Series. "We had a great year last year," the handsome driver said on Thursday afternoon. "Third was good and our best finish was second. I really, really, really want to win. We were close, but we didn't have the right package on the right nights. I do not want to plateau yet. I feel like I still have a lot to learn and I want to learn it quickly. I think going and running with the national guys, by the time I come back here it will put me in a lot better position. I just really want to win races. Really want to learn and to get faster. I want to up my experience in a quicker amount of time." The 23 national series races currently on his schedule will be at 13 different tracks. Tafoya, 25, will be making his debut at seven of them. They are Florida's Volusia Speedway Park, and Bubba Raceway Park. He will be racing in Texas for the first time at Rocket Raceway Park, and the Devil's Bowl Speedway. He will also make first appearances at Ohio's Eldora Speedway, Iowa's Knoxville Raceway, which is known as the "Sprint Car Capital of the World," and the Circle City Raceway in Indiana. The appearances at Devil's Bowl, Eldora, and Knoxville are especially inviting as they are among the most famous dirt tracks in the world. In 2022, Tafoya only ventured to the Midwest one time. That was for the three-night USAC National race at Huset's Speedway in South Dakota in July. After placing 10th and 13th on the first two nights, the fit driver started the finale by scoring a comfortable win in his qualifier. After starting third in the main, he ran in the top three for the first 17 laps. That included running second for several laps much to the delight of the crowd at the track and thousands watching around the world on Flo Racing. While in third on lap 18, he slapped the wall coming off turn four sending his car bicycling onto the left side wheels and then back into the wall when it came back down on all fours. The young charger stayed on the throttle despite a bad vibration in the car. He remained on the track for the duration and placed 15th with what turned out to be a badly bent wheel. "We ran in third until I think halfway to go when I got into the wall," Tafoya stated when asked if his run at Huset's weighed on his decision to expand his National schedule. "Out here (on the West Coast) I really don't know what it is. On our good nights, we are all right. On our bad nights, we just could not figure it out. All of my crew said if we could run like we did at Huset's we would be doing great out here. I need to go back there. I feel I just need to do some homework and be able to be in that zone for a consistent amount of time and not just hit and miss." Racing in the National Series means Tafoya will be spending some time on the seven tracks he has never raced on. He is looking forward to new adventures and challenges. While he has never set a tire to those tracks, he has battled on many of them on the simulator. "I really like the big race tracks as I seem to do a lot better when I go a lot faster for whatever reason that is," the second-generation sprint car driver laughed. "I know that just watching Bubba (Bubba Raceway Park) in Florida that it is quick. I know Devil's Bowl is supposed to be fast. Eldora is obviously huge and so is Knoxville. I run all of those on the simulator. I think it will be really cool to get back to those tracks and see what we can do against those guys." "I wouldn't say it helps much when it comes to set up stuff," he said, referring to racing on a simulator. "But it helps for sure with visual and reaction stuff. Like when stuff starts going wrong. Training your brain on how to react to certain situations and stuff like that, I think it is really helpful." The only uncertainty in heading back to the Midwest seems to be crew related. Well supported by family and friends when he is racing in the west, that may be a bit harder when he is competing thousands of miles away. "That is definitely one of the big issues," the driver intoned when queried on who would be helping when he is not in California. "We have a couple of buddies who live back there who we are fortunate that they let us use their properties and stuff. The Wingo brothers run a sprint car back there and I think they are going to come help us whenever they can. Hopefully, we can fly in Kenny (Perkins), Malyssa (Perkins), my cousins, and whoever else can lend a hand when we need it." While his focus for 2023 will be in the USAC National series, West Coast fans need not fret as they will still get to see Tafoya in action when he is not away racing in the Midwest. He will be in and out for events early in the season and with his current USAC National schedule slated to end in August, he should get in several races in September, October, and November. "I know that after we go to Florida, we are bringing our stuff home," Tafoya said. "So in between the end of February and mid-April, we will be home. We will see if there are some races in there. We have not decided if we are leaving our stuff there between Eldora to Knoxville or if we are coming back. Basically, whenever my stuff is home, we will try to hit Perris and some other closer stuff. And if somebody needs a driver here (when he is not in the Midwest), I would be more than happy to drive." The Specialty Fasteners #51T team is currently busy in the shop making sure the cars are ready for the season openers in Florida. In addition to working on the cars in the shop, they are exploring corporate partnership opportunities for the upcoming campaign. If you or your company would like to be a partner with the Specialty Fasteners team in 2023, please contact Eddie Tafoya Jr. via phone at (909) 393-3999 or by e-mail at mailto:teamtafoya@aol.com. He will be happy to talk to you and lay out the team's plans. Tafoya's great-looking shirts and hoodies are available online at www.specialty-fasteners.com. Tafoya has a great YouTube channel at the following link https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1hrmC5L80EU. Fans can follow Tafoya on Instagram @eddietafoya51. Tafoya and the #51T team would like to thank Specialty Fasteners, DRC Chassis, Ryder Racing Engines, Simpson Safety Products, Bell, Benic Enterprises, BR Motorsports, PSC Powder Coating, Magik Graphics, Gasper Transportation, Owen's Insurance Services, and Weld Wheels for supporting its racing program. Eddie Tafoya Jr. 2023 USAC National Sprint Car Series Schedule February 13 Volusia Speedway Park Barberville, Florida February 14 Volusia Speedway Park Barberville, Florida February 16 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala, Florida February 17 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala, Florida February 18 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala, Florida April 27 Rocket Raceway Park Petty, Texas April 28 Devil's Bowl Speedway Mesquite, Texas April 29 Devil's Bowl Speedway Mesquite, Texas May 5 Eldora Speedway Rossburg, Ohio May 6 Eldora Speedway Rossburg, Ohio June 2 Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, Iowa June 3 Knoxville Raceway Knoxville, Iowa July 21 Gas City I69 Speedway Gas City, Indiana July 22 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana July 23 Lawrenceburg Speedway Lawrenceburg, Indiana July 24 Circle City Raceway Indianapolis, Indiana July 26 TBA July 27 Lincoln Park Speedway Putnamville, Indiana July 28 Bloomington Speedway Bloomington, Indiana July 29 Tri-State Speedway Haubstadt, Indiana August 24 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana August 25 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana August 26 Kokomo Speedway Kokomo, Indiana This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com

