When Eddie Tafoya Jr. returns to the Mojave Valley Raceway on Saturday night for round #4 of the USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, he will be visiting a track where he had good results during the 2023 racing season.  The event is a late ad to his schedule before heading to Texas, and Ohio later in the month.

In 2022, Tafoya, 25 of Chino Hills, California, contested both USAC/CRA races on the banked 1/3 mile Arizona clay oval during the year.  Both times the friendly driver finished in the top 10.  He scored a third at the track that is minutes away from the Arizona/California border a year ago this month and placed eighth there in October.  The third-place finish was his second-best outing with USAC/CRA in 2022.  It was only bettered by his second-place finish at another Arizona track, the Cocopah Speedway, on January 29^th. 

“The first race there we got third,” Tafoya explained during an interview last week.  “We were right on the leader and the second-place car and we were battling with them.  I like that racetrack and it is fun.   It was definitely different both times we went there.  The first time it was pretty locked down on the bottom. The second time it was a bit slicker and you could move around.  We will just have to see how it works out.  I don’t know how the weather has been (there) lately.  We will have to see.”

Tafoya’s only action in the USAC/CRA Series thus far this year came two weeks ago when he started 11^th and finished ninth at Perris Auto Speedway.  His main focus in 2023 will be on the USAC National Sprint Cars.  So far Tafoya has competed in that series four times this year with his best result being a 13^th at Florida’s Volusia Raceway Park on February 14^th.  After this week’s race, he will take three weekends off before hitting the road for three races in Texas at the end of the month.  The first night in the “Lone Star State” he will be competing at the Rocket Raceway Park in the city of Perry.  The following two nights he will be in action at the legendary Devil’s Bowl Speedway.   From there his journey will continue east for a pair of races in Ohio at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway on the 5^th and 6^th of May. 

After Ohio, Tafoya will return to the west coast before venturing to the “Sprint Car Capital of the World,” Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway, on June 2^nd and 3^rd. 

For fans looking to make the journey to the Mohave Valley Raceway on Saturday, the track is located at 2750 E. Laguna Rd. in Mohave Valley, Arizona (86440).  Gates at the popular track which is located just minutes away from the Colorado River and less than a half hour from downtown Laughlin, will open at 5:00 p.m.  The first green flag of the night will wave at 7:00.  Adult tickets are $25.00.  For seniors 60 and over and active military with proper id, it is $20.00.  Kids 6-12 get in for just $5.00 and children five and under are free.  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.  

The Specialty Fasteners #51T team is exploring corporate partnership opportunities for the 2023 campaign.  If you or your company would like to be a partner, please contact Eddie Tafoya Jr. via phone at (909) 393-3999 or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. He will be happy to talk to you and lay out the team’s plans.

Tafoya’s great-looking shirts and hoodies are available online at www.specialty-fasteners.com.

Tafoya has a great YouTube channel at the following link https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1hrmC5L80EU.

Fans can follow Tafoya on Instagram @eddietafoya51.

Tafoya and the #51T team would like to thank Specialty Fasteners, DRC Chassis, Ryder Racing Engines, Simpson Safety Products, Bell, Benic Enterprises, BR Motorsports, PSC Powder Coating, Magik Graphics, Gasper Transportation, Owen’s Insurance Services, and Weld Wheels for supporting its racing program.

Eddie Tafoya PR

Tonight’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Richmond Raceway has been postponed due to inclement weather. The Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150 is rescheduled for 4:30 p.m. Saturday following the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Toyota Care 250 that begins at 1 p.m.

“Tomorrow will be a day we won’t soon forget,” said Richmond Raceway President Lori Collier Waran. “It’s disappointing we couldn’t’ race tonight, but our fans will now be treated to two incredible events on the opening day of April.”

Parking lots open at 7 a.m. Saturday and gates open at 8 a.m. with all Friday parking passes honored. Friday ticket holders can enter the facility beginning at 4 p.m., while Saturday ticket holders can enjoy both races by relocating to the Commonwealth and Veranda general admission sections following the NASCAR Xfinity Series race.

The action they’ll witness sets the stage for a superb Sunday of NASCAR Cup Series racing. The Toyota Owners 400 begins shortly after 3:30 p.m., with former Washington Commanders tight end Vernon Davis leading the field to green as the Honorary Pace Car Driver.

Tickets Saturday and Sunday remain available but are going fast. Fans should visit richmondraceway.com to secure their seats now. They should also stay connected to Richmond Raceway on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the NASCAR Tracks App for the latest information.

Richmond Raceway PR

The month of April holds a special place in the heart of McCallister Precision Marketing founder Tonya McCallister. 

