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BR Performance
6563 Cornelia Circle
Buena Park CA 90620
714-932-7994 – [email protected]
For Further Information Contact Scott Daloisio: (909)226-7768 – mailto:[email protected]
For Immediate Release
BRODY ROA 3RD AT VENTURA RACEWAY - HEADING TO MIDWEST IN JUNE!
(Buena Park, CA, May 10, 2017) Brody Roa’s hot streak in the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Series continued last Saturday night when he placed third in the 30-lap main event at the Ventura Raceway. It was his third straight top three finish and fourth top five in the four USAC/CRA races thus far contested in 2017.
The 26-year-old racer and the remainder of the series stars were greeted by conditions that were less than ideal. Winds were blowing off the neighboring Pacific Ocean at more than 30-MPH leaving the drivers, crews and fans shivering throughout the night. It also made track conditions tougher than normal as the hostile winds continually drew the moisture out of the famous racing surface.
Twenty-five USAC/CRA cars showed up for the series only 2017 appearance at the track that is adjacent to the ocean on the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Roa, who makes his home in Garden Grove, California, ended up second quick in qualifying with a lap of 12.132 in the BR Performance #91R.
Second fast qualifying time meant Roa would start on the outside of the third row for his 10-lap heat race. With beating and banging going in front of him at the start of the heat, he initially dropped to seventh to avoid the chaos. The lanky driver then methodically worked his way back through the field and slid into the final transfer spot on the next to lap and earned his ticket into the 30-lap main.
Despite valiant efforts of the track staff, the wind gusts were going to make conditions for the 30-lap main event tricky. Roa was once again starting on the outside of row three and stayed in the sixth spot over the first two laps. Disaster nearly stuck in turn four on the second lap when the leader parked causing contact between most of the top five. Roa got on the brakes, avoided the mess and escaped what could have resulted in a race ending catastrophe.
He restarted fifth after the lap two yellow. Within one lap, he had raced his way to fourth using the bottom of the fast slickening track. It was only a couple of laps later that two cars tangled in turn four bringing out another yellow flag. During that yellow period, the leader pitted for a flat tire and Roa found himself up to third.
Once the green was back out, Roa became embroiled in a tight battle for the second-place spot and momentarily pushed his nose into the runner-up position numerous times. However, track conditions put passing at a premium and he found himself back to third. Lap after lap Roa fought for second and eventually the intense battle for the spot moved into heavy lapped traffic. Once again near disaster struck in turn four on lap 16 when a lapped car made a left-hand turn in front of Roa. Roa again had to take evasive action getting on the brakes and turning right to avoid a collision. The incident seemed to cause him to lose ground to the second-place car, but fortunately it brought out a yellow flag allowing him to regain his lost real estate.
A red flag flew with five laps to go set up a shootout for the runner spot. Roa raced into second on the next to last lap, but the deteriorating track conditions would not allow the move to stick and the veteran driver ended up third.
While third was another good finish, Roa was obviously frustrated at the end when interviewed after the race.
“It was a good night, but it is starting to get a little frustrating running second and third,” he told the crowd. “We need to win some of these. It was a tough track and the weather had a lot to do with it. Naylor (promoter Jim Naylor) did a good job making somewhat of a racetrack out of it. Thanks for everybody (the fans) for coming out and sticking it out in this wind. I know it made it pretty miserable in the pits so I can imagine what it was like in the stands, it had to be pretty cold. Thanks again for coming out, we would not be able to do it without you.”
The BR Performance team has announced an addition to its 2017 schedule. After the annual Salute to Indy on May 27th at Perris Auto Speedway, the team will head east for a pair of races against the stars of the USAC National Sprint Car Series. On June 2nd the #91R will be competing at I-80 Speedway in Greenfield, Nebraska. The following night it will be on to the “Sprint Car Capital of the World,” the Knoxville Raceway, in Knoxville, Iowa. After the Midwest journey, Roa and crew will head back to the West Coast for a pair of USAC/CRA races before venturing to Indiana for Indiana Sprint Week in July.
The BR Performance team would like to the thank the following sponsors for making the 2017 season possible: HD Industries, Burris Racing, “Biker” Bruce Fisher, Frank Baldozier Racing, Lee and Norma Leonard, Hot Paint Restorations, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, Okie Race Cars and Crow Enterprises. If you or your company would like to join Performance’s championship contending team, please call: (714) 932-7994.
Date Venue Event Finish
1-14 Tulsa Oklahoma Friday Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 22nd A Main
3-4 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 5th A Main
3-9 Las Vegas Motor Speedway USAC West Coast Sprint Cars 9th A Main
3-10 Las Vegas Motor Speedway USAC West Coast Sprint Cars 3rd A Main
4-1 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 3rd A Main
4-8 Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rain Out
4-15 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main
5-6 Ventura Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 3rd A Main
5-27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
6-2 I-80 Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars
6-3 Knoxville Raceway USAC National Sprint Cars
6-24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
7-1 Santa Maria Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
7-7 Gas City 69 Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars
7-8 Kokomo Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars
7-9 Lawrenceburg Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars
7-12 Terre Haute Action Track USAC National Sprint Cars
7-13 Lincoln Park Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars
7-14 Bloomington Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars
7-15 Tri-State Speedway USAC National Sprint Cars
7-22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
8-5 Santa Maria Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
8-26 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
9-2 Calistoga Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
9-3 Calistoga Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
9-4 Petaluma Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
9-7 Silver Dollar Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
9-8 Ocean Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
9-9 Keller Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
9-23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
10-21 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
11-3 Arizona Speedway USAC National & CRA Sprint Cars
11-4 Arizona Speedway USAC National & CRA Sprint Cars
11-9 Perris Auto Speedway USAC National & CRA Sprint Cars
11-10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC National & CRA Sprint Cars
11-11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC National & CRA Sprint Cars
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