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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series
#77M R.J. Johnson. Photo by Terry Shaw / TKA Photography.
R.J. JOHNSON WINS USAC SOUTHWEST "CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER" AT CANYON
by Lance Jennings
PEORIA, AZ – MARCH 17, 2013... After a furious battle with Charles Davis Jr., R.J. Johnson of Phoenix claimed Saturday's $1,500 victory at Kevin Montgomery's Canyon Speedway Park. The 30-lap "Championship Opener" marked the first official point race with the new USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series as twenty-five cars were in attendance. Johnson was followed to the checkered flags by Davis, Ronnie Clark, fifteenth starting Justin Quinn, and Nathan High who raced from seventeenth.
Starting third in the main event, Charles Davis Jr. was looking for his first victory of the 2013 campaign. The five-time Arizona Sprint Car Champion led the first seventeen laps before pole-sitter R.J. Johnson took command. The March 2nd "Copper On Dirt" winner set a fast pace for the next ten circuits before Davis fought back to regain the top spot. The lead was short-lived, as R.J. mounted a charge to retake the lead on lap twenty-nine. Davis challenged again, but Johnson was not to be denied and claimed his second USAC Southwest victory of the season.
Driving Bill Michael's #77M Beal's Auto Body / Sherman Race Cars entry, R.J. Johnson is ready to make a championship bid. The former Arizona Midget Champion ran third in his heat race and won the 6-lap Sunoco Fuels Passing Masters Dash. To date, Johnson has two heat race victories, 3 top-5 finishes, and 42 feature laps led on the year. The second generation driver holds a slim point lead as the series heads to Casa Grande this Saturday.
Buckeye's Charles Davis Jr. had to settle for second after a had fought battle with Johnson. Piloting the Massey Motorsports' #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis won the Racers Advantage Store Heat Race #1 and placed third in the new 6-lap dash. The veteran driver left CSP second in points with two heat race victories, one semi-main win, one hard charger award, four top-5 finishes, and 18 main event laps led.
Ronnie Clark of Tucson raced to third after starting sixth in the feature. Driving the family owned #6 RCM / Ellis Race Cars entry, Clark won the Racers Advantage Store Heat Race #3 and was the night's high point driver entering the main event. Ronnie claimed sixth in the Passing Masters Dash and currently sits third in championship points.
Phoenix's Justin Quinn put on a show and claimed fourth after starting fifteenth. Racing the family owned #93 Four Peaks Hardwood Flooring / Lasting Impressions Ellis, Quinn placed sixth in his heat race and sits fifth in the point chase heading to Casa Grande.
Nathan High of Goodyear earned the night's "Hard Charger / Best Passing Job" honors with a fifth place run from seventeenth. Piloting his #1A machine, High was sixth in his heat race and won the 12-lap semi-main event. For his efforts, the veteran driver is fourth in the standings when action resumes this Saturday night.
Prescott Valley's Bryan Swinehart won the program's 8-lap Racers Advantage Store Heat Race #2. Driving Tim and Shelly Beal's #68 Beal's Auto Body / DNS Performance RSS, Swinehart claimed fourth in the Passing Masters Dash and twelfth in the main event. Bryan is currently tenth in points heading to Central Arizona Raceway.
The USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series will return to action this Saturday, March 23rd at Casa Grande's Central Arizona Raceway. The action packed card will also feature Mini Sprints, Pure Stocks, and the AMA Modlites. For more event and ticket information, visit www.centralazraceway.net or call 520.574.8515.
The USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series would like to thank Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Tire, and the Hose 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 CAR RACE RESULTS:
March 16, 2013 – Peoria, Arizona – Canyon Speedway Park - "Championship Opener"
RACERS ADVANTAGE STORE HEAT RACE #1: (8 laps)
1. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 2. Bruce St. James (#7K St. James), 3. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins), 4. Jody Wirth (#5X Wirth), 5. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 6. Justin Quinn (#93 Quinn), 7. Mike Bonneau (#29 Bonneau), 8. Bob Ream Jr. (#8 BRAT), 9. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood). NT
RACERS ADVANTAGE STORE HEAT RACE #2: (8 laps)
1. Bryan Swinehart (#68 Beal), 2. Nick Auito (#27 Aiuto/Allen), 3. Tom Lee (#53 Lee), 4. Chris Bonneau (#78 Bonneau), 5. Tom Ogle (#48 Ogle), 6. Nathan High (#1A High), 7. James Aragon (#94 Aragon), 8. Brian Hosford (#32B Weber). NT
RACERS ADVANTAGE STORE HEAT RACE #3: (8 laps)
1. Ronnie Clark (#6 Clark), 2. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 3. R. J. Johnson (#77M Michaels), 4. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler), 5. Kyle Danielson (#17K Danielson), 6. Stephen Harms (#60 Harms), 7. Mark Morin (#28 Morin), 8. Stevie Sussex (#1AZ Sussex). NT
SUNOCO RACE FUELS PASSING MASTERS DASH: (6 laps)
1. R.J. Johnson, 2. Bruce St. James, 3. Charles Davis Jr., 4. Bryan Swinehart, 5. Mike Martin, 6. Ronnie Clark, 7. Nick Aiuto, 8. Shon Deskins. NT
SEMI-MAIN: (12 laps)
1. Nathan High, 2. Bob Ream Jr., 3. Andy Reinbold, 4. Mike Bonneau, 5. Brian Hosford, 6. James Aragon, 7. Kyle Danielson, 8. Mark Morin, 9. Stevie Sussex. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps - With Starting Positions)
1. R.J. Johnson (1st), 2. Charles Davis Jr. (3rd), 3. Ronnie Clark (6th), 4. Justin Quinn (15th), 5. Nathan High (17th), 6. Josh Pelkey (9th), 7. Tom Ogle (12th), 8. Bob Ream Jr. (16th), 9. Mike Bonneau (18th), 10. Andy Reinbold (19th), 11. Brian Hosford (21st), 12. Bryan Swinehart (4th), 13. James Aragon (20th), 14. Shon Deskins (8th), 15. Tom Lee (10th), 16. Stephen Harms (22nd), 17. Mike Martin (5th), 18. Chris Bonneau (11th), 19. Nick Aiuto (7th), 20. Bruce St. James (2nd), 21. Michael Curtis (13th), 22. Jody Wirth (14th). NT
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**Jody Wirth flipped during the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-17 Charles Davis Jr., Laps 18-27 R.J. Johnson, Lap 28 Charles Davis, Laps 29-30 R.J. Johnson.
HARD CHARGER: Nathan High (17th to 5th)
NEW USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINTS:
1-R.J. Johnson-66, 2-Charles Davis Jr.-65, 3-Ronnie Clark-62, 4-Nathan High-55, 5-Justin Quinn-54, 6-Josh Pelkey-49, 7-Tom Ogle-46, 8-Bob Ream Jr.-43, 9-Mike Bonneau-39, 10-Bryan Swinehart-37.
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2013 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
March 23: Central Arizona Raceway - Casa Grande, AZ
April 13: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ (Spring Fling)
April 27: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Canyon Clash)
May 11: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
May 25: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Salute To Indy)
May 26: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Salute To Indy)
June 8: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
June 22: Central Arizona Raceway - Casa Grande, AZ
June 29: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Summer Sizzle)
July 13: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
July 19: **El Paso Speedway Park - El Paso, TX
July 20: **Southern New Mexico Speedway - Las Cruces, NM
July 27: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Summer Slam)
August 21: Mid America Speedway - South Coffeyville, 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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