Sexton Gatlin Racing Is Back in Action With Usac/Cra Saturday at Perris - Speedway Digest

After two nights and three races last weekend, Sexton Gatlin Racing will be back on the track this Saturday night with the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Cars at Perris Auto Speedway. It will be the next to last race for the series at its home track in 2024.

Brent Sexton at Perris Auto Speedway photo courtesy of Kenny Lonngren.

Last Friday night, Brent Sexton drove his #44 lightning sprint car in the California Lightning Series at the Bakersfield Speedway. A three-time lightning champion – 1999 and 2008 with the CLS and 2022 with the POWRi Southwest Series) – Sexton was making his sixth start of the year in a lightning. Performing in front of a massive crowd on the race card that featured the World of Outlaws with the CLS, Sexton started 12^th in the main and raced his way up to seventh. Earlier in the night, he was the 11th fastest qualifier in the 20-car field and placed second in his heat race.

Twenty-four hours after the race at Bakersfield, the action shifted west to the cool breezes of the Pacific Ocean for a race at the Ventura Raceway. Sexton and his 20-year-old son Grant were competing in the Ultimate Sprint Car Series presented by Inland Rigging at Ventura, and USAC/CRA star AJ Bender of San Diego was driving Brent’s lightning sprint with the CLS.

Father and son both qualified fourth fastest in their respective groups. Grant’s 13.176 was the ninth-best of the night overall, and Brent’s 13.790 was the 16^th quickest of the 22 cars on hand. Brent had a better heat race result with a fourth, while Grant’s preliminary race ended early when issues forced him back to the pits.

For the main, Brent, driving a XXX Chassis powered by an x-Rico Abreu Shaver 360, started 15^th and ended up 14^th. The DNF in his heat saw Grant slapped with a 20^th starting spot in the main. However, he put on a show for the fans. The Lakeside, California-based racer moved up 11 positions to capture the Hard Charger award and finish ninth.

After the race, Grant sits 11^th in the USCS points. Brent is one position behind. Heading into Saturday’s USAC/CRA race at Perris, it is the exact opposite. Brent is 13^th in points, and Grant is 14^th.

On the lightning sprint side of the program at Ventura, Bender qualified seventh fastest of the 14 cars on hand, came home fourth in his heat, and drove a determined race to take fifth in the 25-lap main event.

Saturday’s race will have an extra incentive for the SGR drivers. Brent’s mom, Nita Gatlin, will be celebrating her birthday and the guys will be digging hard to give her a win.

To see the Sextons in action on Saturday at Perris, spectator gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with racing at 7:00. Adult tickets for Saturday’s exciting racing program are $30.00. Seniors 65 and over get in for $25.00. For kids 6 to 12, it is only $5.00, and children five and under are admitted free. The fairground charges $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. Plenty of tickets will be available at the ticket window every race night for fans who do not wish to purchase in advance.

The PAS is conveniently located on the freeway close Lake Perris Fairgrounds, home of the Southern California Fair, in nearby Riverside County. Take the 215 freeway. Exit at the Ramona Expressway and go three miles east to the fairgrounds. For directions online, the address to enter is 18700 Lake Perris Drive, and the zip code is 92571.

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.

If you or your company are interested in becoming a marketing partner with Sexton Gatlin Racing in 2024, please call (619) 454-6945 or E-mail mailto:[email protected] or mailto:[email protected].

SGR PR