PERRIS, Calif. — Fresh off a win in the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series at the Mohave Valley Raceway last Saturday night, Southern California native Jake Swanson plans on being in three places when he jets back to the Golden State this week.
Those three places are the drive-through window at an In N’ Out Burgers, Mexican restaurants and victory circle at Perris Auto Speedway.
The past Anaheim resident, who is now based out of Indiana, will be taking on the stars from the USAC/CRA series for the second week in a row.
Saturday’s show will be the first sprint car race at the famous Riverside County half-mile clay oval since last November.
Three weeks ago, on Feb. 8, the series was slated to open its 21st season at the track. However, persistent rain heading into that date left the infield looking like a mini version of nearby Lake Perris. That left track and series officials with no choice but to postpone the race, which will now be made up on Nov. 1.
At Mohave, 31-year-old Swanson drove for the powerhouse Inland Rigging Team owned by Tom and Christy Dunkel. He will drive the same No. 17x car this week. It will be on the track where he cut his sprint car teeth when he captured the USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year title 13 years ago and where he scored his first USAC National Sprint Car Series win in an Oval Nationals preliminary in 2021.
“They definitely have some of the best equipment out there,” said Swanson, who first steered an Inland Rigging car for the Dunkel’s in 2024. “He has put together a world-class operation when it comes to a sprint car team. They have the right people in place. The people who maybe do not have all of the experience are being trained in the right way. It is really cool to be a part of a program for somebody who really, genuinely cares about seeing it succeed and they are willing to do whatever it takes to do it in the right way.”
“They have entrusted me to work on the car a lot, and they have entrusted Jimmy May and Charlie Butcher to work on the cars. They have done a great job in training Aiden (the Dunkel’s son). He is a young kid, but he is learning really, really quick. To see the amount of notes he makes when I am in town is pretty impressive. There are a handful of others, and everybody works really hard.”
“I couldn’t be more excited,” Swanson said. “I always love coming back to Perris. I always tell people that, in my opinion, it is the greatest race track in the country. It puts on some of the greatest races in all of the country. The fans are lucky to have that and watch the CRA stuff. I just wish we could share it to more of the country.”
While the quick trip west will mostly be about racing, Swanson has some yens to settle while in the Southland.
“I pretty much have a strict diet of tacos and In N’ Out in California,” he laughed when asked what he looks forward to when he returns to So Cal. “I love the beach, but I don’t get there very often. The Mexican food is definitely top tier on my list.”
Swanson, who is as busy off the track as he is on, plans to contest the entire USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series in 2025. He got off to a fine start in that series two weeks ago in Florida. In six races, driving his own car that features Inland Rigging as its prime sponsor, he placed in the top 10 five times with a best finish at the Ocala Speedway on the 12th
As well as racing in the National Sprint Car Series, Swanson will steer a car owned by past racer and noted car builder Bob East in the USAC Silver Crown Series. And when time permits, much to the chagrin of the USAC/CRA regulars, he will be back in the Inland Rigging No. 17x whenever he can get a break from his busy National schedule.
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