Rocket Raceway Park Dirt Track Videos

• IN-CAR #45 Chase Holland Rocket Raceway Park 3/5/23
• Short Track Super Series (11/10/22 - Feature No. 2) at Rocket Raceway Park
• Short Track Super Series (11/10/22 - Feature No. 1) at Rocket Raceway Park
• LIVE PREVIEW: Short Track Super Series Cajun Swing at Rocket Raceway Park

Rocket Raceway Park Nearby Dirt Tracks

Distance information is direct (as the crow flies) - driving distance will differ due to road routes and things like lakes or mountains.

• 
  Grayson County Speedway Race Track39 miles away - Bells, Texas, USA
• 
  Superbowl Speedway Race Track43 miles away - Greenville, Texas, USA
• 
  Buffalo Creek Speedway Race Track67 miles away - Edgewood, Texas, USA
• 
  Devils Bowl Speedway Race Track73 miles away - Mesquite, Texas, USA
• 
  KMS Speedway Race Track75 miles away - Nashoba, Oklahoma, USA
• 
  RPM Speedway Race Track77 miles away - Crandall, Texas, USA
• 
  Timberline Speedway Race Track82 miles away - Corley, Texas, USA
• 
  Southern Oklahoma Speedway Race Track84 miles away - Ardmore, Oklahoma, USA
• 
  Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track Race Track94 miles away - Fort Worth, Texas, USA
• 
  Lonestar Speedway Race Track95 miles away - Kilgore, Texas, USA
• 
  Big O Speedway Race Track99 miles away - Ennis, Texas, USA

Rocket Raceway Park Dirt Track Racing Organizations

• 
  ASCS - American Sprint Car Series Dirt Track Racing Organization
• 
  BOSS - Bandits Outlaw Sprint Series Dirt Track Racing Organization
• 
  CCSDS - COMP Cams Super Dirt Series Dirt Track Racing Organization
• 
  DIRTcar - DIRTcar Racing Dirt Track Racing Organization
• 
  NOW600 - Lucas Oil NOW600 National Micros Dirt Track Racing Organization
• 
  POWRi - Performance Open Wheel Racing Inc Dirt Track Racing Organization
• 
  STSS - Short Track Super Series Dirt Track Racing Organization
• 
  TSS - Texas Sprint Series Dirt Track Racing Organization
• 
  USAC - United States Auto Club Dirt Track Racing Organization
• 
  USMTS - United States Modified Touring Series Dirt Track Racing Organization
• 
  USRA - United States Racing Association Dirt Track Racing Organization