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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINTS RETURN TO CANYON FOR HANK ARNOLD MEMORIAL
By Lance Jennings
OCTOBER 20, 2016... This Saturday, October 22nd, the USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars will return to Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Arizona for the annual “Hank Arnold Memorial.” The last track promotion by Kevin Montgomery will also feature the Allscapes IMCA Stock Cars vs SCRA Stock Cars, Scottsdale Muffler & Automotive presents IMCA Hobby Stocks vs Renegades, Dwarf Cars, and Mini Sprints. An open practice will be held Friday night from 7:00pm to 10:00pm and Saturday’s racing is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm. For more event and ticket information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or call 602.258.RACE (7223).
Since 1967, the “Hank Arnold Memorial” has been a mainstay on the Arizona sprint car scene. Widely regarded as one of the most popular drivers, mechanics, and car builders in the state, Arnold lost his life in a terrible crash at Manzanita Speedway on June 16, 1967. One week later, Bob Huebner claimed the first of his two memorial victories. “The Shermanator” Jeremy Sherman leads all drivers with six victories and other winners include Wayne Bennet (4), Billy Shuman (3), Eric Wilkins (3), Larry Clark (2), Bob Cleberg (2), Dennis Matousek (2), Bob Ream Jr. (2), Stevie Sussex (2), Lealand McSpadden (1), Buddy Taylor (1), Billy Boat (1), Marty Wilcox (1), Jerry Coons Jr. (1), Josh Pelkey (1), Charles Davis Jr.(1), and Rick Ziehl (1). Last year, R.J. Johnson added the “Hank Arnold Memorial” to his resume on his way to his third series crown. An event win list is at the end of this release.
Since January 26, 2013, Canyon Speedway has hosted forty-nine USAC SouthWest Sprint Car events. R.J. Johnson leads all drivers with fifteen “home track” victories followed by Bryan Clauson (8), Ryan Bernal (4), and Stevie Sussex (4). This year, Clauson (3), Johnson (3), Josh Hodges (2), and Stevie Sussex (1) have earned wins at Canyon, while rain washed out the April 30th show. A complete series win list at Canyon is at the end of this release.
After winning last Saturday’s race at Queen Creek, R.J. Johnson (Tempe, Arizona) has a 113-point lead over the competition. Racing Bill Michael’s #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson has eleven feature wins, nine heat race victories, six top-qualifier awards, twenty-four top-10 finishes, and 260 feature laps led on the season. R.J. is looking to get closer to his fourth title with another “Hank Arnold Memorial” victory.
“Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (Buckeye, Arizona) ranks second in the USAC SouthWest point standings. Piloting the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis scored third last Saturday at Arizona Speedway. To date, the five-time Arizona champion has twelve heat race victories, four top-qualifier awards, one hard charger award, twenty-three top-10 finishes, and 39 feature laps led on the season. With thirteen wins, “Chargin” Charles ranks second on the series win list and will have his sights on winning his second “Hank Arnold Memorial.”
“The Real American” Matt Rossi (Glendale, Arizona) sits third in the championship point chase. Driving the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / IWR Spike, Rossi scored eighteenth last Saturday night. At press time, the former Western World 360 Champion has three heat race victories, one semi-main win, twelve top-10 finishes, and thirteen feature laps led on the year. Currently tied with Brady Bacon, Dave Darland, and Rick Ziehl for ninth on the series win list, Matt will be looking to claim his fourth victory.
“The Magic Man” Mike Martin (Yuma, Arizona) is currently fourth in the SouthWest point standings. Racing his #16 Sherwin-Williams / Boulevard Truck Maxim, Martin placed eighth in the Queen Creek main event. To date, the former Hall of Fame Classic winner has six heat race victories, one top-qualifier award, two hard charger awards, sixteen top-10 finishes, and 39 feature laps led on the season. “The Magic Man” is tied with Josh Pelkey for fifth on the series win list and will have his sights on taking the victory at Canyon Speedway Park
“The Bull” Tye Mihocko (Peoria, Arizona) ranks fifth in chase for the championship. Piloting the family owned #5 Property Solutions / Michael Most Trucking Spike, Mihocko finished thirteenth at Arizona Speedway. At press time, the young driver has one top-qualifier award, one hard charger award, and fourteen top-10 finishes in the campaign. Tye will be looking to breakthrough and earn his first career USAC SouthWest win this Saturday night.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Dennis Gile, Stevie Sussex, Chris Bonneau, Nick Aiuto, Brian Hosford, Landon Cling, Josh Pelkey, Andy Reinbold, Michael Curtis, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, Tom Ogle, Matt Lundy, and more.
Canyon Speedway 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 $20, Kids Tickets (7-12) are $10 and Children (6 and under) are FREE. VIP passes are available for $25 and advance tickets are on sale now. For more event information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or call 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 CHAMPIONS:
2013-R.J. Johnson, 2014-R.J. Johnson, 2015-R.J. Johnson.
HANK ARNOLD MEMORIAL WINNERS:
1967-Bob Huebner, 1968-Bob Cleberg, 1969-Jerry McClung, 1970-Bob Cleberg, 1971-Bob Huebner, 1972-Billy Shuman, 1973-Lealand McSpadden, 1974-Buddy Taylor, 1975-Billy Shuman, 1976-Billy Shuman, 1977-Dennis Matousek, 1978-Dennis Matousek, 1979-Larry Clark, 1980-Wayne Bennett, 1981-Larry Clark, 1983-Wayne Bennet, 1984-Wayne Bennet, 1988-Billy Boat, 1989-Wayne Bennet, 1990-Marty Wilcox, 1991-Dick Kelm, 1992-Bob Ream Jr., 1993-Curt Brown, 1994-Mike Boat, 1996-Jerry Coons Jr., 1997-Josh Pelkey, 1998-Bob Ream Jr., 1999-Eric Wilkins, 2000-Eric Wilkins, 2001-Eric Wilkins, 2002-Jeremy Sherman, 2003-Charles Davis Jr., 2004-Jeremy Sherman, 2005-Jeremy Sherman, 2006-Jeremy Sherman, 2007-Jeremy Sherman, 2008-Andy Reinbold, 2009-Rick Ziehl, 2010-Jeremy Sherman, 2011-Stevie Sussex, 2014-Stevie Sussex, 2015-R.J. Johnson.
2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS:
11-R.J. Johnson, 6- Stevie Sussex, 4-Bryan Clauson, 3-Josh Hodges.
CANYON USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS:
15-R.J. Johnson, 8-Bryan Clauson, 4-Ryan Bernal, 4-Stevie Sussex, 3-Dave Darland, 3-Charles Davis Jr., 2-Brady Bacon, 2-Josh Hodges, 2-Josh Pelkey, 2-Matt Rossi, 1-Colby Copeland, 1-Mike Martin, 1-Mike Spencer, 1-Richard Vander Weerd.
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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