#1 AGAIN! JOHNSON 3-PEATS AS USAC CRA CHAMP IN 2026
R.J. Johnson, 2026 Avanti Windows & Doors United States Auto Club – Californiana Racing Association (USAC-CRA) Sprintcar Champion. (Rich Forman Photo)
By: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Speedway, Indiana………(October 30, 2026)………At the beginning of the 2026 season, R J Johnson and Petty Performance Racing put the #1 on their car, designating the previous year’s Avanti Windows & Doors United States Auto Club – Californiana Racing Association (USAC- CRA) Sprintcar Championship. At the end of the 2026 campaign, they were still having fun and they were still the one.
The Laveen, Arizona racer captured his third consecutive USAC – CRA crown after previous titles with the family-owned #51 in 2024, followed by the PPR No. 33p in 2025, and now the No. 1p in 2026. But no matter the number, Johnson had the competition’s number once again for his eighth career USAC Sprint Car title (5 Southwest & 3 CRA).
Johnson won four USAC CRA feature events in 2026 at Perris Auto Speedway twice, plus Central Arizona Raceway and Calistoga Speedway once each in his Avanti Windows & Doors – Apache Transport – JUGO Superfoods/Sherman/Stanton Chevy.
In what was the third largest championship point margin in USAC CRA history (334), Johnson also led all drivers with 17 top fives, 19 top tens, 9 fast qualifying times, and 9 heat race wins, and was the only driver to start all 22 series events.
“These last two years, it’s just been a complete dream,” exclaimed the 39-year-old Johnson regarding his partnership with PPR. “It’s been really good. We haven’t had any motor failures. We’ve had zero part failures or anything like that. No complaints here.”
Johnson opened the season in victory lane at California’s Perris Auto Speedway on Valentine’s Day, then took top honors at Central Arizona Raceway in April. In May, he drank the chocolate milk as the winner of the 66th running of the Salute to Indy at Perris, winning the event for the first time after 20+ years of trying. In September, he reigned victorious in what he called the biggest win of his career during the final night of September’s Louie Vermeil Classic at Calistoga Speedway.
“The Louie was so big,” Johnson reflected. “I’ve been so close in many races with money like that to win and then not win it. As I took the white flag, I’m instantly going, “What’s going to happen? What’s going to go wrong?” Then, I run down and miss a corner and we end up with a photo finish with J J (Yeley). We brought two (PPR) cars and ran first and second. On the first night, J.J. won and I ran second, and then backed it up the next night with me winning and him running second.”
Not only does Johnson drive for PPR, it’s his full-time job, and he took on an added multi-tasking role by becoming a driver coach and mentor for Elijah Gile, while running the team’s operations, building and maintaining equipment, and doing the driving duties. He also gave credit to his right hand man, Jim Jenkins and crew chief Billy Chester.
Johnson made his USAC CRA Sprintcar debut in the series’ inaugural season in 2004 just weeks after his 17th birthday. He began racing quarter midgets at the age of six and competed in the class until he was 14. The same year he turned 14, Johnson also started racing full-size midgets and ultimately found his way to 360s and then 410 sprint cars soon after. His father, Ricky Johnson, is a former standout sprint car and midget racer as well. Ricky captured the Arizona Midget Racing Association title in 1993, and R.J. followed suit by scoring five AMRA championships in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2009.
In his USAC career, Johnson is a five-time Southwest 360 Sprintcar titlist, notching five consecutive trophies in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, while snagging each of the past three USAC CRA crowns in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, California) finished second in the series standings as he earned a top three USAC CRA points finish for the eighth consecutive year. In fact, he now hasn’t finished worse than sixth in points since 2009. He returned to victory lane for the first time in five seasons in October at Perris as he took the lead off the final corner to win a three-wide photo finish over R.J. Johnson and Charles Davis Jr.
