Jeremy earns Heat Race Victory and Strong Top-Six Finish at Tulare Thunderbowl
TULARE, CA — April 18, 2026 — Jeremy Alves and the Alves Motorsports team returned to Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway on Saturday night looking for redemption after a hard crash just a few weeks earlier left the No. 81a sprint car heavily damaged.
With Tulare being Jeremy’s favorite track, the motivation was high to put together a strong performance. Competing alongside the prestigious Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) 410 Sprint Car Series, the California 305 Sprint Series drew 13 talented competitors, setting the stage for an exciting night of racing.
Jeremy drew pill number 63, which put him 12th out of 13 cars in the qualifying order. On a heavy and demanding racing surface, Jeremy turned in a lap of 16.610 seconds, placing 6th overall.
That qualifying effort lined Jeremy up on the outside of the front row for BR Motorsports Heat Race #2.
When the green flag dropped, Jeremy was in command from the start.
He powered to the lead and never looked back, leading every lap to score an impressive heat race victory. Jeremy also recorded the fastest average lap time of the race at 15.549 seconds, showcasing the speed of the Alves Motorsports No. 81a.
As the winner of Heat Race #2, Jeremy earned the opportunity to draw the pill for the feature event. He pulled a zero, meaning the Quick Change Liquid Energy main event would line up strictly by qualifying times. That placed Jeremy in the third row for the night’s feature.
Starting from 6th in a stacked field, Jeremy knew he would need to make quick moves to advance toward the front. However, as the race unfolded, the team’s setup was slightly off, and Jeremy struggled to get the car to drive off the corners the way he needed.
Despite the handling challenges, Jeremy stayed consistent and brought the car home in 6th place against a highly competitive field.
“We were really excited to get back to Tulare,” said Alves. “After what happened there earlier in the season, I wanted redemption. Winning the heat race felt great, and while we didn’t quite have what we needed in the feature, it was still a solid night and another chance to learn.”
The performance added another strong result to Jeremy’s 2026 season and continued to build momentum as the young California driver gains valuable experience in the IMCA RaceSaver 305 Sprint Car ranks.
Jeremy Alves would like to thank his 2026 sponsors: Alves & Sons Diesel Repair, Hanford Auto Sales, Westscapes, VanEssen Motorsports, Pacific Towing, and series sponsor Quick Change Liquid Energy.
Fans can follow Jeremy on social media and visit JeremyAlves.com for the latest race updates, recaps, photos, and schedule information.
For sponsorship or media inquiries, contact Jeremy at jalves81a@gmail.com.