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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
20Z Rick Ziehl in Victory Circle at Southern New Mexico Speedway. Photo by Donald Iverson / Classick Motorart.
RICK ZIEHL WINS USAC SOUTHWEST / NMMRA “CLASH AT LAS CRUCES”
by Lance Jennings
LAS CRUCES, NM – JULY 21, 2013... Hometown favorite “The Real Deal” Rick Ziehl outdueled point leader R.J. Johnson to claim Saturday’s feature win at Southern New Mexico Speedway. Co-sanctioned with the New Mexico Motor Racing Association, the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car victory earned the multi-time ASCS Champion $1,500 for his efforts. Johnson, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., Andy Reinbold, and Josh Hodges followed Ziehl to the checkered flags.
Starting second, Johnson led the first twenty laps of the Las Cruces, New Mexico main event. Charging from fourth, Ziehl took command for the next four circuits until R.J. regained the top spot. Looking for his ninth win of the campaign, Johnson led until the last lap when Rick was able to slip by and claim the popular victory at his home track.
Piloting John Ziehl’s #20Z Lucas Oil / Bay Hayes Motorsports Maxim, Rick Ziehl earned his first series win of 2013. “The Real Deal” won the night’s third 8-lap Racers Advantage Store Heat Race and placed fourth in the dash. In limited starts, the former champion of the original USAC Southwest Series has three heat race victories and three top-10 finishes in 2013.
Despite leading 25 laps, Phoenix, Arizona’s R.J. Johnson had to settle for second at Las Cruces. Racing Bill Michaels’ #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson placed second in his heat race and ran second in the dash. To date, the USAC SouthWest point leader has eight feature wins, seven heat race victories, four Sunoco Fuels Passing Masters Dash wins, one hard charger award, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 239 feature laps led.
“Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. of Buckeye, Arizona scored third at Southern New Mexico Speedway. Driving the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis won his 8-lap Racers Advantage Store Heat Race and the Sunoco Fuels Passing Masters Dash. Running second in championship points, the five-time Arizona Champion has three feature wins, six heat race victories, three dash wins, two semi-main wins, three hard charger awards, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 62 feature laps led on the season.
Gilbert, Arizona’s Andy Reinbold had another strong run and took fourth at Las Cruces. Piloting Todd Underwood’s #19 AME Electrical / Ross Equipment Rentals RSS, Reinbold claimed third in his heat race and scored fifth in the dash. Currently, the veteran driver has one semi-main win and ten top-10 finishes in the campaign.
Young Josh Hodges of Tijeras, New Mexico claimed fifth in the USAC-NMMRA co-sanctioned event. Racing the family owned #74X Napa Auto Parts / Mesilla Valley Transportation Maxim, Hodges won the program’s second Racers Advantage Store Heat Race and was third in the dash. In limited starts, Josh has five heat race victories and four top-10 finishes with the USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars.
Grants, New Mexico’s Jesse Baker earned the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a thirteenth place finish after starting twenty-second. Driving the #7 ASI Engines / Bill & Mike’s Automotive entry, Baker scored fifth in his heat race and claimed sixth in the 15-lap semi-main.
James Aragon of Miami, Arizona had a solid night and won his first Racers Advantage Store Heat Race of the year. Piloting the Charlotte Aragon owned #94 RSS Industries / Peroni Fabrication RSS, James placed eighth in the dash and scored tenth in the main event.
Phoenix, Arizona’s Shon Deskins won the program’s 15-lap semi-main event. Racing his #20 Performance Plus / Ellis Race Cars Entry, Deskins was sixth in his heat race and scored nineteenth in the main event. To date, the veteran driver has six heat race victories, one hard charger award, and eight top-10 finishes on the year.
This Saturday, July 27th, the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series will invade Canyon Speedway Park for the “2nd Annual Summer Slam.” The action packed showcase will also feature Mini Sprints, LoanMart Challenge Cup Sprints, Viper Smart Pure Stocks, and AMA Modlites. Advance tickets are on sale and for more information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or call 602.258.7223.
