KRIS CARNISH OPENS DEFENSE OF HIS PASSCAR TITLE SATURDAY AT PERRIS By Scott Daloisio (Perris, CA, March 12, 2024) In addition to the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, the PASSCAR Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks, GAS Chassis Young Guns and PAS Senior Sprints will also be in action this Saturday night at Perris Auto Speedway. It will be the second appearance for the Street Stocks, Young Guns, and Senior Sprints. The Factory Stocks will be making their 2024 debut. One of the best stories on the 2023 PASSCAR side of the program was Kris Carnish. After years of trying, the friendly Menifee, California racer won his first-ever championship in the Factory Stock class. Displaying the best form of his career, he only finished out of the top three one time in the seven-race Factory Stock schedule. The time he finished worse than third, he raced home in fifth. Add up the fifth-place finish with one memorable win, a second, and four third-place results and you have the formula for a dirt track championship. Kris Carnish on his way to the 2023 PASSCAR American Factory Stock Championship. Doug Allen photo. While he did all of the driving, the Vista, California-born driver who now makes his home in Menifee, had some valuable help on his side. Larry Well, a well-known driver and racecar setup guru, began working his race car wizardry on Carnish’s purple #26 1976 Camaro. “It is always everybody’s goal to finish at the front,” said the lifelong Cleveland Indians fan. “For me, the last year was about being consistent. In the past, I was always inconsistent. So being consistent last year was a great goal to accomplish.” “I had great help from a great guy, Larry Well, from Well and Sons Racing, who got the Camaros to handle so good. He set my car up for me. He started helping me the previous year when David Stites won the championship and he is helping me again. He has been involved in racing since he was in diapers and drove for years up at Santa Maria and Bakersfield. He is 1000 times better than what I can do setting the car up. I believe he has his fingers helping six or seven cars in the division this season.” While the stats for the 2023 season were the best in his career, it was not all a bowl of cherries for the 42-year-old driver. On the last night of the season with the title still on the line, Carnish came in after hot laps and his brand-new radiator was gushing water out like “Old Faithful.” Well and the other guys there told Carnish to go home and get his old radiator. He listened to them, borrowed a car from someone in the pits, and drove home to get it. While Carnish was away, a bunch of people chipped in and jumped on his car. They drained the radiator fluid, pulled the nosepiece off the car, and pulled the old radiator out. They set everything up so once that he got back, he could just drop his old radiator back in the car. He then went on to finish third in the main event and sew up the championship. That was a trying evening for sure, but nothing like June 17th was for the affable driver. It was not even close!!! In the early morning hours of that day, his father had heart transplant surgery! “I still get emotional about it,” Carnish said with his voice cracking. “He had heart replacement surgery that morning. I almost didn’t show up to the track. The surgery was supposed to take place on Friday. I was going to go see my dad on Saturday morning when he was in recovery and then go to the track. But surgery got pushed back to Saturday morning. He told me to go race. So I went and raced. Everybody told me I had half a track ahead of David Stites for the win that night.” “He is doing really good,” Carnish continued about his dad. “He is not taking as much meds as he was when he first had the surgery. They are getting him squared away and he is doing really good.” With the first night of his title defense fast approaching, Carnish is happy to have the following marketing partners helping him in 2024. Aaron’s Automotive Group (Aaron Chevrolet in Lake Elsinore, Aaron’s Ford of Escondido and Poway, Aaron Mitsubishi in Corona, and Aaron’s Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler in Norco), Well’s and Sons Racing, Harley’s Custom Cycle Works, Luke’s Transmission, Huss Trucking, Slapink Custom Shirts, Royal Fam Clothing Line, Pro Speed & Carb, and Brian and Amanda Fitzgibbons from DDWest Wraps. In addition to the Factory Stocks, the Street Stocks will be contesting round #2 of the year. After one race, Ohio native Evan Sennett, who now lives in Riverside, and Lake Elsinore’s James Altman Jr., who won the season opener last month, are tied for the point lead in the Street Stocks. George Leventis of Rancho Palos Verdes, and teenager Cameron Pierce of Lake Matthews are tied for third. They are only one point behind the lead duo. Rounding out the top five is two-time defending champion Chris Leventis of Rancho Palos Verdes. The longtime racer is only one point out of second and two digits out of first. Riverside’s Cody Deloye and Tustin’s Bob Suchy, who each won their first main events in the GAS Chassis Young Guns and PAS Senior Sprints respectively, are expected to be back to try and make it two in a row on Saturday. Young Gun second-place finisher Brecken Guererro of Lomita, and Orange resident Greg Badgwell, who placed second in the Senior Sprints, should be back to try and advance their positions by one spot. Spectator gates will open at 5:00 p.m. and the first race will get the green flag at 7:00. Adult tickets for the night of exciting dirt track racing and clean family fun are $30.00. Seniors 65 and over get in for $25.00. For kids 6-12 it is only $5.00, and children 5 and under are admitted free. Advance tickets are available online at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/pas/7 . They can also be ordered by phone at 1-800-595-4849. For fans who do not wish to purchase tickets in advance, there will be plenty available for everyone at the ticket window on Saturday. Perris Auto Speedway is conveniently located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of the Southern California Fair), one hour east of Los Angeles and one hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, exit on the Ramona Expressway, and go three miles east to the fairgrounds. For directions online, the address to enter is: 18700 Lake Perris Drive and the zip code is 92571. Perris Auto Speedway wants to thank the following corporate partners. Ahern Equipment Rentals, Anderson Chevrolet, Battery Systems, Bud’s Tire, Tire Choice Auto Service, Chris’ Hauling, City of Perris, Communication Innovations, Daytona Boat & RV Storage, Ed Moore Bullet Proof Driveshaft, Flowdynamics, GAS Chassis, HD Industries, Heimark/Anheuser Busch, Hoosier Tires, Inland Rigging, Living Water’s Hospice, LKQ Pick Your Part, Luke’s Transmission, Moose Racing, Pepsi-Cola, Performance Online, Pole Position Raceway, PrintItNow.com, Rainbow Bolt & Supply, Rene’s Bar & Grill, Rugged Radios, Shaver Specialties, Square H, Sunoco Race Fuels, Trench Shoring, Upland Rock, Varner Construction and Vista Paint. For information on 2024 billboard advertising at The PAS, please call 951-940-0134 and ask for Charlie Watson. USAC/CRA races from Perris Auto Speedway are not streamed online. Fans can stay up to date on track and driver news on The PAS social media efforts at the links below. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Perris-Auto-Speedway/113876798686480?ref=hl  Twitter: Perris Auto Speedway on Twitter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perrisautospeedway/  Website: http://perrisautospeedway.com/  2024 Perris Auto Speedway Schedule March 16th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS PAS SENIOR SPRINTS, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUN SERIES AND PASSCAR STREET AND FACTORY STOCK CARS April 6th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION: DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS April 27th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR SPRINTS, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUN SERIES AND PASSCAR SUPER AND FACTORY STOCKS May 4th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION: DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS May 25th "SALUTE TO INDY" AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR SPRINTS, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUN SERIES AND PASSCAR SUPER AND STREET STOCKS June 1st LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION: DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS June 22nd AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR SPRINTS, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUN SERIES AND PASSCAR STREET AND FACTORY STOCKS July 4th “FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR AND SKY CONCERT” (TENTATIVE) LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION: DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS July 13th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS Senior Sprints, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUNS SERIES, AND PASSCAR SUPER AND FACTORY STOCKS August 10th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION: DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS August 17th CALIFORNIA RACER’S HALL OF FAME NIGHT, AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS Senior Sprints, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUNS SERIES AND PASSCAR SUPER AND STREET STOCKS September 7th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION: DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS September 21st AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS Senior Sprints, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUNS SERIES AND PASSCAR SUPER AND FACTORY STOCKS October 26th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION: DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS November 8th 27TH RUNNING OF THE OVAL NATIONALS Featuring AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR SPRINTS, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUN SERIES AND PASSCAR SUPER, STREET AND FACTORY STOCKS November 9th 27TH RUNNING OF THE OVAL NATIONALS Featuring AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR SPRINTS, GAS CHASSIS YOUNG GUN SERIES – JERRY DODD CHAMPIONS NIGHT, PASSCAR SUPER, STREET AND FACTORY STOCKS THIS SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Perris Auto Speedway is conveniently located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of the Southern California Fair), one hour east of Los Angeles and one hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, exit on the Ramona Expressway, and go three miles east to the fairgrounds. For directions online, the address to enter is: 18700 Lake Perris Drive and the zip code is 92571. Perris Auto Speedway wants to thank the following corporate partners. Ahern Equipment Rentals, Anderson Chevrolet, Battery Systems, Bud’s Tire, Tire Choice Auto Service, Chris’ Hauling, City of Perris, Communication Innovations, Daytona Boat & RV Storage, Ed Moore Bullet Proof Driveshaft, Flowdynamics, GAS Chassis, HD Industries, Heimark/Anheuser Busch, Hoosier Tires, Inland Rigging, Living Water’s Hospice, LKQ Pick Your Part, Luke’s Transmission, Moose Racing, Pepsi-Cola, Performance Online, Pole Position Raceway, PrintItNow.com, Rainbow Bolt & Supply, Rene’s Bar & Grill, Rugged Radios, Shaver Specialties, Square H, Sunoco Race Fuels, Trench Shoring, Upland Rock, Varner Construction and Vista Paint. For information on 2024 billboard advertising at The PAS, please call 951-940-0134 and ask for Charlie Watson. USAC/CRA races from Perris Auto Speedway are not streamed online. Fans can stay up to date on track and driver news on The PAS social media efforts at the links below. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Perris-Auto-Speedway/113876798686480?ref=hl  Twitter: Perris Auto Speedway on Twitter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perrisautospeedway/  Website: http://perrisautospeedway.com/  DVDs of all the PASSCAR/IMCA racing and Nights of Destruction at The PAS are available from Fourvideos. For more information call (714) 225-9500. mailto:perrisautospeedway1@gmail.com is the only authorized Internet address to issue official media news released from The Perris Auto Speedway or Oval Entertainment.