Her son, Elliott, was diagnosed with autism at an early age. Since then, McCallister has gone the extra mile to raise autism awareness, especially during the month of April, which is designated as Autism Awareness Month.

Autism is characterized by social communication challenges and repetitive behaviors. Usually detected by parents in their children within the first three years, approximately one percent of the world’s population has autism, which equates to more than 75 million people.

As part of McCallister Precision Marketing’s autism awareness efforts, many McCallister Precision Marketing client’s race cars will feature puzzle piece themed numbers in support of Autism Awareness Month.

“Each year we get more and more participation in our Autism Awareness campaign,” McCallister said. “I have clients, families, fans, series, sponsors and even non-clients asking how they can get involved. It’s nice to see that we’ve sparked some awareness and can make a difference in the lives of others.

“This year we’re proud to have 100 percent participation from all our MPM clients, who will all be running the puzzle themed numbers during the month of April.”

Leading the charge for McCallister Precision Marketing during Autism Awareness Month will be Lee Faulk Racing. During the month of April, no less than six Lee Faulk Racing drivers will carry the special puzzle themed numbers. Those drivers include Isabella Robusto, Regina Sirvent, Michael Faulk, Dean Thompson, Toni Breidinger and Darren Krantz Jr.

Also taking part is Brett Coltman through his Coltman Farms Racing dirt late model team. Coltman’s two drivers, Kenny Collins and David McCoy, will carry McCallister Precision Marketing’s puzzle themed numbers throughout the month of April. 

Coltman also graciously promotes Autism Awareness throughout the year by donating a prominent sponsorship location on each of his race cars.

Other McCallister Precision Marketing clients taking part in the Autism Awareness Month campaign are Payton Freeman, Boo Boo Dalton, Devon Morgan, Jared Fryar, Dustin Bryson and Delaney Gray.

In addition to the puzzle themed number campaign, McCallister has partnered with Kahne Screen Print to produce an exclusive McCallister Precision Marketing Autism Awareness themed t-shirt, which will be available during the Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour event on Hickory Motor Speedway on April 22. Fans can also contact McCallister directly via the MPM Marketing Facebook page to order shirts.

All proceeds from the shirts will benefit Team Therapy of South Carolina to help with programs for underprivileged children.

“We’re so blessed to have so many drivers and teams participating in our Autism Awareness campaign this year,” McCallister said. “The love and support from everyone within the racing community during the month of April is so special and it truly shows how we, as an industry, can come together in support of a cause.

“I really want to thank everyone for the support. It means so much to me, my family and all of my MPM family, but it is deeper than that. This is about every single person or family member that is affected by Autism. If we can help one family, we are doing our jobs as human beings. Our sincerest thanks go out to every single person that helps make this happen each year. There are so many people that help and they know who they are. It takes all of us to make a difference.”

MPM PR

Parker Retzlaff – No. 31 FUNKAWAY
Chevrolet Camaro SS Preview- Richmond Raceway

Social Media; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

News and Notes: 

- Practice; Retzlaff and the No. 31 FUNKAWAY Chevrolet Camaro SS will first hit the Richmond Raceway at 8:05 AM ET on Saturday morning for a brief 20-minute practice session. Coverage of practice will air LIVE on FS1 apart of 1.5 hours of LIVE on track NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) coverage Saturday morning.  

– Starting Position; Directly after practice at 8:35 AM ET, Retzlaff and the No. 31 team will move into qualifying for the Toyota Care 250. A single-car two-lap session will be used to determine the starting order for Saturday afternoons Toyota Care 250. Retzlaff will roll off 27^th for his two qualifying laps based on the performance-based matrix factoring owner points, driver points, race finish, and fastest lap of the previous week. With 40 cars entered, two cars will miss the race. Coverage of qualifying will air LIVE on FS1 at 8:30 AM ET. 



– Richmond Raceway Stats; Saturday’s NXS Toyota Care 250 will mark Retzlaff’s second NXS start at Richmond Raceway. In 2022, in only his second NXS start Retzlaff would lay down an eye turning qualifying lap on the 0.75-mile Virginia oval to start in the 10^th position. Maintaining his position and speed throughout the day Retzlaff would complete the 250-laps in the 10^th spot to claim his first NXS Top-Ten finish.  

Featured Partner



- FUNKAWAY; Headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, FunkAway is a line of odor elimination products that removes the horrible effects of bad smells. Guaranteed to work on clothing, shoes, gear, pet products, car interiors and more, FunkAway allows customers to renew and refresh, rather than throw away.
 
To learn more about FunkAway, visit Funkaway.com and connect on Instagram and Facebook.

