Logan Williams Looks for a Turn of Fortune at Saturday’s Santa Maria Usac/Cra Race - Speedway Digest

After an unsatisfactory result in last Saturday’s Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series main event at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, veteran driver Logan Williams is looking for a change in fortune this Saturday night when the series heads to the Santa Maria Speedway.

Logan Williams in recent action at Perris Auto Speedway. Kenny Lonngren photo.

Williams, 28, goes into this weekend’s competition ranked fifth in the USAC/CRA championship point standings. The 2014 Series Rookie of the Year has had a breakout season in 2024. However, last Saturday’s uncharacteristic result was one of the few blemishes in his season’s racing ledger. It was only the third time in 13 starts that he has failed to finish in the top 10. All three of those outings came when he was not around for the finish of the 30-lappers.

Saturday’s race will be the third of the season at Santa Maria for Yorba Linda, California-based Williams, and it will be a welcome getaway from the blast furnace temperatures that have been torching Southern California. Williams, the son of National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Rip Williams and brother of fellow USAC/CRA stars Cody and Austin Williams, had an outstanding outing at Santa Maria four weeks ago on August 10^th. After qualifying six fastest and placing 5^th in his heat on the 60-year-old one-third mile bank clay oval, Williams began the main event outside the front row.

In the main, Williams, driving the beautiful Flowdynamics #5W, hounded the leader over the first half of the race and nearly stole the point position several times. However, a fast leader, lapped cars, and a “cowboy up” track thwarted those attempts. The affable driver held the runner-up spot until he was passed at the checkered flag and finished third. His only better finish of the year came at Kern on June 8^th when he placed second.

In his initial appearance of 2024 at Santa Maria, Williams won his heat race and came from 11^th to finish eighth in the main event on July 6^th.

Last Saturday at Kern, Williams, the 2013 Perris Auto Speedway Young Guns Champion, qualified 17^th in the 27-car field and placed fourth in his 10-lap heat race. He started the 30-lap main in 17^th and quickly reached the top 10. The likable driver stayed in the top 10 until lap 24, when he suddenly rolled to a stop in turn four. Unfortunately, a hook was needed to get the car off the track, and he finished with a very frustrating 18th-place result.

“We don’t know,” the baffled Williams responded when asked what put him out of the race. “The car has been handling really bad the last two races.”

For fans wanting to see Williams at USAC/CRA’s last 2024 appearance at Santa Maria on Saturday, adult tickets are $30.00. Seniors and military get in for $28.00. For kids 6-12, it is only $5.00, and children 5 and under are free. Gates will open at 4:00 p.m., qualifying will begin at 5:00 and the first race will take the green flag at 6:00. The track is located at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo. The track website is https://santamariaspeedway.net/.

After Saturday’s race, Williams will be joined by his teammate Matt McCarthy when USAC/CRA returns to its home track, Perris Auto Speedway, on September 21^st.

Whenever you get the chance to meet the Flowdynamics drivers in person, be sure to visit them in the pits. They will be glad to sign your autographs, and each of them will have their fine-looking team shirts available.

If you or your company would like to be a part of one of the West Coast’s most prominent sprint car teams in the 2024 season, please contact John McCarthy at 909 930-5522 or [email protected].

Flowdynamics PR