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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
#21AZ Stevie Sussex - 2015 Sin City Showdown Winner. Photo by Chris Dolack.
STEVIE SUSSEX HITS LAS VEGAS JACKPOT AT “SIN CITY SHOWDOWN”
By Lance Jennings
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 8, 2014... Taking the lead from Hunter Schuerenberg on lap twenty-two, Tempe, Arizona’s Stevie Sussex held off all challengers to score the feature win at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. With the $2,500 FVP “4th Annual Sin City Showdown” triumph, Sussex holds a slim lead in the USAC West Coast and SouthWest Sprint Car point chase, as well as the five-race “Grudge Series.” Ryan Bernal, Matt Mitchell, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., and Schuerenberg followed the young driver to the checkered flags.
Driving Mike Burkhart’s #21AZ Stratis Construction / KSE Custom Drywall RSS, Stevie Sussex earned his first career USAC West Coast Series win and his second SouthWest triumph. Using the pill pick / passing point format, Sussex ran second to R.J. Johnson in his heat race from eighth and ranked second in the event points. Starting fifth in the main event, Stevie steadily made his way forward and took over the top spot with a daring move. Once out front, Sussex had his hands full with Bernal and even benefitted from a timely caution flag to regain the lead. Now faced with a clear track, Stevie was not to be denied on this night and stormed to 30-lap victory. The USAC SouthWest regular will return to action on March 28th’s “Hank Arnold Memorial” at Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Arizona.
While Sussex benefited from the late caution, Hollister, California’s Ryan Bernal had two passes for the lead erased by a yellow flag. Racing Mike Phulps’ #56 Mandarin Tri-L Ranch / Core Power ART, Bernal had to settle for second in the “Sin City Showdown.” Earlier, the two-time USAC Western Classic Sprint Champion raced to victory in the Saldana Racing Products Heat Race #3 from seventh and was the night’s high-point driver. Currently second in West Coast / SouthWest / Grudge standings, Ryan will be in action at Tulare’s USAC West Coast doubleheader that starts this Friday night.
Matt Mitchell from Yorba Linda, California ran a close third in the Las Vegas main event. Piloting his #37 Campbell Bros. Storage / Pit Boss Jacks Maxim, Mitchell scored third in his heat race and placed fifth in the nightly passing points. After starting on the outside of the front row, the defending USAC West Coast Champion left the first point race ranked fourth in the West Coast / SouthWest / Grudge standings. At press time, Mitchell plans to split his season between the USAC/CRA and West Coast schedules.
Buckeye, Arizona’s “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. took fourth in the “Sin City Showdown.” Driving the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis won the 8-lap Pyrotect Racing Cells Heat Race #4 and placed third in passing points. The five-time Arizona Sprint Car Champion left Las Vegas seated third in the West Coast / SouthWest / Grudge standings and will be a favorite at Canyon’s “Hank Arnold Memorial.”
Making his first start in Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Hunter Schuerenberg of Sikeston, Missouri led the first 21-laps before scoring fifth at Las Vegas. The USAC National veteran won the opening 8-lap Extreme Mufflers Heat Race #1 and was sixth in passing points. Starting on the pole position, Schuerenberg was strong during the early laps of the main event before falling back to fifth at the checkered flags.
Roseville, California’s Colby Copeland earned the night’s Diversified Machine Inc. “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a sixth place run from eighteenth. Racing Ted Williams’ #74 Bandit Racing / Marks Bolts Maxim, Copeland was fifth in his heat race, second in the semi-main, and eighteenth in passing points. The only driver to race double-duty with the World of Outlaws left Las Vegas ranked sixth in West Coast / SouthWest / Grudge points.
R.J. Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona took the victory in the 8-lap DJ Safety Heat Race #2. Piloting Bill Michaels’ #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson was seventh in passing points and scored eleventh in the main event. Currently tenth in the West Coast / SouthWest / Grudge standings, the two-time USCA SouthWest Champion will be back in action at Canyon Speedway Park on March 28th.