Jeb Burton– No. 27 W. G. SPEEKS / Contractor Rewards 
Chevrolet Camaro SS Preview- Richmond Raceway

Social Media; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

News and Notes: 

- Practice; Halifax, Va. native Jeb Burton and the No. 27 W.G. SPEEKS / Contractor Rewards Chevrolet Camaro SS will first hit the Richmond Raceway at 8:05 AM ET on Saturday morning for a brief 20-minute practice session. Coverage of practice will air LIVE on FS1 apart of 1.5 hours of LIVE on track NXS coverage Saturday morning.  

– Starting Position; Directly after practice at 8:35 AM ET, Burton and the No. 27 team will move into qualifying for the Toyota Care 250. A single-car two-lap session will be used to determine the starting order for Saturday afternoons Toyota Care 250. Burton will roll off 25^th for his two qualifying laps based on the performance-based matrix factoring owner points, driver points, race finish, and fastest lap of the previous week. With 40 cars entered, two cars will miss the race. Coverage of qualifying will air LIVE on FS1 at 8:30 AM ET. 

– Richmond Raceway Stats; Making his eighth NXS start at Richmond Raceway in Saturday’s NXS Toyota Care 250, Burton holds an average finish of 15.0 in seven previous starts. Capturing a career best second place finish in September of 2020. Burton holds a 98.7% lap completion rate with 1628 laps completed of the attempted 1649. Last season Burton put on a driving clinic on his way to the front. Starting in the last position, Burton would drive himself thru the field to finish in the 11^th spot at the completion of the 250-laps. 

JAR PR

Matt Barr, star of The CW Network’s hit show “Walker Independence,” will ride in the Fastest Seat in Sports at the PPG 375, leading the full field of drivers to the green flag at the second race of the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.

The live telecast of the race at Texas Motor Speedway will start at noon ET on NBC and Peacock.

INDYCAR’s Fastest Seat in Sports is a high-speed, high-octane, super-charged thrill ride in a custom INDYCAR SERIES car with a special back passenger seat. At almost every race on the schedule, the car advances the field of drivers to the start/finish line to signify the beginning of the race, with a special passenger in the guest seat. Previous participants in the Fastest Seat in Sports include Lady Gaga, NBA champions Steph Curry and Kawhi Leonard, actors Simu Liu and Channing Tatum, and many others.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES represents the ultimate challenge in racing, with drivers competing at speeds of 200+ mph across a demanding set of ovals and road and street courses. All the drama and intense action building up to this year’s iconic 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will be chronicled by the new series “100 Days to Indy” airing on the The CW Network this spring.

See the first look at “100 Days to Indy” here and tune in to the first episode at 9 p.m. ET Thursday, April 27.

Barr stars as Hoyt Rawlins on “Walker Independence.” Set in the late 1800s, the story follows Abby Walker, an affluent Bostonian whose husband is murdered before her eyes while on their journey out West, as she crosses paths with Rawlins, a lovable rogue in search of purpose. Their journey takes them to Independence, Texas, a small town with a big future. The show just concluded its buzzworthy first season on The CW Network this March.

Barr also stars on the hit action series “Blood and Treasure.” He is also known for his role as Johnse Hatfield in the critically acclaimed miniseries “Hatfields and McCoys” opposite Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton. Barr appeared as the lead in The CW’s “Valor.” Additional television credits include “Harper’s Island,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “Friday Night Lights,” “One Tree Hill” and “Hellcats.”

Originally from Dallas, Barr resides in Los Angeles and is an active volunteer with the Wounded Warrior Project and the Alzheimer's Association.

NTT IndyCar Series PR

One of the longest-running partnerships in motorsports will reach 40 years and beyond as Team Penske and PPG (NYSE: PPG) have announced a multi-year extension of their agreement across the Team’s NASCAR and INDYCAR programs.

The distinct and popular blue-and-white PPG paint scheme will continue in NTT INDYCAR SERIES (NICS) competition as two-time NICS champion, Josef Newgarden, will race the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet in 2023 and into the future. PPG will also continue to serve as an associate partner on the No. 12 Chevrolet driven by reigning NICS Champion Will Power, and the No. 3 Chevrolet driven by title contender Scott McLaughlin. Under the new agreement, PPG will also return as a Team Penske partner in the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS), serving as an associate sponsor of the No. 2 Ford Mustang driven by Austin Cindric, the No. 12 Ford Mustang driven by Ryan Blaney, and the No. 22 Ford Mustang driven by defending Cup Series Champion Joey Logano.

