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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
R.J. JOHNSON LEADS WIRE-TO-WIRE AT ARIZONA SPEEDWAY
By Lance Jennings
OCTOBER 18, 2016... Leading all 30-laps, R.J. Johnson (Tempe, Arizona) stormed to last Saturday’s USAC SouthWest Sprint Car win at Queen Creek’s Arizona Speedway. For Johnson, the $1,500 triumph marked his 43rd career series victory and eleventh win of the campaign.
Racing Bill Michael’s #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, R.J. Johnson ran second to Dennis Gile in his heat race and ranked sixth out of twenty drivers in passing points. Heading to Saturday’s “Hank Arnold Memorial” at Canyon Speedway Park, the three-time champion has a 113-point lead with nine heat race victories, six top-qualifier awards, twenty-four top-10 finishes, and 260 feature laps led to his credit.
Dennis Gile (Phoenix, Arizona) had one of his best nights of the campaign with a second place finish. Driving the family owned #13 Quarterback Academy / Bobby Q Ellis, Gile won the night’s third 8-lap heat race and placed fourth in passing points. Last season’s Rookie of the Year left Queen Creek sitting sixth in the standings with six heat race victories, three top-qualifier awards, one semi-main win, two hard charger awards, and eighteen top-10 finishes on the season.
“Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (Buckeye, Arizona) raced from sixth to score third at Arizona Speedway. Piloting the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis won the night’s first 8-lap heat race and was the night’s top qualifier. To date, the five-time Arizona champion is second in the points with twelve heat race victories, four top-qualifier awards, one hard charger award, twenty-three top-10 finishes, and 39 feature laps led on the year.
“The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James (Phoenix, Arizona) had a solid night at Queen Creek with a fourth place finish. Racing his #7K Woodland Auto Display / Weld Racing Maxim, St. James ran second to Andy Reinbold in his heat race and placed fifth in passing points. The veteran driver is sixteenth in the point chase with one heat race victory, five top-10 finishes, and 2 feature laps led in the campaign.
Landon Cling (Phoenix, Arizona) charged from eleventh to score fifth in the Arizona Speedway feature. Driving the family owned #54 Cling’s Aerospace Ellis, Landon took third in his heat race and ranked eleventh in passing points. Heading to the “Hank Arnold Memorial,” Cling is eleventh in points with one semi-main win, one hard charger award, and three top-10 finishes.
Tanner Grau (Phoenix, Arizona) earned the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a tenth place run from twentieth. Piloting the Team AZ Racing #34 Westin Diversified entry, Grau scored seventh in his heat race and placed twentieth in passing points. In limited action, Tanner is twenty-first in the point standings with one heat race victory and one top-10 finish.
Andy Reinbold (Gilbert, Arizona) won the program’s second 8-lap heat race. Racing Todd Underwood’s #19 AME Electrical / Ross Equipment Rentals Spike, Reinbold ranked third in passing points and scored nineteenth in the feature after an early exit. The veteran racer is currently thirteenth in points with one heat race victory, and seven top-10 finishes to his credit.
This Saturday, October 22nd, the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series will return to Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Arizona for the “Hank Arnold Memorial.” Located at 9777 West Carefree Highway, more event information can be found at www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or calling 602.258.RACE (7223).
For more information on the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series, visit www.southwestsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook.
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USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS:
October 15, 2016 – Queen Creek, Arizona – Arizona Speedway
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 2. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 3. Landon Cling (#54 Cling), 4. Matt Lundy (#98 Lundy), 5. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 6. Tom Ogle (#48 Ogle), 7. Tanner Grau (#34 Team AZ). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood), 2. Bruce St. James (#7K St. James), 3. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler), 4. Chris Bonneau (#78 Bonneau), 5. Johnny Shelton Jr. (#9 Shelton), 6. Joe Schoepner (#17 Schoepner, 7. Vickie Faber (#50V Faber). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Dennis Gile (#13 Gile), 2. R.J. Johnson (#77M Michael), 3. Matt Rossi (#02 Rossi), 4. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 5. Brian Hosford (#32B Weber), 6. Brett Yarnell (#29B Yarnell). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. R.J. Johnson (1st), 2. Dennis Gile (3rd), 3. Charles Davis Jr. (6th), 4. Bruce St. James (2nd), 5. Landon Cling (11th), 6. Tom Ogle (14th), 7. Michael Curtis (7th), 8. Mike Martin (5th), 9. Matt Lundy (9th), 10. Tanner Grau (20th), 11. Brett Yarnell (17th), 12. Joe Schoepner (18th), 13. Tye Mihocko (13th), 14. Vickie Faber (19th), 15. Chris Bonneau (10th), 16. Josh Pelkey (12th), 17. Matt Rossi (8th), 18. Brian Hosford (16th), 19. Andy Reinbold (4th), 20. Johnny Shelton Jr. (15th) NT.
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**Rossi & Pelkey flipped during the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-30 Johnson.
HARD CHARGER: Tanner Grau (20th to 10th)
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. R.J. Johnson-1213, 2. Charles Davis Jr.-1100, 3. Matt Rossi-963, 4. Mike Martin-942, 5. Tye Mihocko-810, 6. Dennis Gile-800, 7. Stevie Sussex-718, 8. Chris Bonneau-648, 9. Nick Aiuto-639, 10. Brian Hosford-617, 11. Landon Cling-612, 12. Josh Pelkey-611, 13. Andy Reinbold-600, 14. Shon Deskins-459, 15. Michael Curtis-453, 16. Bruce St. James-446, 17. Tom Ogle-353, 18. Matt Lundy-351, 19. Dustin Burkhart-330, 20. Jonas Reynolds-190
2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
October 22: Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ (Hank Arnold Memorial)
October 29: Central Arizona Speedway - Casa Grande, AZ
November 4: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships / $2,000-to-Win)
November 5: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships / $5,000-to-Win)
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This schedule is subject to change.
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