Eddie Tafoya Jr Finishes 10th at Perris – Two Races on Labor Day Weekend - Speedway Digest

Eddie Tafoya Jr. brought the Specialty Fasteners #51T home 10^th last Saturday night in the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series inaugural Brother Brett Classic at Perris Auto Speedway. After getting this weekend off, the talented driver will have double duty on Labor Day weekend. On Saturday, August 31^st, he will compete in the USAC/CRA Bob Vermeer/Narcie Ferreira Classic at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. Twenty-four hours and 127 miles later, he will be in action with the Ultimate Sprint Car Series presented by Inland Rigging at the Santa Maria Speedway.

Eddie Tafoya Jr. qualifying at Perris. Anthony Hernandez photo.

Last Saturday, Tafoya, 27, earned his seventh straight top 10 finish in the toughest traditional sprint car series west of the Mississippi. The last time Tafoya finished out of the top 10 in the USAC/CRA Series was five months ago when he placed 12^th at Arizona’s Cocopah Speedway.

Starting 12^th in last week’s 30-lap main event, he steered his beautiful #51T two spots forward by the time the checkered came down. The finish put Tafoya in ninth in the season-long standings heading into next week’s race at Kern.

Before the main event on the famous Riverside County half mile clay oval, Tafoya qualified with a lap of 17.594. That was 12^th fastest in the tough 20 car field. He followed that up by placing fourth in his 10 lap heat race.

In his first race of the season at Kern on June 8^th, Tafoya had his season-best USAC/CRA finish when he placed fourth in the 30-lap race. In that one, he came forward three spots after starting seventh. Earlier on that night, he was the fourth fastest qualifier and finished seventh in his heat.

When Tafoya gets to Santa Maria 24 hours after the race at Kern, he will go to a track where he has only been to one time this year. His lone appearance there on June 15^th was a good one. Racing in the USCS Series, he placed second in the 30-lap main event. To date, that is his best finish of 2024. He will enter the show at the San Luis Obispo County track sixth in USCS points.

For fans wanting to travel to see Tafoya in action in the Bob Vermeer – Narcie Ferreira Classic on August 31^st at Kern, adult tickets are $25.00. For kids 6-12 it is only $10.00. Advance tickets are available from the track’s website at https://www.kernraceway.com/. The grandstands will open at 5:00 p.m. and cars will be on the track at 5:30. The first race will take the green flag at 7:00. The track is located at 13500 Raceway Boulevard in Bakersfield, California. The office phone number and email are (661) 835-1264 and mailto:[email protected].

On Sunday night at Santa Maria, adult tickets are $25.00. Seniors and military get in for $23.00. For kids 6-12, it is only $5.00, and children 5 and under are free. Gates will open at 4:00 p.m., with qualifying at 5:00 and racing at 6:00. The track is located at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo. The track website is https://santamariaspeedway.net/.

Friendly Tafoya is always happy to meet the fans in the pits after every race. He will sign autographs, pose for photos, and sell his beautiful 2024 team shirts. For fans who cannot attend the races, the team shirts are available at www.specialty-fasteners.com.

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 PR