“Team Penske and PPG have been the model of business-to-business partnerships for over 30 years,” said Team Penske President Tim Cindric. “We are entering our fourth decade together and we take great pride in the successes we have had together with PPG on and off the race track.  Our vision for the future remains aligned across all of our businesses, while we continue to strive to add more iconic paint schemes to our storied on-track legacy.”

The Team Penske and PPG partnership began with the 1984 INDYCAR SERIES season. Over the last 40 years, Team Penske and PPG have visited victory lane together 12 times across INDYCAR and NASCAR competition. Last season, Newgarden drove the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet to victories at Texas Motor Speedway, Road America and World Wide Technology Raceway. Among Newgarden’s 25 career NICS wins, five have come while racing in the PPG colors.

“I love getting behind the wheel of the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet,” said Newgarden, defending winner of this weekend’s PPG 375 at Texas Motor Speedway. “The beautiful paint scheme is a fan favorite and we always deliver strong results when PPG is on the car. We appreciate the outstanding support of PPG at the track and seeing their employees and guests root us on always helps us take it to another level on race weekends.”

PPG has also leveraged its partnership with Team Penske to grow its community engagement initiatives, including the COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® program. Most recently, Team Penske’s INDYCAR and NASCAR drivers helped support PPG’s enhancement of the Hawthorne Community Center in Indianapolis to make a positive and lasting impact in the local community.

“PPG has provided paint for Team Penske cars since 1984, and our relationship has flourished ever since,” said Bill Shaw, PPG director, strategic sales, Automotive Refinish. “We are so excited to be renewing our sponsorship and to have Josef driving the No. 2 PPG Chevy at the PPG 375 is just a great way to start the season.”

Team Penske PR

SS Greenlight Racing PR

There will be a bunch of firsts happening for the Inland Rigging Racing Team when it rolls into Arizona’s Mohave Valley Raceway this Saturday, April 1st.  For Brody Roa, it will be the initial time he has been first in USAC/CRA points when competing at the track and the first time he has driven a DRC chassis there.  For teammate Tommy Dunkel it will not only be his initial time on the banked 1/3 mile oval but also his first-ever USAC/CRA start.

Garden Grove, California’s Roa is off to a flying start in the USAC/CRA Series in  2023.  In late January he drove to victory in both season-opening races at Arizona’s Cocopah Speedway.   A few weeks later, the 2016 USAC West Coast and 2019 USAC Southwest Sprint Car champion placed second when Perris Auto Speedway opened the doors for its 27th season. 

The veteran racer’s early season prowess sees him carrying a 22-point lead into the Mohave race.  He also has an amazing 1.33 main event finishing average through the first three races. 

This weekend’s race will only mark Roa’s second time racing at Mohave.  Last October he dazzled the Arizona crowd by winning the main after starting the 30-lapper deep in the field in 11th.  It was his third USAC/CRA win of 2023.

“I thought it was a lot of fun,” Roa said of his first visit to the track.  “One and two, there is one fast lane around it.  Three and four developed nice where it is right on the lip on the top. The bottom is really difficult to hit.   I felt like I had to drive it really hard to make speed down there.  It was pretty cool the way the track developed and I had fun.   It was kind of technical and fitted my style.”

With last week’s rainouts at Kings Speedway in Hanford and the Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Roa has not competed in two weeks.  He is starting with the car the way he has all year long.  So far with two wins, a second and the point lead after three races, things have worked out well.

“I am showing up exactly the same way I started at Perris,” Roa said.  “That is what our game plan has been with it (the new DRC) from Cocopah, to Perris in the races we ran with it.  Both those tracks I feel are significantly different and both drove really well. My plan this year is to not over think car set up.   I am really good at sitting there and thinking about what I can change to fix things that are not broken.  I am trying to show up the same and let the car drive the same every week.  It obviously goes pretty fast so I am not trying to over think it.”

Dunkel was in the top 10 at the Imperial Valley Raceway’s So Cal Non-Wing Open Comp. show last month when a steering issue parked him in the waning laps.  He is anxiously waiting for his first shot at “Arizona’s Baddest Bullring.” 

Braden Chiaramonte began his run for the Sprint Car Challenge Tour “Rookie of the Year” award last Saturday at Placerville Speedway’s “Spring Fever Frenzy.”  The young driver will be right back at it this Saturday night for round #2 of the SCCT season in the “Asparagus Cup” at the Stockton Dirt Track.

A talent-laden field of 48 winged sprint cars showed up at the famous red clay banked quarter-mile Placerville track for the 2023 SCCT opener.  For Chiaramonte, it would only be his fifth time in a winged 360 sprint car.  That was hard for fans to fathom when the 16-year-old set the fastest time in the first group of 12 cars during qualifying with a dazzling lap of 10.703.  For those unacquainted with the teen star, that was quite a surprise.  However, not quite as startling as that time making the teen the third fastest of all 48 drivers at the conclusion of qualifying.