The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series would like to thank Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Tire, Hose Advantage Store, and the Racers Advantage Store for their support. For more information on the series, visit www.southwestsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SouthwestSprintCars).
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USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT RACE RESULTS:
July 20, 2013 – Las Cruces, New Mexico – Southern New Mexico Speedway – (Co-sanctioned with NMMRA)
RACERS ADVANTAGE STORE HEAT RACE #1: (8 laps)
1. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 2. R.J. Johnson (#77M Michaels), 3. Ronnie Clark (#6 Clark), 4. Mike Bonneau (#29 Bonneau), 5. Don Grable (#148 Grable), 6. Cody Dons (#24C Dons), 7. Derek DeMartino (#99.5 DeMartino), 8. Dillon Tanner (#56W Tanner), 9. Justin Brown (#97 Brown). NT
RACERS ADVANTAGE STORE HEAT RACE #2: (8 laps)
1. Josh Hodges (#74X Hodges), 2. Chris Bonneau (#78 Bonneau), 3. Brian Hosford (#32B Weber), 4. Steve Harms (#60 Harms), 5. Jesse Baker (#7 Baker), 6. David Burns (#52NM Burns), 7. Jerill Higginbotham (#50H Higginbotham), 8. Bill Mitchell (#62 Mitchell). NT
RACERS ADVANTAGE STORE HEAT RACE #3: (8 laps)
1. Rick Ziehl (#20Z Ziehl), 2. Ronnie Smith (#19R Smith), 3. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood), 4. Nick Rael (#73 Rael), 5. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler), 6. Jarrod Smith (#12 Smith), 7. David Dykes (#55 Dykes), 8. Tom Lee (#53 Lee). NT
RACERS ADVANTAGE STORE HEAT RACE #4: (8 laps)
1. James Aragon (#94 Aragon), 2. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 3. Mike Wells (#56 Wells), 4. Kyle McCutcheon (#5 McCutcheon), 5. Matt Ziehl (#36DD Ziehl), 6. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins), 7. James Hatch (#41 Hatch), 8. Kristy Smith (#4L Smith). NT
SUNOCO RACE FUELS PASSING MASTERS DASH: (6 laps)
1. Charles Davis Jr., 2. R.J. Johnson, 3. Josh Hodges, 4. Rick Ziehl, 5. Andy Reinbold, 6. Mike Martin, 7. Ronnie Smith, 8. James Aragon. NT
SEMI-MAIN: (15 laps)
1. Shon Deskins, 2. David Burns, 3. Derek DeMartino, 4. Michael Curtis, 5. Matt Ziehl, 6. Jesse Baker, 7. Nick Rael, 8. James Hatch, 9. Cody Dons, 10. Jarrod Smith, 11. Kristy Smith, 12. Justin Brown, 13. Jerill Higginbotham, 14. Dillon Tanner, 15. David Dykes. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Rick Ziehl (4th), 2. R.J. Johnson (2nd), 3. Charles Davis Jr. (1st), 4. Andy Reinbold (5th), 5. Josh Hodges (3rd), 6. Mike Martin (6th), 7. Ronnie Clark (12th), 8. Brian Hosford (13th), 9. Kyle McCutcheon (11th), 10. James Aragon (8th), 11. Mike Bonneau (10th), 12. Michael Curtis (20th), 13. Jesse Baker (22nd), 14. Ronnie Smith (7th), 15. Steven Harms (15th), 16. Don Grable (16th), 17. Matt Ziehl (21st), 18. Mike Wells (14th), 19. Shon Deskins (17th), 20. Chris Bonneau (9th), 21. Derek DeMartino (19th), 22. David Burns (18th). NT
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**Jerill Higginbotham flipped during the semi.
**David Burns flipped during the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-20 R.J. Johnson, Laps 21-24 Rick Ziehl, Laps 25-29 R.J. Johnson, Lap 30 Rick Ziehl.
HARD CHARGER: Jesse Baker (22nd to 13th)
2013 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
July 27: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Summer Slam)
August 21: Creek County Speedway – Sapulpa, 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.
This schedule is subject to change.
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