Jeremy Alves Earns Quick Time and Another Podium Finish at Santa Maria Speedway

SANTA MARIA, CA — August 29, 2026 — Jeremy Alves and the Alves Motorsports team returned to Santa Maria Speedway Saturday night for another round of IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car competition, continuing to learn and fine-tune the No. 81a's new motor combination.

A strong field of 13 IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars checked into the pits, and Jeremy drew pill number 64, putting him 12th out of 13 cars for hot laps and qualifying.

From the moment Jeremy hit the track for hot laps, it was clear this wouldn't be a typical Santa Maria racing surface.

The track was extremely slick and technical, forcing drivers to be patient and precise. It was the kind of surface where sometimes you had to slow down to go fast.

Jeremy worked the pedals and searched for grip, clocking a 16.259 on his first lap before improving to a 15.991 on lap two. Despite the track running nearly two seconds slower than typical Santa Maria conditions, Jeremy's second lap stood as the fastest lap of hot laps.

Next came single-car qualifying.

Going out 12th of the 13 competitors meant Jeremy would once again have to deal with a slick racing surface that wasn't giving up much speed. But on his first qualifying lap, Jeremy put together a 15.643-second lap and shot straight to the top of the board.

Quick Time for the No. 81a.

Jeremy's second lap came in at 15.919, but his opening lap was enough to hold the top spot and earn his first Quick Time of the evening.

Under the California 305 Sprint Series format, Jeremy's qualifying effort lined him up 4th, on the outside of the second row, for Heat Race #1. To retain his qualifying position for the main event lineup, Jeremy needed to finish no worse than 4th.

As the team headed toward staging, additional track work began. Joey and Devin used the opportunity to make a few last-minute adjustments before sending Jeremy onto the speedway.

At the drop of the green, Jeremy quickly moved into 3rd and began searching the racetrack for a line that would give him an advantage.

While much of the field fought for grip, Jeremy began making the high line work, particularly coming out of turn two.

He continued gaining speed as the race progressed.

On the final lap, Jeremy made the move for 2nd place and turned his fastest lap of the entire heat race on lap eight, crossing the finish line with a strong runner-up finish.

The result comfortably protected Jeremy's qualifying position and put the team in a strong position heading into the night's feature.

Unfortunately, the main event pill draw wasn't quite as friendly.

A six-car invert meant the night's Quick Time qualifier would start 6th in the Quick Change Liquid Energy main event.

Back in the pits, Joey and Devin went to work making adjustments to the No. 81a while Jeremy headed to Santa Maria Speedway's Fan Fest.

Jeremy spent time meeting fans, signing autographs, taking pictures, and talking racing with the incredible Santa Maria crowd that has supported him throughout the season.

After Fan Fest, Jeremy returned to the pits to help the team finish preparing the car for the feature.

Everyone knew the main event would require patience.

With the track as slick and technical as it was, passing opportunities would be limited, and tire conservation was going to play a major role in who was still competitive at the end of the race.

Jeremy rolled off from the outside of the third row in 6th.

When the green flag dropped, he immediately went to work.

Jeremy quickly advanced into 4th place before settling into a rhythm, balancing the need to move forward with the importance of preserving his tires for the closing laps.

On lap 14, Jeremy worked his way into 3rd.

Four laps later, on lap 18, he slipped back to 4th as tire wear continued to become an increasingly important factor throughout the field.

Jeremy remained patient.

With just a few laps remaining, he went back on the attack. On lap 22, Jeremy made the pass to reclaim 3rd place and held the position through the checkered flag.

Quick Time. A 2nd-place heat race finish. And another 3rd-place podium at Santa Maria Speedway.

On a night when the racetrack demanded patience, throttle control, and tire management, Jeremy and the Alves Motorsports team once again found a way to put the No. 81a on the podium.

"The track definitely made you work for everything tonight," said Alves. "You had to be really patient and take care of the tires, but the car was good. Getting Quick Time and then being able to race our way back onto the podium made it a really solid night for us. Joey and Devin kept working on the car all night, and we're continuing to learn with this new motor every time we get on the track."

Jeremy and the Alves Motorsports team would once again like to thank the Santa Maria fans for their incredible support. From Fan Fest to the final checkered flag, Santa Maria continues to be a special place for Jeremy and the entire team.

Now, however, attention turns toward something Jeremy and the Alves family have been waiting for all season.

The 81a is headed home.

Jeremy's next race will be Friday, September 11, as he returns to his hometown track at Kings Speedway in Hanford.

For the Hanford-grown driver and his family-run race team, the return to Kings means a little more than another date on the schedule.

The hometown kid is coming home.

Stay tuned for more HOME GROWN race-week information as Jeremy prepares to bring the No. 81a back to Kings Speedway.

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.

Jeremy and the Alves Motorsports team would also like to thank their family, crew, friends, and fans for their continued support throughout the 2026 season.

Fans can follow Jeremy on social media and visit JeremyAlves.com for the latest race updates, recaps, photos, merchandise, and schedule information.

For sponsorship or media inquiries, contact Jeremy at jalves81a@gmail.com.