Connor Lundy (Peoria, Arizona) improved upon his Rookie of the Year season in 2025 to finish third in the 2026 standings. Lundy corralled his first two career USAC CRA victories in 2026, first in July at Perris before dramatically surging off the final corner on the last lap to win by about an inch over R J Johnson by a mere 0.010 of a second.
The Rachel Guerrero Racing duo of drivers Verne Sweeney and Brecken Guerrero each notched their best career USAC CRA points finishes in 2026. Sweeney (Lomita, California) took fourth while Guerrero (Westminster, California) was fifth overall.
Ricky Lewis (Oxnard, California) was sixth in points on a limited schedule but led all drivers with six feature victories and 79 laps led in just 12 starts during the 2026 campaign. His season was accentuated by two separate three-race winning streaks. In March, he won on back-to-back nights at Imperial Valley Raceway, the latter of which he charged from third to first on the final lap by both Stevie Sussex and A J Bender to win his fifth straight Imperial Valley USAC CRA show. He then scored the following week at Perris, winning all three of those in his own car.
Lewis’ second three-race winning streak began in a heated confrontation with Tommy Malcolm after contact late in the race in May at Ventura knocked Malcolm out of contention. Lewis emerged with the win in a 360 c.i. powered car. He then won again on consecutive nights in May, this time driving for Bonneau Motorsports, at Central Arizona Raceway.
Rounding out the top 10 in points were Dayton Shelton (Prescott, Arizona) who finished seventh, followed by Eddie Tafoya Jr. (Chino Hills, California) in eighth, Charles Davis Jr. (Buckeye, Arizona) ninth, and Cole Wakim (Simi Valley, California) 10th.
Overall, 10 different drivers won USAC- CRA main events in 2026: Ricky Lewis (6), R.J. Johnson (4), Connor Lundy (2), Kaleb Montgomery (2), Jake Swanson (2), Kevin Thomas Jr. (2), Gavin Miller (1), Brody Roa (1), Austin Williams (1), and J.J. Yeley (1).
Kaleb Montgomery (Templeton, California) made just two starts, both at Santa Maria Speedway, and made both count. He won in both June and July, and has now won three career USAC CRA races, all three of which have come at Santa Maria.
Brody Roa (Garden Grove, California), the 2023 USAC- CRA champion, graced victory lane once in 2026 during a June visit to Perris. Meanwhile, USAC Triple Crown champion J.J. Yeley (Phoenix, Arizona) grabbed a September Louie Vermeil Classic prelim win at Calistoga. Late race contact between Yeley and Ryan Bernal for the lead resulted in Bernal performing a 360 degree spin, followed by a post-race scuffle among the two drivers who both saw the incident quite differently.
Kevin Thomas Jr. (Cullman, Alabama) dropped by for some early season USAC CRA competition, slipping back by Ricky Lewis on the final lap to win at Mohave Valley Raceway in February for BBI Motorsports, with a 360 engine to boot. In April, KTJ got the best of Lewis again as he led the final half of an April Central Arizona visit at the wheel of a Petty Performance Racing ride.
In the season-ending 59th Western World Championships at Central Arizona Raceway in conjunction with the USAC AMSOIL Sprintcar National Championship, Jake Swanson (Anaheim, California) was the dominant figure early on as he won prelim night features during the first two nights of competition. On the final night, Western World Rookie Gavin Miller (Allentown, Pennsylvania) earned the biggest prize of the year by collecting a $42,450 check and his first USAC CRA win.
Hilo, Hawaii’s Daylin Perreira earned accolades as the 2026 USAC- CRA Sprint Car Rookie of the Year. He’s the first driver from the Aloha State to win Rookie of the Year in the 23-year history of the series.
