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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
TWO-DAY USAC SOUTHWEST “SALUTE TO INDY” OPENS SATURDAY AT CANYON SPEEDWAY PARK
By Lance Jennings
MAY 23, 2018… This Saturday and Sunday, May 26th & 27th, the Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars will return to Canyon Speedway Park for the annual “Salute to Indy.” Promoted by Doug Gabbard, the Peoria, Arizona oval will also feature the Desert Restorations IMCA Hobby Stocks, Modlites, Non-Winged Power 600 Micro Sprints, and IMCA Sport Compacts. The Front Gates will open at 5:00pm with Racing scheduled to begin at 7:30pm. In addition, there will be an open practice at the track on Friday, May 25th, starting at 7:00pm. For more event and ticket information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or call 602.258.RACE (7223).
The "Salute to Indy" has been an Arizona tradition going back to the days of the legendary Manzanita Speedway. In 1991, Ricky Johnson won the inaugural race and also scored victories in 1992 and 1995. In 2012, Canyon Speedway Park revived the event and California’s Colby Copeland earned the win. Since then, Ricky’s son R.J. has dominated the race by taking the last five events.
Since January 26, 2013, Canyon Speedway Park has hosted fifty-nine Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Car events. R.J. Johnson leads all drivers with eighteen “home track” victories and topped the February 3rd “Steve Stroud Memorial.” “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. won the March 31st “Easter Eggstravaganza” and a complete series win list at Canyon Speedway Park is at the end of this release.
“Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (Buckeye, Arizona) heads to Canyon Speedway Park with a 58-point lead. Driving his #50 RSS Industries / MP Environmental RSS, Davis scored fourth at Arizona Speedway last Saturday night. To date, the five-time Arizona Sprint Car Champion has two feature wins, three heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and 82 feature laps led on the year. Davis will be looking to earn his 24th series win and the fourth “Salute to Indy” victory of his career.
“The Bull” Tye Mihocko (Peoria, Arizona) ranks second in the championship point chase. Piloting the family owned #5 Dave Wilson Realty / Mears Mechanical Spike, Mihocko finished third in the San Tan Valley main event. At press time, “The Bull” has posted one feature win, two heat race victories, two Beaver Stripes Passing Master Awards, six top-10 finishes, and 6 feature laps led to his credit. Tye will have his sights on adding the “Salute to Indy” to his resume.
“The Magic Man” Mike Martin (Yuma, Arizona) is third in the chase for the championship. Racing his #16 Sherwin-Williams / Naquin Precision Earth Moving Maxim, Martin ran second to R.J. Johnson last Saturday night at Arizona Speedway. To date, “The Magic Man” one heat race victory, one Beaver Stripes Passing Master Award, one hard charger award, and five top-10 finishes on the season. Mike has five career USAC SouthWest wins and will be looking to sweep both nights at Canyon Speedway Park.
Michael Curtis (Cottonwood, Arizona) ranks fourth in the USAC SouthWest point chase. Driving Kevin Turner & Greg Wheeler’s #11C DAR Racing / JT Engineering Maxim, Curtis earned the Beaver Stripes Passing Master Award and placed ninth in last Saturday’s main event. As this writing goes to press, the young driver has six top-10 finishes and 4 feature laps led on the season. Michael will have his sights on joining the USAC SouthWest winner’s list at the “Salute to Indy.”
Josh Pelkey (Peoria, Arizona) sits fifth in the USAC SouthWest point standings. Piloting Robbie and Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / PPG Automotive Finishes RSS, Pelkey ran seventh at Arizona Speedway’s 30-lap main event. At press time, the 1997 ASCA Champion has five top-10 finishes and 6 feature laps led to his credit. Josh won the 2002 “Salute to Indy” and will be looking to celebrate his sixth series triumph.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are R.J. Johnson, Dennis Gile, Matt Lundy, Andy Reinbold, Tyler Adams, Chris Bonneau, Tyler Most, Zack Madrid, Larry Kesterson, Joe Scheopner, Daylin Perreira, Jonas Reynolds, 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. General Admission Adult tickets are $20, Senior tickets (60 and over) are $15, Active Military (with ID) tickets are $15, and Kids tickets (11 and under) are FREE. Advance tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling 602.258.RACE (7223). For more event information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com.
The Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series thanks AMSOIL, Hoosier Tire, and Beaver Stripes for their support. For more information on the series, visit www.southwestsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook.
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SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS: 2013-R.J. Johnson, 2014-R.J. Johnson, 2015-R.J. Johnson, 2016-R.J. Johnson, 2017-R.J. Johnson.
SALUTE TO INDY WINNERS: 1991-Ricky Johnson, 1992-Ricky Johnson, 1993-Mike Boat, 1994-Not Held, 1995-Ricky Johnson, 1996-Not Held, 1997-Charles Davis Jr., 1998-Bob Ream Jr., 1999-Charles Davis Jr., 2000-Marty Miller, 2001-Bob Ream Jr., 2002-Josh Pelkey, 2003-Charles Davis Jr., 2004-Eric Wilkins, 2005-Jeremy Sherman, 2006-Jeremy Sherman, 2007-Jeremy Sherman, 2008-Casey Shuman, 2009-Not Held, 2010-Not Held, 2011-R.J. Johnson, 2012-Colby Copeland, 2013-R.J. Johnson, 2014-R.J. Johnson, 2015-R.J. Johnson, 2016-R.J. Johnson, 2017-R.J. Johnson.
PEORIA SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS: (Includes non-point shows)
18-R.J. Johnson, 8-Bryan Clauson, 8-Charles Davis Jr., 4-Ryan Bernal, 4-Dave Darland, 4-Stevie Sussex, 3-Matt Rossi, 2-Brady Bacon, 2-Josh Hodges, 2-Josh Pelkey, 1-Colby Copeland, 1-Mike Martin, 1-Mike Spencer, 1-Richard Vander Weerd.
2018 SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS: 3-R.J. Johnson, 2-Charles Davis Jr., 1-Dennis Gile, 1-Tye Mihocko, 1-Brody Roa.
SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Charles Davis Jr.-464, 2. Tye Mihocko-406, 3. Mike Martin-378, 4. Michael Curtis-341, 5. Josh Pelkey-331, 6. R.J. Johnson-322, 7. Dennis Gile-315, 8. Matt Lundy-314, 9. Andy Reinbold-212, 10. Tyler Adams-200, 11. Chris Bonneau-174, 12. Jake Swanson-172, 13. Tyler Most-170, 14. Sterling Cling-162, 15. Zack Madrid-143, 16. Stevie Sussex-139, 17. Larry Kesterson-122, 18. Joe Scheopner-121, 19. Daylin Perreira-118, 20. Jason McDougal-76.
2018 SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
May 26: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Salute to Indy)
May 27: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Salute to Indy)
June 9: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ
August 15: I-30 Speedway – Little Rock, AR (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 16: Creek County Speedway – Sapulpa, OK (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 17: 81 Speedway – Wichita, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 18: 81 Speedway – Wichita, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
September 1: Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, AZ (Hank Arnold Memorial)
September 2: Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, AZ (Hank Arnold Memorial)
September 8: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Lealand McSpadden Tribute)
September 21: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Sands Chevrolet Southwest Championships)
September 22: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Sands Chevrolet Southwest Championships)
October 20: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Race For The Cure)
October 27: Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, AZ (Howl-O-Ween Bash)
November 2: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 3: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
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This schedule is subject to change.
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