It’s Jake Swanson In USAC-CRA Opener

MOHAVE VALLEY, Ariz. — After problems forced early leader Kevin Thomas Jr. to the work area during a lap-six caution flag, Jake Swanson led the rest of the way to claim victory in Saturday night’s Avanti Windows & Doors USAC CRA Sprint Car season opener at Mohave Valley Raceway.

Piloting Tom and Christy Dunkel’s No. 17x Inland Rigging / Maxima Racing Oils DRC, Swanson fought off several challenges to earn his seventh career series triumph.

Tommy “Thunder” Malcolm, R.J. Johnson, Brody Fuson and Eddie Tafoya Jr. followed the former Western World Champion to the checkered flag.

Fuson began the night by scoring the second Woodland Auto Display / WC Friend Company Fast Time Award of his career.

The pilot of the Bob & Toni Van Meter No. 51 Spike recorded a time of 13.997 seconds over the 31-car roster.

The finish:

Feature (30 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Jake Swanson (3), 2. Tommy Malcolm (2), 3. R.J. Johnson (6), 4. Brody Fuson (7), 5. Eddie Tafoya Jr. (10), 6. Logan Williams (8), 7. Logan Calderwood (12), 8. Austin Williams (11), 9. Blake Bower (9), 10. Charles Davis Jr. (4), 11. A.J. Bender (15), 12. Braden Chiaramonte (16), 13. Cole Wakim (17), 14. Verne Sweeney (20), 15. Lonnie Oliver (22), 16. Andrew Sweeney (18), 17. David Gasper (14), 18. Racin Silva (19), 19. Brody Wake (21), 20. Grant Sexton (13), 21. Kevin Thomas Jr. (1), 22. Cody Williams (5). NT