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2026 USAC – CRA SPRINTCAR STAT LEADERS:
Driver Champion: R.J. Johnson
Entrant Champion: Petty Performance Racing #1p
Rookie of the Year: Daylin Perreira
Most Feature Wins: 6-Ricky Lewis
Most Laps Led: 79-Ricky Lewis
Most Top-Fives: 17-R.J. Johnson
Most Top-Tens: 19-R.J. Johnson
Most Fast Qualifying Times: 9-R.J. Johnson
Most Heat Race Wins: 9-R.J. Johnson
Most Feature Starts: 22-R.J. Johnson
Biggest Charge of the Year: (+19) Oct 23: Central Arizona Raceway – Justin Grant (25th to 6th)
2026 USAC – CRA Sprintcar Driver Points
Pos. Pts. Driver, Hometown
1 1511 R.J. Johnson, Laveen, Arizona
2 1177 Austin Williams, Yorba Linda, California
3 1058 Connor Lundy, Peoria, Arizona
4 937 Verne Sweeney, Lomita, California
5 921 Brecken Guerrero, Westminster, California
6 825 Ricky Lewis, Oxnard, California
7 696 Dayton Shelton, Prescott, Arizona
8 661 Eddie Tafoya Jr., Chino Hills, California
9 644 Charles Davis Jr., Buckeye, Arizona
10 582 Cole Wakim, Simi Valley, California
11 581 (R) Daylin Perreira, Hilo, Hawaii
12 518 Connor Speir, Fillmore, California
13 483 A.J. Bender, San Diego, California
14 425 Kevin Thomas Jr., Cullman, Alabama
15 422 Stevie Sussex, Tempe, Arizona
16 381 (R) Bryan Whitley, Ventura, California
17 369 Brody Roa, Garden Grove, California
18 355 Bruce St. James, Phoenix, Arizona
19 337 (R) Wayne Siddle, Tucson, Arizona
20 295 David Gasper, Goleta, California
21 290 (R) Zate Legend, Riverside, California
22 267 Braden Chiaramonte, El Cajon, California
23 261 (R) Cale Coons, Greencastle, Indiana
24 246 Logan Seavey, Sutter, California
25 219 (R) Gavin Miller, Allentown, Pennsylvania
26 212 Jake Swanson, Anaheim, California
27 210 Jadon Rogers, Worthington, Indiana
28 200 Blake Hendricks, Simi Valley, California
29 197 Ryan Timmons, Pleasant Hill, California
30 168 Justin Grant, Ione, California
31 166 (R) Elijah Gile, Phoenix, Arizona
32 161 Kaleb Montgomery, Templeton, California
33 160 Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, California
34 160 Mitchel Moles, Raisin City, California
35 152 Kyle Cummins, Princeton, Indiana
36 149 Tommy Malcolm, Corona, California
37 146 (R) David Perry Jr., Camarillo, California
38 131 (R) Jacob Denney, Galloway, Ohio
39 124 Brent Sexton, Lakeside, California
40 124 C.J. Leary, Greenfield, Indiana
41 117 Chase Stockon, Fort Branch, Indiana
42 107 (R) Jim Vanzant, Prescott, Arizona
43 102 (R) Joshua Shipley, Surprise, Arizona
44 98 (R) Hayden Reinbold, Gilbert, Arizona
45 97 (R) Briggs Danner, Allentown, Pennsylvania
46 92 Marty Hawkins, Santa Rosa, California
47 87 (R) Trey Osborne, Columbus, Ohio
48 83 (R) Eric Englert, Laverne, California
49 83 (R) Troy DeGaton, Wickenburg, Arizona
50 82 (R) A.J. Hernandez, Phoenix, Arizona
51 77 Danny Faria Jr., Tipton, California
52 72 (R) Koen Crawford, Gilbert, Arizona
53 56 (R) Broedy Graham, Bakersfield, California
54 53 Jonas Reynolds, Moorpark, California
55 52 Logan Calderwood, Goodyear, Arizona
56 50 Robert Ballou, Rocklin, California
