MATTHEW HICKS WINS $1,000 IMCA MODIFIED MAIN EVENT AT PERRIS By Scott Daloisio (Perris, CA, May 1, 2022) It was a night to be named “Matt” if you were racing at Perris Auto Speedway on Saturday night. Moments after Matt Mitchell won the USAC/CRA main event, Santee, California’s Matthew Hicks drove from eighth place to score a convincing victory in the $1,000.00 to win 20 lap IMCA Modified main. The race saw the Modifieds teaming up with sprint cars for the first time in years at the track and they were well received by the sprint car fans on hand. Matt Hicks and his crew after his victory in the $1,000.00 to win IMCA Modified main event at Perris Auto Speedway. Doug Allen photo. Popular local Alyssa Smith of Norco started on the pole for the 20-lapper with multi-time PAS winner Justin Dunn of Riverside alongside. Smith immediately jumped into the lead when starter Steve Russell waved the green flag to begin the main event. Dunn, 2007 track modified champion Randy Thornell of Apple Valley, Dustin Stanley of Lakeside, and Ramona’s Kyle Morris all pursued the “Hot Rod Blonde” into turn one. Smith had built up a quarter straightaway lead when the race was slowed on lap 5 when Lake Elsinore’s Anthony Merritt stopped in turn one. Once the green flag signaled a return to racing, Smith was being chased by Dunn, Stanley, Thornell, and New River, Arizona’s Brenda Kirby. At that time, Hicks had only advanced one position to seventh from his eighth starting spot. However, things changed quickly as Hicks, in his Lyle Hunter Tax Service/Klaw Inc #28, passed three cars on lap five to move up to fourth. As Smith was starting to pull away again, fans were starting to notice Hicks. He was having little trouble moving forward, and his car was not only fast, but it was working wherever he placed it on the track. He used an inside move to pass Stanley on lap six. One lap later he went to the extreme outside, got a fantastic run off the turn two cushion, and took the second spot away from Dunn. That left him with only one car to pass and that was Smith who had built up a half straightaway lead again. Three laps after securing second, Hicks had caught up to the race-long leader. Coming off turn two on lap 10, he peeked to the outside of Smith, but she beat him back to the stripe. The persistent Hicks dove to the inside and threw a slider that allowed him to slip past her for the lead going into turn one. However, the Pediatric Dental Assistant quickly crossed back underneath Hicks and reclaimed the lead as they exited turn two. One lap later, Hicks used an inside move coming off turn two and took the lead back. From that point on, he moved away. With Hicks securing the lead, many redirected their attention to the war that had been raging for third all race long. Kirby went from fifth to third on lap 13, but three laps later she slowed on the back straight with a problem and returned to the pits. A late-race yellow with three laps to go only intensified the battle for third. Over the final three circuits, Dunn, Thornell, Morris, and Kiefer duked it out for the spot and at one time went four-wide coming off turn two. On the next to Last lap, Kiefer entered turn one in sixth. Much to the excitement of the crowd, by the time he arrived in turn three he had advanced to third! When the checkers ended the night of racing, Hicks crossed the line nearly a half straight in front of Smith. The third spot went to Kiefer, Smith’s boyfriend, with Thornell fourth and Morris fifth. “I have to thank my dad first,” Hicks told the appreciative crowd after the race. “He put in a lot of work this offseason doing research. We picked this car up from Victory Circle. We made a couple changes for how I like to drive, and this thing came alive. It was just a rocket ship tonight.” “Perris Auto Speedway, you put on a rad track tonight,” Hicks continued. “This is the best track we have had for the modifieds. Those Sprint cars make a rad track for us to race on.” In the companion, PAS Senior Sprint Car main event, Seligman, Arizona’s Richard McCormick scored a convincing win for his second PAS victory in two starts in 2022. Apple Valley’s Stevie Rogers collected the first place trophy for the second time in a row in the PAS Young Guns. IMCA Modified Main Event (with starting positions) 1. Matt Hicks – Santee, CA – 8th 2. Alyssa Smith – Norco, CA – 1st 3. Austin Kiefer – Bakersfield, CA – 6th 4. Randy Thornell – Apple Valley, CA – 5th 5. Kyle Morris – Ramona, CA – 7th 6. Justin Dunn – Riverside, CA – 2nd 7. Dustin Stanley – Lakeside, CA – 4th 8. Andy Papp – Guatay, CA – 11th 9. Dale Sauter – Fontana, CA – 10th 10. Brenda Kirby – New River, AZ – 9th 11. Brandon James – Yucaipa, CA – 13th 12. Rick Becker – Highland, CA – 3rd 13. Anthony Merritt – Lake Elsinore, CA – 12th DNS Tom Wesoloski – Canyon Lake, CA PAS Senior Sprint Car Main Event (with starting positions) 1. Richard McCormick – Seligman, AZ – 4th 2. Tyler Hatzikian – Murrieta, CA – 7th 3. Rick Hendrix – Palmdale, CA – 3rd 4. Bob Sookie – Tustin, CA – 2nd 5. Dale Gamer – Anaheim, CA – 1st 6. Mike Kotlinski – Nuevo, CA - 5th 7. Mike Ducharme – Ashfork, AZ – 6th PAS Young Gun Main Event 1. Stevie Rogers – Apple Valley, CA Racing returns to The PAS on Saturday, May 14th, with the PASSCAR Street Stocks/IMCA Stock Cars, Super Stocks, American Factory Stocks, and the INCA Sport Compacts. The “Craziest Show On Dirt,” LKQ Pick Your Part Night of Destruction returns on May 21st and the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds and The PAS Senior and Young Gun Sprints will be back on May 28th for the annual “Salute to Indy.” Advance tickets for all Perris Auto Speedway events including this Saturday are on sale now. Fans can order the tickets online at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/pas/7 or by calling 1-800-595-4849. Tickets for the remainder of the season will be on sale soon. For fans who do not wish to purchase tickets in advance, there will be plenty of tickets available for everyone at the gate each race night. 