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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
R.J. JOHNSON LEADS USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINTS TO CANYON FOR “ALLSCAPES BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL”
By Lance Jennings
JULY 29, 2015... The traditional USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars will return to Peoria, Arizona’s Canyon Speedway Park, this Saturday, August 1st. Promoted by Kevin Montgomery, the “Allscapes Back to School Special” will also feature the 9th World Vapor IMCA Modifieds, Mini Sprints, Arizona Differential Pure Stocks, and Dwarf Cars. The Front Gates will open at 5:00pm with Racing scheduled to begin at 7:00pm. On Friday night, Canyon Speedway Park will also host an open practice for all divisions from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. For more event and ticket information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or call 602.258.RACE (7223).
Saturday’s race will be the 39th USAC SouthWest Sprint Car event at Canyon Speedway Park. Dating back to January 26, 2013, the facility has been the “home track” for the non-winged 360s. This year, R.J. Johnson has three Canyon victories and Ryan Bernal won two non-point Winter Challenge features. Other 2015 winners are Brady Bacon, Stevie Sussex, and Matt Rossi, who claimed the June 20th “Father’s Day Classic.” Heading to the “Allscapes Back to School Special,” Johnson leads all drivers with twelve USAC SouthWest “home track” victories.
After rain washed away the July 18th “Monsoon Madness” at Queen Creek, R.J. Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona has a 56-point advantage. Racing Bill Michael’s #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson has seven feature wins, five heat race victories, one high-point driver award, one hard charger award, fourteen top-10 finishes, and 120 feature laps led to his credit. This Saturday, the two-time champion will be looking for his thirtieth USAC SouthWest win.
Buckeye, Arizona’s “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. ranks second in the chase for the championship. Piloting the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis has one feature win, two high-point driver awards, four heat race victories, fourteen top-10 finishes, and 36 feature laps led. The five-time Arizona Champion is second on the series win list and will have his sights on his fourteenth victory.
Matt Rossi of South Central, Arizona sits third in the SouthWest point chase. Driving the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / IWR Spike, Rossi has one feature win, two high-point driver awards, three hard charger awards, ten top-10 finishes, and 27 feature laps led on the year. Tied with Brady Bacon, Dave Darland, Mike Martin, Stevie Sussex, and Rick Ziehl for sixth on the win list, Matt will be looking to add another trophy to his collection.
Entering Saturday’s race, Tempe, Arizona’s Stevie Sussex is fourth in the point standings. Racing Dennis Gile’s #13S Quarterback Academy / Bobby Q Ellis, Sussex has two feature wins, one heat race victory, one high point driver award, three hard charger awards, eleven top-10 finishes, and 72 feature laps led. Like Rossi, Stevie is currently tied for sixth on the series win list and will have his sights on his fourth victory.
Josh Pelkey of Peoria, Arizona is currently fifth in the championship standings. Racing Robbie and Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Pelkey has one heat race victory, one high-point driver award, and ten top-10 finishes in the campaign. The 1997 ASCA Champion ranks fourth on the SouthWest win list with five main events and will be looking to earn the $1,500 payday.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Brian Hosford, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, Dennis Gile, Andy Reinbold, “The Bull” Tye Mihocko, Nick Aiuto, Josh Shipley, Shon Deskins, Chris Bonneau, Michael Curtis, Mike Bonneau, Tom Ogle, 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 $16 with $3 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.RACE (7223).
The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series thanks 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 CAR CHAMPIONS:
2013-R.J. Johnson, 2014-R.J. Johnson.
PEORIA USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS:
12-R.J. Johnson, 5-Bryan Clauson, 4-Ryan Bernal, 3-Dave Darland, 3-Charles Davis Jr., 2-Brady Bacon, 2-Josh Pelkey, 2-Stevie Sussex, 1-Colby Copeland, 1-Matt Rossi, 1-Mike Spencer, 1-Richard Vander Weerd.
2015 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS:
7-R.J. Johnson, 2-Ryan Bernal, 2-Stevie Sussex, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Charles Davis Jr., 1-Mike Martin, 1-Matt Rossi.
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. R.J. Johnson-741, 2. Charles Davis Jr.-685, 3. Matt Rossi-666, 4. Stevie Sussex-607, 5. Josh Pelkey-592, 6. Mike Martin-563, 7. Brian Hosford-485, 8. Bruce St. James-447, 9. Mike Colegrove-432, 10. Dennis Gile-374, 11. Andy Reinbold-371, 12. Tye Mihocko-352, 13. Nick Aiuto-338, 14. Josh Shipley-318, 15. Shon Deskins-303, 16. Chris Bonneau-231, 17. Michael Curtis-220, 18. Mike Bonneau-187, 19. Tom Ogle-184, 20. Dalten Gabbard-165.
2015 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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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