Three Cars at Two Different Tracks for Sexton Gatlin Racing This Saturday - Speedway Digest

This Saturday night is going to be a busy one for the Sexton Gatlin Racing team. The longtime Lakeside, California-based racing squad will have three cars in action. However, there is a catch. Brent Sexton and his 20-year-old son Grant will be racing in the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series Brother Brett Classic at Perris Auto Speedway. Flat track motorcycle racer Braydin Collie will be racing 89 miles away with the SoCal Lightning Sprints at the Barona Speedway.

436402577_437832889220252_4269726030651268774_n.jpgGrant Sexton qualifying at Perris. Anthony Hernandez photo.

For the second time in 2024, Brent Sexton, 52, and Grant raced at the recently reopened Santa Maria Speedway last Saturday in the USAC/CRA Series. They, along with 22 other cars, converged on the 1/3 mile banked clay oval. Grant kicked things off when he toured the famous track in 13.560. That was good enough for the eighth-fastest qualifying time of the 24 cars present. Brent stopped the Kenny Poplin clock at 13.997. That was the 18th fastest in the tightly packed field.

Heat race action was kind to the family duo. Grant was up first when he rolled off the fourth spot in the second 10 lap heat race. The 2023 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year pushed his pretty number 22 car to a second place finish. Moments later, Brent started the final 10-lapper on the pole. The wily veteran, who has three lightning sprint car championships to his name, finished in third place.

Grant had a good starting spot in the main on the outside of row four. However, he was rocked by bad luck again. In turn one on the first lap, the two cars in front of him touched wheels. One got sideways, leaving Grant nowhere to go, and he clipped the car. That took out his front end. As he continued down the track, he was hit by several other cars before he got to the infield. The damage was extensive, and the effervescent young driver was out with a 23rd-place finish.

Brent, who races a Triple X powered by a former Rico Abreu 360 in the USAC/CRA Series, began the main event in 18th and finished 14th.

Thus far in 2024, Brent has made six appearances at Perris. His best finish was a ninth at the last race there on July 13th. Grant has raced on the famous half-mile clay oval five times this season, and his best finish was a sixth on June 22nd.

Coming into this week’s race, Brent is 13th in the season-long USAC/CRA standings and third in the Rookie of the Year chase. He is only five points out of 12th in the yearlong points count and the same number of markers out of second in the R.O.Y. standings. Grant comes into the night 15th in USAC/CRA.

Collie will be starting only his third lightning sprint car race in the Sexton Gatlin #44 at the Barona Speedway. Two weeks ago in only his second race, he was the main event “Hard Charger,” passing more cars than anybody else and going from 13th to fifth. Earlier in his heat race, he went from the back to finish third. He comes into Saturday’s battle at Barona 24th in SCLS points.

To see Brent and Grant in action in the Brother Brett Classic at Perris, the spectator gates will open at 5:00 PM, and the first race will begin promptly at 7:00. Adult tickets are $30.00. For seniors 65 and over, it is $25.00. Kids six to twelve get in for only $5.00, and children five and under are admitted free. The fairgrounds charge $10.00 for parking. Advance tickets are available 24 hours a day online at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/pas/7 or by calling 1-800-595-4849. For fans who do not wish to buy tickets in advance, there will be plenty available at the ticket window on Saturday. The track is located on the freeway close Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in the city of Perris.

In addition to the SCLS Series seventh round Saturday at Barona, the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Compacts, IMCA Stock Cars, Dwarf Cars, Pure Stocks, Mini Dwarfs, and Junior Sprints. Gates will open at 2:00 p.m., with racing at 6:00. Adult tickets are $20.00. For kids 7 to 17, admission is $10.00. Seniors, Military, and EMTs also get in for $10.00. Children 6 and under are free. Family packs of two adults and two kids are $50.00. Parking is free. The Barona Speedway is located at 1754 Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside, California. The track website is https://baronaspeedway.com/, and the phone number is (619) 994-6560.

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, Sexton Fire Protection, BK Wings, Troy Dirt.

SGR PR