J J YELEY WINS WILD VERMEIL CLASSIC NIGHT #1 AT CALISTOGA
Winner J.J. Yeley (middle), is joined by runner-up R J Johnson (left), and third place finisher Connor Lundy (right) in victory lane. (Devin Mayo Photo)
By: Lance Jennings
Calistoga, California (September 5, 2026)………J J Yeley of Phoenix, Arizona emerged victorious on Saturday during the opening night of the 15th Louie Vermeil Classic at California’s Calistoga Speedway.
Yeley took over the lead with four laps remaining when contact between himself and leader Ryan Bernal in turn four sent Bernal spinning. Yeley led the final four while Bernal settled for seventh in the final running order.
For Yeley, the $5,000 triumph was his second career Avanti Windows & Doors United States Auto Club (USAC) – Californiana Racing Association CRA Sprintcar victory and second opening night win at the Calistoga Fairgrounds.
Driving the Petty Performance Racing owned #3P Quick Change Liquid Energy Drink / Avanti Windows & Doors Sherman, Yeley also earned an extra $350 hard charger / “best passing job” bonus courtesy of Shane Scott and Steve Lafond Photos. The former USAC Triple Crown winner started seventh in the field after claiming the night’s First 12-lap Qualifier Race sponsored by Sexton Fire Protection.
While Yeley was thirteenth quickest in time trials, it was Jadon Rogers that sat atop the Woodland Auto Display qualifications for the first time in his career. Making his first start in the Chase Johnson Racing #24 Price Family Dealerships / Toyota Maxim, the Worthington, Indiana driver turned in a time of 19.681 seconds over point leader R.J. Johnson, Logan Seavey, Ryan Bernal, “The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams, and Connor Lundy. The fastest six drivers earned direct transfers to the main event in the new format of the “Vermeil Classic.”
Roseville, California’s Josh Young made his first career start with USAC CRA and won Calistoga’s Second 12-lap Qualifier Race backed by Roy Miller Freight Lines. The pilot of the Jeff Adell owned #17J Trocadero Club / Brace Mufflers & Welding Spike would later score thirteenth in the 30-lap feature.
Starting second, “The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams led the first thirteen laps of the “Vermeil Classic.” Following a restart after a failed rear-end retired Jadon Rogers from the feature, Connor Lundy took command after powering by teammates Williams and Bernal. The 2025 rookie of the year led the next five circuits until R.J. Johnson led the twentieth lap. Bernal was in control of the next six laps and then Yeley led the final four.
The Avanti Windows & Doors USAC CRA Sprintcars are back at Calistoga Speedway tomorrow for the final night of the 15th Louie Vermeil Classic. For those who cannot watch the event live in person, the program will be live streamed on FloRacing. For more information on USAC CRA, visit usacracing.com and the social media for USAC Racing. You can also find exclusive content on the USAC CRA Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC CRA SPRINTCAR SERIES: September 5, 2026 – Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, California – 15th Louie Vermeil Classic
WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY QUALIFYING: (Top 6 Cars Transfer to Feature) 1. Jadon Rogers, 24, Johnson-19.681; 2. R.J. Johnson, 1p, Petty-19.817; 3. Logan Seavey, 57A, Abacus-19.875; 4. Ryan Bernal, 17, Dunkel-19.919; 5. Austin Williams, 17w, Dunkel-19.940; 6. Connor Lundy, 97, Lundy-20.043; 7. David Gasper, 18, Kittle-20.120; 8. Frankie Guerrini, 63, Guerrini-20.122; 9. Tanner Carrick, 83T, Carrick-20.149; 10. Josh Young, 17J, Adell-20.246; 11. Connor Speir, 57, Speir-20.264; 12. Marty Hawkins, 3m, Hawkins-20.295; 13. J.J. Yeley, 3p, Petty-20.325; 14. Brody Roa, 91R, BR-20.351; 15. Cole Wakim, 17x, Dunkel-20.642; 16. Nate Schank, 1, Lawson-20.761; 17. Ryan Timmons, 29T, Timmons-20.907; 18. Jeff Dyer, 39, Cal-Sun-21.087; 19. Verne Sweeney, 98, Guerrero-21.164; 20. Brecken Guerrero, 98B, Guerrero-21.206.
SEXTON FIRE PROTECTION FIRST QUALIFIER: (12 laps, all transfer to the feature) 1. J.J. Yeley, 2. David Gasper, 3. Tanner Carrick, 4. Cole Wakim, 5. Connor Speir, 6. Verne Sweeney, 7. Ryan Timmons. NT
ROY MILLER FREIGHT LINES SECOND QUALIFIER: (12 laps, all transfer to the feature) 1. Josh Young, 2. Brody Roa, 3. Frankie Guerrini, 4. Nate Schank, 5. Marty Hawkins, 6. Brecken Guerrero, 7. Jeff Dyer. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. J.J. Yeley (7), 2, R.J. Johnson (5), 3. Connor Lundy (1), 4. David Gasper (9), 5. Austin Williams (2), 6. Brody Roa (10), 7. Ryan Bernal (3), 8. Tanner Carrick (11), 9. Logan Seavey (4), 10. Cole Wakim (13), 11. Nate Schank (14), 12. Connor Speir (15), 13. Josh Young (8), 14. Brecken Guerrero (18), 15. Verne Sweeney (17), 16. Frankie Guerrini (12), 17. Marty Hawkins (16), 18. Jadon Rogers (6), 19. Ryan Timmons (19). NT
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1-13 Austin Williams, Laps 14-19 Connor Lundy, Lap 20 R.J. Johnson, Laps 21-26 Ryan Bernal, Laps 27-30 J.J. Yeley.
STEVE LAFOND PHOTOS HARD CHARGER: J.J. Yeley (7th to 1st)
NEXT AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC CRA SPRINTCAR RACE: September 6, 2026 – Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, California – 15th Louie Vermeil Classic