57 47 (R) Drake Cardey, Riverside, California
58 47 (R) Kobe Simpson, Bonham, Texas
59 42 Blake Bower, Brentwood, California
60 39 (R) B.J. Fernandez, Mililani, Hawaii
61 34 (R) Grant Schaadt, San Tan Valley, Arizona
62 33 (R) Bryan Drollinger, Lomita, California
63 32 (R) Kevin Mahoney, Dripping Springs, Texas
(R) represents a USAC CRA Sprint Car Rookie
2026 USAC – CRA Sprintcar Entrant Points
Pos. Pts. Entrant, Team Location
1 1511 Petty Performance Racing, Litchfield Park, Arizona (#1p)
2 1177 Tom Dunkel Racing, Menifee, California (#17w)
3 1058 Matt Lundy, Peoria, Arizona (#97)
4 937 Rachel Guerrero, Westminster, California (#98)
5 921 Rachel Guerrero, Westminster, California (#98B)
6 696 Johnny Shelton Jr., Prescott, Arizona (#4D)
7 661 Eddie Tafoya, Chino Hills, California (#51T)
8 644 Charles Davis Jr., Buckeye, Arizona (#47)
9 581 Daylin Perreira, Peoria, Arizona (#21p)
10 518 Connor Speir, Fillmore, California (#57x)
11 483 Richard Bender, Ramona, California (#21)
12 438 Petty Performance Racing, Litchfield Park, Arizona (#33p)
13 421 BBI Motorsports, Peoria, Arizona (#15)
14 381 Bryan Whitley, Oak View, California (#22)
15 369 BR Performance, Garden Grove, California (#91R)
16 359 Ricky Lewis Motorsports, Camarillo, California (#41)
17 355 Bruce St. James, Apache Junction, Arizona (#1AZ)
18 337 Wayne Siddle, Tucson, Arizona (#007)
19 295 Petty Performance Racing, Litchfield Park, Arizona (#3p)
20 290 Zate Legend, Riverside, California (#z8)
21 283 Jack Yeley, Waddell, Arizona (#2)
22 261 Joe Dooling/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports, Freeport, Texas (#63)
23 246 Abacus Racing, Indianapolis, Indiana (#57)
24 219 Team AZ/Curb-Agajanian Racing, Phoenix, Arizona (#21AZ)
25 212 Daming Swanson Motorsports, Danville, Indiana (#5T)
26 207 Rock Steady Racing, Dupont, Indiana (#3R)
27 200 Tom Hendricks, Simi Valley, California (#14)
28 197 Dave Timmons, Pleasant Hill, California (#29T)
29 173 Cal-Sun Racing, Phelan, California (#39)
30 168 TOPP Motorsports, Plymouth, Indiana (#4)
31 161 Kaleb Montgomery Racing, Templeton, California (#3)
32 160 Reinbold-Underwood Motorsports, Gilbert, Arizona (#19AZ)
33 146 David Perry Jr., Camarillo, California (#27)
34 131 CB Industries-Spire Motorsports, Mooresville, North Carolina (#87)
35 124 Brent Sexton, Lakeside, California (#44)
36 117 Tom & Laurie Sertich, Princeton, Indiana (#92)
37 107 Jim & Bonnie Vanzant, Prescott, Arizona (#3v)
38 102 Joshua Shipley, Surprise, Arizona (#2x)
39 98 Reinbold-Underwood Motorsports, Gilbert, Arizona (#19)
40 97 Hogue Racing Enterprises, Westampton, New Jersey (#39)
41 92 Hawkins Motorsports, Gibsonville, North Carolina (#3m)
42 87 Trey Osborne Racing, Indianapolis, Indiana (#6T)
43 83 Troy DeGaton, Congress, Arizona (#39T)
44 83 Eric Englert, San Dimas, California (#35)
45 82 A.J. Hernandez, Phoenix, Arizona (#72)
46 77 Danny Faria Jr., Tipton, California (#17v)
47 72 Shon Crawford, Gilbert, Arizona (#48)
48 59 Petty Performance Racing, Litchfield Park, Arizona (#20RT)