Visalia, California’s Jace Vander Weerd took the checkered flag in the 12-lap Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main. Driving the family owned #88 Vander Weerd Construction / Stone Gate Development Maxim, Vander Weerd scored fourth in his heat race, placed seventeenth in passing points, and charged to tenth in the feature from seventeenth. The former USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year will have a full season between West Coast, USAC/CRA, and winged sprint car action.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series will return for two nights of action, starting Friday, March 13th, at Tulare, California's Thunderbowl Raceway. The action packed card will also showcase the famed World of Outlaw Sprint Cars combined with the King of the West Sprints. The winged Western RaceSaver Sprint Cars will join the action on Saturday night. Advance tickets are on sale and for more information, visit www.tularethunderbowl.com or call 559.688.0909.
The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series will tackle Peoria, Arizona's Canyon Speedway Park on March 28th. The "Hank Arnold Memorial" will also feature Mini Sprints, AZ Differential Pure Stocks, AMA Modlites, and Dwarf Cars. Advance tickets are on sale and for more information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or call 602.258.7223.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series thanks Amsoil, Hoosier Tire, Chris Kearns Presents, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. For more information, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/#!/pages/USAC-West-Coast-Sprint-Car-Series/369549755817), or Twitter (www.twitter.com/USACwc360). Mike Truex's Loudpedal Productions has DVDs available for purchase that feature the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars and for more information, call 805.407.7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com.
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 WEST COAST & SOUTHWEST SPRINT RACE RESULTS:
March 5, 2015 – Las Vegas, Nevada – The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – FVP “Sin City Showdown” / “Grudge Series”
EXTREME MUFFLERS HEAT RACE 1: (8 laps)
1. Hunter Schuerenberg (#73X Ford), 2. Danny Faria Jr. (#17V Bowman), 3. Richard Vander Weerd (#10 Vander Weerd), 4. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 5. Colby Copeland (#74 Williams), 6. Dennis Gile (#13 Gile), 7. Shannon McQueen (#87 Van Meter), 8. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko). NT
DJ SAFETY HEAT RACE 2: (8 laps)
1. R.J. Johnson (#77M Michaels), 2. Stevie Sussex (#21AZ Burkhart), 3. Matt Mitchell (#37 Mitchell), 4. Brody Roa (#48 Leonard), 5. Trey Marcham (#73 Ford), 6. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins), 7. Tristan Guardino (#81 Watt), 8. Landon Hurst (#179 Hurst). NT
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS HEAT RACE 3: (8 laps)
1. Ryan Bernal (#56 Phulps), 2. Austin Liggett (#83 Liggett), 3. Bruce St. James (#7K St. James), 4. Jace Vander Weerd (#88 Vander Weerd), 5. Max Adams (#5X Adams), 6. Matt Rossi (#02 Rossi), 7. Jeff Sibley (#42N Sibley), 8. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood). NT
PYROTECT RACING CELLS HEAT RACE 4: (8 laps)
1. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 2. Troy Rutherford (#11 Rutherford), 3. Chris Windom (#22B Weber), 4. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 5. Dustin Cormany (#20X Deskins), 6. Brian Hosford (#32B Weber), 7. A.J. Bender (#21B Bender). NT
COMPETITION SUSPENSION INC. / ROD END SUPPLY SEMI-MAIN: (12 laps)
1. J.Vander Weerd, 2. Copeland, 3. Rossi, 4. Deskins, 5. Marcham, 6. Hurst, 7. Cormany, 8. Reinbold, 9. Sibley, 10. Guardino, 11. McQueen, 12. Bender, 13. Gile, 14. Hosford. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Stevie Sussex (5th), 2. Ryan Bernal (6th), 3. Matt Mitchell (2nd), 4. Charles Davis Jr. (4th), 5. Hunter Schuerenberg (1st), 6. Colby Copeland (18th), 7. Chris Windom (15th), 8. Richard Vander Weerd (11th), 9. Max Adams (13th), 10. Jace Vander Weerd (17th), 11. R.J. Johnson (7th), 12. Danny Faria Jr. (9th), 13. Trey Marcham (21st), 14. Matt Rossi (19th), 15. Austin Liggett (10th), 16. Mike Martin (16th), 17. Troy Rutherford (3rd), 18. Landon Hurst (22nd), 19. Shon Deskins (20th), 20. Josh Pelkey (8th), 21. Brody Roa (12th), 22. Bruce St. James (14th). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-21 Hunter Schuerenberg, Laps 22-30 Stevie Sussex.
