RJ JOHNSON SWEEPS PERRIS USAC – CRA OPENER 

Winner RJ Johnson. (A.J. Johnson Photo)

By: Lance Jennings

Perris, California (February 14, 2026)………After earning the last two Avanti Windows & Doors United States Auto Club – Calirornian Racing Association (USAC – CRA) Sprintcar Championships, RJ Johnson of Laveen, Arizona, opened the 2026 season by winning Saturday’s opening night (February 14) at California’s Perris Auto Speedway.

Driving the Petty Performance Racing #1p Avanti Windows & Doors / Apache Transport Sherman, Johnson led the last eight laps to score his 12th career series win, tying Bryan Clauson and Ricky Lewis for sixth place on the all-time list.

Johnson began the night by posting his 15th career Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award with a time of 16.509 seconds over “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., Connor Lundy, David Gasper, “The Big Game Hunter” Austin Williams, and the rest of the roster in attendance.

After setting fast time, Johnson raced to victory in the 8-lap Sexton Fire Protection First Heat Race over Tommy “Thunder” Malcolm, rookie contender Bryan Whitley, last season’s rookie of the year Lundy, Williams, and Brecken Guerrero.

The 8-lap Roy Miller Freight Lines Second Heat Race went to “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. of Buckeye, Arizona. Piloting his #47 MP Environmental Services / Central Arizona Raceway DRC, Davis finished ahead of Gasper, Verne Sweeney, Blake Hendricks, and rookie contender Wayne Siddle.

In light of the small field, series officials set up a special 6-car, 6-lap “Dash For Cash” paying $300 to win. Starting in the back row, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. claimed the checkered flags over Gasper, Johnson, Malcolm, Whitley, and Sweeney.

After battling engine issues, San Diego, California’s A.J. Bender earned the night’s Hard Charger Award / “Best Passing Job” honors. Racing the Kim and Richard Bender #21 Matrix Construction Services / Rolls Scaffold DRC, Bender started twelfth and scored fourth after a heated battle with Austin Williams at Perris Auto Speedway.

On Saturday, February 28th, the Avanti Windows & Doors USAC CRA Sprint Car Series will hit the road and travel to Mohave Valley Raceway in Mohave Valley, Arizona for their first of two visits on the schedule. For more information on the series, 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 RACE RESULTS: February 14, 2026 – Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, California

WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY QUALIFYING: 1. R.J. Johnson, 1p, Petty-16.509; 2. Charles Davis Jr., 47, Davis-16.818; 3. Connor Lundy, 97, Lundy-16.908; 4. David Gasper, 18, Kittle/Gasper-16.924; 5. Austin Williams, 17w, Dunkel-16.944; 6. Blake Hendricks, 14, Hendricks-17.144; 7. Tommy Malcolm, 5x, Napier-17.366; 8. Wayne Siddle, 007, Siddle-17.797; 9. Bryan Whitley, 22, Whitley-18.099; 10. Verne Sweeney, 98, Guerrero-18.437; 11. Brecken Guerrero, 98B, Guerrero-25.059; 12. A.J. Bender, 21, Bender-NT.

SEXTON FIRE PROTECTION FIRST HEAT: (8 laps, all transfer to the feature) 1. R.J. Johnson, 2. Tommy Malcolm, 3. Bryan Whitley, 4. Connor Lundy, 5. Austin Williams, 6. Brecken Guerrero. NT

ROY MILLER FREIGHT LINES SECOND HEAT: (8 laps, all transfer to the feature) 1. Charles Davis Jr., 2. David Gasper, 3. Verne Sweeney, 4. Blake Hendricks, 5. Wayne Siddle. NT

DASH FOR CASH: (6 laps) 1. Charles Davis Jr., 2. David Gasper, 3. R.J. Johnson, 4. Tommy Malcolm, 5. Bryan Whitley, 6. Verne Sweeney. 1:43.14

FEATURE: (30 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. R.J. Johnson (6), 2. Charles Davis Jr. (5), 3. Austin Williams (8), 4. A.J. Bender (12), 5. Connor Lundy (7), 6. Bryan Whitley (2), 7. Verne Sweeney (1), 8. Brecken Guerrero (11), 9. Blake Hendricks (9), 10. Wayne Siddle (10), 11. David Gasper (4), 12. Tommy Malcolm (3). NT.

**David Gasper flipped during lap 22 of the feature.

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-22 David Gasper, Laps 23-30 R.J. Johnson.

HARD CHARGER: A.J. Bender (12th to 4th)

AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC CRA SPRINTCAR POINTS: 1-R.J. Johnson-84, 2-Charles Davis Jr.-80, 3-Austin Williams-70, 4-Connor Lundy-67, 5-Bryan Whitley-61, 6-A.J. Bender-61, 7-Verne Sweeney-58, 8-Brecken Guerrero-52, 9-Blake Hendricks-52, 10-David Gasper-51.

NEXT AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC CRA SPRINTCAR RACE: February 28 – Mohave Valley Raceway – Mohave Valley, Arizona