After the sensational qualifying lap, Chiaramonte, who traveled 552 miles from his El Cajon, California home to compete in Placerville, started on the outside of row two in the first heat race.  A fifth place or better finish in that 10-lapper would put him straight into the 35-lap “Spring Fever Frenzy” main event.  However, in turn one on the first circuit, the teen slipped over the top lip of the track and came to a halt.  That brought out a yellow flag for the field and a trip to the back of the pack for Chiaramonte for the restart.

The second try to start the heat was an almost exact replay of the first as another car slid off the top forcing another yellow flag.  The third attempt to start the race ended up worse as two cars got together and flipped necessitating a red flag.  Fortunately, neither driver was injured.  Finally, the fourth time was the charm and all 10 laps were completed.  Unfortunately, Chiaramonte finished eighth.  That forced him into the B main.

The talented teen’s last opportunity to get into the A main would come in the B.  The top four finishers in the 15-lap race would earn a ticket to race in the main event.  The remainder would be done for the night.  Pitted against a field of talented, seasoned veterans, Chiaramonte was going to have his work cut out for him.  He started on the inside of the fifth row in the ninth position.   Midway through the race he advanced up to seventh before he eventually slipped back to 10^th.  That ended his night earlier than he wanted. 

Each time Chiaramonte took to the red clay surface, he gave a good account of himself.  Being that it was only the fifth time he has raced a winged 360 car, it is evident that big things are on the horizon.

This Saturday, Chiaramonte and his team will make another long trek to compete in the SCCT-sanctioned “Asparagus Cup” at the Stockton Dirt Track on the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds.  The gates will open at 4:00 p.m. and the first race is at 5:30.  Adult tickets are $30.00.  It is $25.00 for kids 5-12, and seniors 65 and over.  Children age four and under are free.  Pit passes are $40.00 and parking costs $10.00.  The fairgrounds is located at 1658 S. Airport Way in Stockton, California (95206).  The office phone is (209) 466-9999 and the website is http://stocktondirttrack.com/index.html.

Chiaramonte would like to thank all his sponsors who have made this week’s races possible.  RTL Traffic Control, AM Ortega, King Racing Products, Tiner-Hirst Enterprises, and Keizer Wheels.

As the full 2023 season is just starting to unfold, Chiaramonte and his team are making plans for a busy year. If you are interested in becoming a marketing partner with one of the most talented and personable young drivers in the sport, please feel free to call or e-mail Daniel Chiaramonte This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (619) 988 7563.  

Braden Chiaramonte 2023 Results

January 13          Tulsa SageNet Center           Chili Bowl Midget Nationals                      14^th A Main

January 14          Tulsa SageNet Center           Chili Bowl Midget Nationals                      12^th C Main

March 11             Imperial Valley Raceway       So Cal Non Wing Open Comp Sprints          9^th A Main 

March 11             Imperial Valley Raceway       Best of the West Lightning Sprints #2          1^st A Main

March 18             Perris Auto Speedway          USAC/CRA Sprint Cars                            16^th A Main

March 24             Placerville Speedway            Sprint Car Challenge Tour                        10^th B Main

April 1                  Stockton Dirt Track                Sprint Car Challenge Tour   

Braden Chiaramonte PR

Relentless wet weather throughout the week has led to the cancelation this weekend’s doubleheader at Ocean Speedway and Antioch Speedway for Western Midget Racing.

The series will now turn its attention to Ventura Raceway on April 29 for round three of the championship series.

For more information on Western Midget Racing, visit them at www.WesternMidgetRacing.com or follow them on Facebook!

2023 WMR Schedule – Subject to Change

2.4 Adobe Mountain Speedway – Winner: Dustin Cormany

3.18 Mohave Valley Raceway – Winner: Drake Edwards

3.31 Ocean Speedway - RAIN

4.1 Antioch Speedway - RAIN

4.29 Ventura Raceway

5.12 Ocean Speedway

5.13 Petaluma Speedway

6.9 Ocean Speedway

6.10 Petaluma Speedway

6.17 Ventura Raceway *Wagsdash*

7.14 & 15 Ocean Speedway *Howard Kaeding Classic*

7.28 Ocean Speedway

7.29 Antioch Speedway

8.11 Ocean Speedway

8.12 Marysville Raceway

9.2 Bakersfield Speedway

9.30 Mohave Valley Raceway

10.21 Ventura Raceway

WMR PR