R.J. JOHNSON TOPS $10,000 VERMEIL CLASSIC FINALE AT CALISTOGA

Winner R.J. Johnson. (Julie Tanaka Photo)

By: Lance Jennings

Calistoga, California (September 6, 2026)………After taking command on the 27th lap, Laveen, Arizona’s R.J. Johnson held off a surging J.J. Yeley by 0.065 seconds to win the $10,000 Sunday finale of the 15th Quick Change Liquid Energy Drink Louie Vermeil Classic at California’s Calistoga Speedway.

The victory marked the 15th career triumph for the two-time defending champion and current point leader of the Avanti Windows & Doors USAC CRA Sprint Car Series.

Yeley, Jadon Rogers, “The Pride of Garden Grove” Brody Roa and Logan Seavey followed R.J. to the checkered flags.

Driving the Petty Performance Racing owned #1p Avanti Windows & Doors / Lifestyle Homes Sherman, Johnson also earned the night’s hard charger / “best passing job” bonus courtesy of Shane Scott and Steve Lafond Photos. Like his teammate, Yeley, the night before, R.J. claimed the 30-lap main event after starting seventh and also won a 12-lap qualifying race, this time sponsored by Rescue Mission Alliance.

While Johnson was seventh fastest in time trials, it was J.J. Yeley who set the standard in Woodland Auto Display qualifications for the second time in his career. Piloting the Petty Performance Racing owned #3p Quick Change Liquid Energy Drink / Avanti Windows & Doors Sherman, the Phoenix, Arizona driver posted a time of 19.584 seconds over David Gasper, Jadon Rogers, Logan Seavey, Marty Hawkins, and Brody Roa. The fastest six drivers earned direct transfers to the main event and competed in a special six-car, six-lap dash that set the first three rows of the feature event.

Brody Roa of Garden Grove, California raced to victory in the six-lap dash presented by Honda. Racing the BR Performance #91R Big Chino Ranch / ALR Virtual Services DRC, Roa briefly held the top spot at the Calistoga Fairgrounds before Logan Seavey led the opening lap at the flag stand. From there, the 2023 USAC CRA champion scored fourth.

Starting third, Sutter, California’s Logan Seavey led the first 13 laps of the Louie Vermeil Classic. Looking for a repeat win from the previous night, Yeley powered to the front and led until the 26th circuit. Johnson surprised the USAC Triple Crown champion and took control to win the richest non-winged sprint car event in California for 2026.

The officials with the Avanti Windows & Doors USAC CRA Sprint Car Series would like to thank Tommy Hunt, the Hunt Family, and the HMC Promotions team for presenting the Louie Vermeil Classic since 2008 and revitalizing the Calistoga Speedway. The scenic half-mile oval in Northern California first opened in 1937 and was the home to the Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) Sprint Car Series.

The Avanti Windows & Doors USAC CRA Sprint Cars will return to Perris Auto Speedway on Saturday, September 19th. Located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds in Perris, California, Perris Auto Speedway has advance tickets on sale on their website, www.perrisautospeedway.com. 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 SPRINT CAR SERIES: September 6, 2026 – Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, California – 15th Louie Vermeil Classic

WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY QUALIFYING: (Top 6 transfer to the dash) 1. J.J. Yeley, 3p, Petty-19.584; 2. David Gasper, 18, Kittle-19.712; 3. Jadon Rogers, 24, Johnson-19.838; 4. Logan Seavey, 57A, Abacus-19.864; 5. Marty Hawkins, 3m, Hawkins-20.021; 6. Brody Roa, 91R, BR-20.046; 7. R.J. Johnson, 1p, Petty-20.101; 8. Cole Wakim, 17x, Dunkel-20.121; 9. Ryan Bernal, 17, Dunkel-20.145; 10. Connor Lundy, 97, Lundy-20.218; 11. Josh Young, 17J, Adell-20.259; 12. Nate Schank, 1, Lawson-20.284; 13. Connor Speir, 57, Speir-20.529; 14. Brecken Guerrero, 98B, Guerrero-20.543; 15. Ryan Timmons, 29T, Timmons-20.651; 16. Tanner Carrick, 83T, Carrick-20.673; 17. Austin Williams, 17w, Dunkel-20.806; 18. Verne Sweeney, 98, Guerrero-20.849.

RESCUE MISSION ALLIANCE QUALIFIER: (12 laps, all transfer to the feature) 1. R.J. Johnson, 2. Ryan Bernal, 3. Cole Wakim, 4. Josh Young, 5. Nate Schank, 6. Connor Speir, 7. Tanner Carrick, 8. Brecken Guerrero, 9. Ryan Timmons, 10. Verne Sweeney, 11. Connor Lundy. NT

HONDA DASH: (6 laps) 1. Brody Roa, 2. Jadon Rogers, 3. Logan Seavey, 4. Marty Hawkins, 5. J.J. Yeley, 6. David Gasper. NT

FEATURE: (30 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. R.J. Johnson (7), 2. J.J. Yeley (5), 3. Jadon Rogers (2), 4. Brody Roa (1), 5. Logan Seavey (3), 6. David Gasper (6), 7. Tanner Carrick (13), 8. Nate Schank (11), 9. Josh Young (10), 10. Cole Wakim (9), 11. Marty Hawkins (4), 12. Connor Speir (12), 13. Connor Lundy (17), 14. Brecken Guerrero (14), 15. Verne Sweeney (16), 16. Ryan Bernal (8), 17. Ryan Timmons (15). NT

**Connor Lundy flipped during the qualifier.

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-13 Logan Seavey, Laps 14-26 J.J. Yeley, Laps 27-30 R.J. Johnson.

STEVE LAFOND PHOTOS / SHANE SCOTT HARD CHARGER: R.J. Johnson (7th to 1st)

NEXT AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS USAC CRA SPRINT CAR RACE: September 19, 2026 – Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, California