With a dazzling new wrap on his hauler, Eddie Tafoya Jr. is ready for the biggest race of his 2024 season this Friday and Saturday, November 1st and 2nd, at the Mohave Valley Raceway. The event is the historic 57th annual Avanti Windows and Doors Western World Championships for the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars. Each night, the program will feature full shows with qualifying, heat races, and main events.
449381655_10168973024345201_9050418714845135901_n.jpgEddie Tafoya Jr. is ready for this week’s Western World Championshipsat Mohave. Kenny Lonngren photo.
The two nights of racing this weekend will take place at one of Tafoya’s favorite tracks. The racy 1/3 mile banked oval, which is just minutes from the Colorado River and less than a half hour from downtown Laughlin, Nevada, is known for some of the best wheel-to-wheel action in the country. Every time he is there, Tafoya is in the thick of the wild battles, and he can usually be found rim-riding at the top.
“I don’t know if it is the track shape, or maybe the banking, I am just really confident getting the car in there,” Tafoya said before his last trip to Mohave in October. “Ever since I was there the first time, I have had a good base setup. I just jell well (there). So, it is really exciting to go back there. I think that is the only track I have been good at every single time. I need to figure out what I am doing there and carry it on to the other places.”
This weekend will be Tafoya’s third time at the track this year. He placed in the top 10 in his first two appearances. On April 6th, the 27-year-old veteran racer was the second-fastest qualifier on the night. He started sixth in his heat race and moved forward to finish fourth. That night, he began the main event on the inside of row three in fifth and placed six.
Last month, when Tafoya returned to battle on the edge-of-your-seat track, he turned in the eighth-fastest qualifying time and dazzled the crowd with a brave ride around the top to win the second 10-lap heat race. He began the 30-lap feature in the eighth spot and finished seventh.
The first time he ever saw the “Copper State” track on April 22nd, 2022, he finished third in the USAC/CRA main event.
“Driving-wise, it is one of my favorite racetracks,” Tafoya said. “You can be really aggressive for most of the night until it slicks off. Even when it was slick last year, I think I was the only one running the top until I got to the front and showed those guys that. It is fun, and it is a racy little place. Hopefully, some moisture stays in the dirt for us.”
Gates at Mohave Valley Raceway will open at 5:00 p.m. each day, with racing at 7:00. An adult two-day ticket is $45.00. Single-day tickets are $25.00 for adults and $15.00 for children. Online advance tickets are available until November 1st at 12:00 a.m. Central Standard time at https://www.myracepass.com/tracks/2145/tickets/1413705. It is cash only for tickets (no ATMs on site). Concessions, souvenirs, and the beer garden take cash or cards. For more information, the track website is https://www.mohavevalleyraceway.com/, and the office phone is (928) 346-6000.
Tafoya will wrap up the USAC/CRA portion of his season on November 9th at Perris Auto Speedway.
Fans can follow Tafoya on Instagram @eddietafoya51.
Eddie Tafoya PR