Left to right: Joe Gobb, crew chief Zac Bozanich, Brody Roa and Brett Roa after a 2022 Perris win. (Photo by Doug Allen)
CYPRESS, Calif. – When the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Series kicks off its 24th racing season Jan. 27-28 at Cocopah Speedway, Brody Roa will be in a different drive.
Roa will be working with Tom and Christy Dunkel aboard the No. 17R throughout the year.
The start of the season will be broadcast live on SPEEDSPORT.tv.
Last year, Roa freelanced during the season. The 31-year-old competed in 37 races at 18 different tracks in four different states. He competed in five different types of cars in seven different sanctioning bodies.
Roa’s plans include the entire USAC/CRA schedule of 27 races and four open competition races at Imperial Valley Raceway. Roa can also make a few starts in the USAC/West Coast Sprint Car Series.
Originally, Roa wanted to do the usual and drive his own car in CRA. However, a conversation with the Darks a few weeks ago changed everything.
“We went to dinner about a week and a half ago because we felt like we were going to talk about the 360 races I was going to run for them,” Roa said. “I told them about something with the 410 stuff. He and Christy went back and talked about it. Turns out they were now using the 410 HD (HD Industries).
“We will be running a Tom & Christy Dunkel/Inland Rigging/BR Performance Race Team this year. We just bought a brand new DRC. We got this two weeks ago or maybe less than that. We just finished this last Wednesday evening. We’ll light it up tomorrow. We have sold our Eagles and we have our trailer for sale. Some big changes.
“I am delighted to be representing Tom, Christy and Inland Rigging in the new #17R.”
“Man, that’s huge,” said car owner Tommy Dunkel. “It’s only when I hear it out loud for the first time that I get goosebumps. It’s a big deal for me. I grew up watching major league sprint car races at Perris (Motor Speedway) my whole life. To be able to be a part of that with Brody and a few other riders ahead of this year was great.
“Now moving things a little further and becoming a key player in Brody’s operation is going to be great. Hooking up with guys like you, who are such good and nice guys in the box but come out with a bang every weekend. That’s kind of my style. I like to show up and try to win and have nice gear. These guys are at the top of their league. Working with them is really important to me. We are very happy about it.”
So far, the offseason has been anything but normal for Roa and his team. At the end of December, some might have noticed some of his devices for sale. There were questions if the Garden Grove, California racing star would hang up his helmet.
Questions intensified in early January when his trailer went up for sale. However, Roa is back and ready for another successful season.
“We sold a chassis and body and a complete roller,” said Roa. “We assembled a new DRC with everything from the chassis that was sold. We basically think of it as a spare of everything. Otherwise everything is for sale.
“We probably have enough to build six cars with everything we have in the shop besides the big stuff,” Roa continued. “We have small components that we’ve probably had hidden in this store for 10 years. We definitely haven’t sold everything yet.”
Amid all the changes, Roa is thankful for the constants in his life.
“HD has given us so much over the past decade,” said Roa. “They have been alongside the car for so many years and are a big part of our program. Without them we would never have achieved the successes we have achieved. I will always be grateful to Mike, Jim and HD.”
“I also want to thank family and friends who are a part of our racing effort,” said Roa. “My Tailor and Addison family, parents Brett and Eden, Uncle B, Joe, Zac, Tyler, Tracy and I are excited to join the family teams with Tom, Christy and Ava Dunkel.”
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