DIVERSIFIED MACHINE INC. HARD CHARGER: Colby Copeland (18th to 6th)
NEW WEST COAST / SOUTHWEST / GRUDGE SERIES POINT STANDINGS:
1. Stevie Sussex-72, 2. Ryan Bernal-71, 3. Charles Davis Jr.-63, 4. Matt Mitchell-62, 5. Hunter Schuerenberg-57, 6. Colby Copeland-48, 7. Chris Windom-48, 8. Richard Vander Weerd-45, 9. Max Adams-40, 10. R.J. Johnson-39, 11. Jace Vander Weerd-38, 12. Danny Faria Jr.-36, 13. Austin Liggett-30, 14. Troy Rutherford-29, 15. Trey Marcham-28, 16. Matt Rossi-27, 17. Mike Martin-26, 18. Bruce St. James-19, 19. Brody Roa-18, --. Landon Hurst-18, --. Josh Pelkey -18, 22. Shon Deskins-16, 23. Dennis Gile-1, --. Shannon McQueen-1, --. Tye Mihocko-1, --. Tristan Guardino-1, --. Jeff Sibley-1, --. Andy Reinbold-1, --. Dustin Cormany-1, --. Brian Hosford-1, --. A.J. Bender-1
2015 USAC GRUDGE SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
September 26: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / $2,500-to-Win)
November 19: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 20: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 21: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC SouthWest & West Coast Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
2015 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
March 13: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
March 14: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
March 28: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA
April 4: Bakersfield Speedway - Bakersfield, CA
April 11: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA
May 16: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (Chris & Brian Faria Memorial)
May 30: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA
June 20: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA
June 27: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA
July 25: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (Peter Murphy Classic)
August 1: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA
August 22: Santa Maria Raceway - Santa Maria, CA (Bud Stanfield Memorial)
September 26: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series / Non-Points)
October 3: Kings Speedway - Hanford, CA
October 10: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (KRC Safety Fall Shootout)
November 19: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series)
November 20: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series)
November 21: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC Southwest Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
2015 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
March 28: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Hank Arnold Memorial)
April 11: Cocopah Speedway - Yuma, AZ
April 18: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
May 2: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Canyon Clash)
May 16: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
May 23: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Salute To Indy)
May 24: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Salute To Indy)
June 13: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
June 20: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Father’s Day Classic)
June 27: USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Hot Summer Nights)
July 10: #El Paso Speedway Park - El Paso, TX (Border Tour / $2,000-to-Win)
July 11: #Southern New Mexico Speedway - Las Cruces, NM (Border Tour / $2,000-to-Win)
July 18: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
August 1: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Allscapes Back To School Special)
August 19: Lawton Speedway - Lawton, OK (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 20: Creek County Speedway - Sapulpa, OK (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 21: 81 Speedway - Wichita, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 22: Dodge City Raceway Park - Dodge City, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 28: Prescott Valley Raceway - Prescott Valley, AZ (Rick Stewart Memorial)
August 29: Prescott Valley Raceway - Prescott Valley, AZ (Rick Stewart Memorial)
September 19: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
September 26: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series)
October 3: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
October 17: Central Arizona Speedway - Casa Grande, AZ
November 19: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series)
November 20: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series)
November 21: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series)
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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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