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/ Perris Auto Speedway wants to thank the following corporate partners. Ahern Equipment Rentals, Anderson Chevrolet, Battery Systems, Chris’ Hauling, City of Perris, Communication Innovations, Daytona Boat & RV Storage, Ed Moore Bullet Proof Driveshaft, Flowdynamics, 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, 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. Video and DVD productions of all racing sprint cars events at Perris Auto Speedway are available from Loudpedal Productions. For more information on these productions you can contact them by calling (805) 844-3854, E-mailing mailto:trtruex@gmail.com or you can visit the website LoudPedal Productions. 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. Perris Auto Speedway 2022 Schedule May 14th PASSCAR SERIES - SUPER STOCKS, STREET STOCKS/IMCA STOCK CARS, AMERICAN FACTORY STOCKS AND IMCA SPORT COMPACTS May 21st LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION III DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8’S, TRAILER FIGURE 8'S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS. PLUS “POWER OF PURPLE NIGHT” BENEFITING THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY RELAY FOR LIFE RIVERSIDE COUNTY EAST DEMOLITION DERBY. THREE AUCTION CARS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR FANS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DERBY! May 28th "SALUTE TO INDY" AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINT CARS AND IMCA MODIFIEDS. PLUS “POWER OF PURPLE NIGHT” BENEFITING THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY RELAY FOR LIFE RIVERSIDE COUNTY EAST June 4th PASSCAR SERIES - SUPER STOCKS, STREET STOCKS/IMCA STOCK CARS, AMERICAN FACTORY STOCKS AND IMCA SPORT COMPACTS June 11th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION IV DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8'S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS June 25th “BUBBY JONES / RAY SHEETZ MEMORIAL” AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINT CARS AND IMCA MODIFIEDS. PLUS “POWER OF PURPLE NIGHT” BENEFITING THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY RELAY FOR LIFE RIVERSIDE COUNTY EAST July 2nd FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION V - DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8'S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS. PLUS “POWER OF PURPLE NIGHT” BENEFITING THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY RELAY FOR LIFE RIVERSIDE COUNTY EAST August 13th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION VI DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8'S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS August 20th “CALIFORNIA RACERS HALL OF FAME NIGHT" AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINT CARS AND IMCA MODIFIEDS AND WRA VINTAGE CARS ON DISPLAY. PLUS “POWER OF PURPLE NIGHT” BENEFITING THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY RELAY FOR LIFE RIVERSIDE COUNTY EAST August 27th PASSCAR SERIES - SUPER STOCKS, STREET STOCKS/IMCA STOCK CARS, AMERICAN FACTORY STOCKS AND IMCA SPORT COMPACTS September 3rd LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION VII DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8'S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS September 10th PASSCAR SERIES - SUPER STOCKS, STREET STOCKS/IMCA STOCK CARS, AMERICAN FACTORY STOCKS AND IMCA SPORT COMPACTS. (Note; No IMCA Points will be awarded for this event due to the IMCA Super Nationals running on this weekend. PASSCAR points will be awarded for this event). September 17th "GLENN HOWARD CLASSIC" AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINT CARS, IMCA MODIFIEDS AND Lucas Oil POWRi SOUTHWEST LIGHTNING SPRINT CARS. PLUS “POWER OF PURPLE NIGHT” BENEFITING THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY RELAY FOR LIFE RIVERSIDE COUNTY EAST September 24th PASSCAR SERIES - SUPER STOCKS, STREET STOCKS/IMCA STOCK CARS, AMERICAN FACTORY STOCKS AND IMCA SPORT COMPACTS October 1st AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINT CARS AND IMCA MODIFIEDS October 15th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION VIII DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8'S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS October 22nd PASSCAR “CHAMPION’S NIGHT” SUPER STOCKS, STREET STOCKS/IMCA STOCK CARS, AMERICAN FACTORY STOCKS, PAS MODIFIEDS AND PAS SPORT COMPACTS November 2nd 26TH ANNUAL HEIMARK/ANHEUSER BUSCH BUDWEISER OVAL NATIONALS - Practice Night November 3rd 26TH ANNUAL HEIMARK/ANHEUSER BUSCH BUDWEISER OVAL NATIONALS - AMSOIL USAC NATIONAL AND AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS November 4th 26TH Annual HEIMARK/ANHEUSER BUSCH BUDWEISER Oval NATIONALS - AMSOIL USAC NATIONAL AND AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS November 5th 26TH Annual HEIMARK/ANHEUSER BUSCH BUDWEISER OVAL NATIONALS - AMSOIL USAC NATIONAL AND AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS November 12th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION IX DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8'S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS THIS SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.