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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
#68 Bryan Swinehart. 5th in USAC SouthWest Point Standings. Photo by Patrick Shaw / Backed In Photography.
2-DAY USAC SOUTHWEST “SALUTE TO INDY” AT CSP BEGINS SATURDAY
by Lance Jennings
PEORIA, AZ – MAY 21, 2013... Starting this Saturday, May 25th, the powerful machines of the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series are set for two nights of action at Canyon Speedway Park. The “2nd Annual Salute To Indy” will also feature the LoanMart Challenge Cup Sprint Cars, Mini Sprints, and AMA Modlites. The Front Gates will open at 5:00pm with Racing scheduled to begin at 7:00pm on both nights.
Promoted by Kevin Montgomery, the popular race will have extra prize money up for grabs. Saturday’s purse will pay $1,500-to-win and $200-to-start the feature with Sunday’s finale offering racers $2,000-to-win and $250-to-start. While fairly new to the Peoria clay oval, the annual "Salute To Indy" race has been a “Copper State” tradition going back to Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix. Dating back to 1991, Ricky Johnson, Charles Davis Jr., and Jeremy Sherman lead all drivers with three victories. Other drivers to have won the Memorial Day Classic include Mike Boat, Bob Ream Jr., Marty Miller, Josh Pelkey, Eric Wilkins, Casey Shuman, and R.J. Johnson. Last season, Dalten Gabbard won the Saturday preliminary and Colby Copeland added his name to the winner’s list.
Heading into the seventh point race of the campaign, R.J. Johnson of Phoenix holds a forty-three point advantage over the competition. On May 11th at Queen Creek, the pilot of Bill Michaels’ #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman earned his second straight victory. With four main event wins, four heat race victories, one Sunoco Fuels Passing Masters Dash win, one hard charger award, seven top-10 finishes, and 67 feature laps led, Johnson will be looking to add another “Salute To Indy” to his resume.
Buckeye’s “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. is second in the championship points. Racing the Massey Motorsports' #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply entry, Davis scored eleventh at Arizona Speedway. To date, the five-time Arizona Champion has one feature win, two heat race victories, one Sunoco Fuels Passing Masters Dash win, one semi-main win, one hard charger award, seven top-10 finishes, and 36 feature laps led. The veteran driver will be looking to rebound with his fourth career “Salute To Indy” win at Canyon Speedway Park.
Ronnie Clark of Tucson sits third in the point standings. Driving the family owned #6 RCM / Ellis Race Cars machine, Clark finished seventh at Queen Creek after starting tenth. As this writing goes to press, the veteran driver has one heat race victory and five top-10 finishes on the season. Ronnie will have his sights on claiming the “Salute To Indy” victory and gaining valuable championship points.
Yuma’s “The Magic Man” Mike Martin is fourth in the point chase. Piloting his #16 Ultimate Offroad / Naquin Precision Earth Moving Maxim, Martin scored fourth in the May 11th feature. To date, Mike has one feature win, two heat race victories, four top-10 finishes, and 24 feature laps led to his credit. Martin will be one of the favorites to watch in this weekend’s “Salute To Indy.”
Bryan Swinehart of Prescott Valley has climbed to fifth in the standings. Piloting Tim and Shelly Beal’s #68 Beal’s Auto Body / DNS Performance RSS, Swinehart raced to tenth from fifteenth at Arizona Speedway. Currently, the hard charger has one heat race victory and three top-10 finishes in the campaign. Swinehart will be looking to sweep this weekend’s main events at Canyon Speedway Park.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Josh Pelkey, Chris Bonneau, Shon Deskins, Justin Quinn, Stevie Sussex, Brian Hosford, Tom Ogle, Nick Aiuto, Bruce St. James, Mike Bonneau, Andy Reinbold, Nathan High, “The Bullet” Bob Ream Jr., James Aragon, Jody Wirth, and more.
Canyon Speedway Park is located at 9777 West Carefree Highway in Peoria, Arizona. To get to the track, take Lake Pleasant Parkway, then 1.3 miles west on Carefree Highway. Adult Tickets are $15 with $2 discounts available for Seniors, Military, and Students. Kids Tickets (7-12) are $6 and Children (6 and under) are FREE. VIP passes are available for $20 and Advance tickets are on sale now. For more event information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or call (602) 258-7223 (RACE).
The USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series would like to thank Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Tire, Racers Advantage Store, and the Hose Advantage Store for their support. For more information on the group, visit www.southwestsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SouthwestSprintCars).
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USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT POINT STANDINGS:
1-R.J. Johnson-299; 2-Charles Davis Jr.-256; 3-Ronnie Clark-255; 4-Mike Martin-230; 5-Bryan Swinehart-225; 6-Josh Pelkey-220; 7-Chris Bonneau-214; 8-Shon Deskins-211; 9-Justin Quinn-209; 10-Stevie Sussex-194; 11-Brian Hosford-183; 12-Thomas Ogle-162; --Nick Auito-162; 14-Bruce St. James-158; 15-Mike Bonneau-157; 16-Andy Reinbold-148 ; 17-Nathan High-112; 18-Bob Ream Jr.-110 ; 19-James Aragon-101; --Jody Wirth-101.
2013 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
May 25: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Salute To Indy)
May 26: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Salute To Indy)
June 8: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
June 22: Central Arizona Raceway - Casa Grande, AZ
June 29: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Summer Sizzle)
July 13: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
July 19: **El Paso Speedway Park - El Paso, TX
July 20: **Southern New Mexico Speedway - Las Cruces, NM
July 27: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Summer Slam)
August 21: Mid America Speedway - South Coffeyville, OK (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 22: 81 Speedway - Wichita, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 23: Dodge City Raceway Park - Dodge City, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 24: Dodge City Raceway Park - Dodge City, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
September 7: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
September 14: Central Arizona Raceway - Casa Grande, AZ
September 28: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series)
October 12: Central Arizona Raceway - Casa Grande, AZ
October 19: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
October 31: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Oval Nationals / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series / Non-Points)
November 14: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 15: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 16: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / $7,500-to-Win)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC West Coast Sprints.
** = Co-Sanctioned Event With NMMRA Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
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