Perris Auto Speedway promoter Don Kazarian has released the purse for the 26th Annual Heimark Anheuser Busch/Budweiser Oval Nationals at Perris Auto Speedway on Nov. 3-5.

The high-profile race at the southern California 1/2-mile dirt oval will feature the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship and the AMSOIL USAC CRA Sprint Cars.

In addition to posting the purse, entry is open for the race (link is posted below). Tickets for the annual event should be on sale later this week.

The Nov. 3-4 preliminary nights will pay $5,000 each to win and $500 to start.

Saturday's finale will reward the winner with a $20,000 payday. The runner-up will take home $10,000, and the third-place finisher will pocket $5,000. The race will pay $1,000 to start.

The total purse for the three nights of racing is $118,270.00. The link for the purse can be found here.

Entry for the premiere traditional sprint car race west of the Mississippi is open. Pre-entry is $100, if paid for our postmarked by Oct. 21. Entries postmarked after that date, or paid in person at the gate are $250. 

Entry forms can be downloaded and printed here.

Advance tickets for Oval Nationals will be on sale soon and will be available online here or by calling 1-800-595-4849.

Kevin Thomas Jr. is the defending race champion and has won three of the last four Oval Nationals. Besides 2021, the Cullman, Alabama, native's other two victories came in 2017 and 2018.

Thomas is one of four drivers who have won Oval Nationals three times. 

The first to turn the hat trick was Campbell, California's Bud Kaeding with triumphs in 2001, 2002 and 2007. The "People's Champ," Dave Darland of Lincoln, Indiana, notched wins in 2005, 2006 and 2013. Nine-time CRA champion Damion Gardner took home the race's famous eagle trophy in 2009, 2011 and 2016.

Oval Nationals Winners

1996 - Jimmy Sills
1997 - Rip Williams
1998 - Rodney Argo
1999 - Rickie Gaunt
2000 - Tony Jones
2001 - Bud Kaeding
2002 - Bud Kaeding
2003 - Cory Kruseman
2004 - Cory Kruseman
2005 - Dave Darland
2006 - Dave Darland
2007 - Bud Kaeding
2008 - Jesse Hockett
2009 - Damion Gardner
2010 - Chris Windom
2011 - Damion Gardner
2012 - Mike Spencer
2013 - Dave Darland
2014 - Robert Ballou
2015 - Bryan Clauson
2016 - Damion Gardner
2017 - Kevin Thomas Jr.
2018 - Kevin Thomas Jr.
2019 - C.J. Leary
2020 - No Race
2021 - Kevin Thomas Jr.