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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series
#77M R.J. Johnson Wins “Salute To Indy.” Photo by Patrick Shaw / Backed In Photography.
R.J. JOHNSON WINS USAC SOUTHWEST “SALUTE TO INDY” AT CANYON
by Lance Jennings
PEORIA, AZ – MAY 27, 2013... R.J. Johnson of Phoenix continued his winning ways by leading all 30-laps to sweep the “Salute To Indy” weekend at Canyon Speedway Park. Sunday’s $2,000 USAC SouthWest Sprint Car triumph was Johnson’s fourth consecutive victory of the campaign. Rounding out the top five drivers were Stevie Sussex, Shon Deskins, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, and Josh Hodges.
Driving Bill Michaels’ #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, R.J. Johnson won his second career “Salute To Indy” main event. Earlier in the program, the former Arizona Midget Champion scored fifth in his heat race and won his second Sunoco Fuels Passing Masters Dash of 2013. Johnson left Canyon Speedway Park with a 69 point advantage over the competition along with four heat race victories, one hard charger award, nine top-10 finishes, and 127 feature laps led to his credit.
Tempe’s Stevie Sussex earned his third "Hard Charger / Best Passing Job" honors with a second place run after starting thirteenth. Piloting Steve Stone’s #57X Westin Homes / Topsavings.org J&J, Sussex claimed fourth in his heat race and did not qualify for the dash. To date, the hard charger is eighth in points with four top-10 finishes on the season.
Shon Deskins of Phoenix scored third in the “Salute To Indy” main event. Racing his #20 Performance Plus / Ellis Race Cars entry, Deskins won the night’s second Racers Advantage Store Heat Race, tying Johnson for the series lead with four victories. The veteran driver has climbed to fourth in the point standings with one hard charger award and six top-10 finishes on the year.
For the second night in a row, Yuma’s “The Magic Man” Mike Martin claimed fourth at CSP, this time after starting eleventh. Driving his #16 Ultimate Offroad / Naquin Precision Earth Moving Maxim, Martin was third in his heat race and was not eligible for the dash. Mike has climbed to third in championship points with one feature win, one fast time award, three heat race victories, six top-10 finishes, and 24 feature laps led.
Josh Hodges of Tijeras, New Mexico came home fifth in “Salute To Indy” feature. Piloting the family owned #74X Napa Auto Parts / Mesilla Valley Transportation Maxim, Hodges won the night’s third Racers Advantage Store Heat Race and placed fifth in the dash. Despite limited appearances, Josh is twenty-first in points with three heat race victories and three top-10 finishes in 2013.
Las Cruces, New Mexico’s “The Real Deal” Rick Ziehl won the program’s second 8-lap Racers Advantage Store Heat Race. Driving the family owned #20Z Lucas Oil / Bay Hayes Motorsports Maxim, the multi-time ASCS Champion ran eighth in the dash and claimed sixth in Sunday’s main event. As this writing goes to press, Rick is tied for twenty-sixth in the standings with two top-10 finishes.
The USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series will return to action on Saturday, June 8th at Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek. The action packed card will also feature Pure Stocks, Mod Lites, and Bombers. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
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 SOUTHWEST SPRINT RACE RESULTS:
May 26, 2013 – Peoria, Arizona – Canyon Speedway Park – “Salute To Indy”
RACERS ADVANTAGE STORE HEAT RACE #1: (8 laps)
1. Rick Ziehl (#20Z Ziehl), 2. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood), 3. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 4. Chris Bonneau (#78 Bonneau), 5. R.J. Johnson (#77M Michaels), 6. Ronnie Clark (#6 Clark), 7. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 8. Brian Hosford (#32B Weber), 9. Billy Chester (#74 Williams). NT
RACERS ADVANTAGE STORE HEAT RACE #2: (8 laps)
1. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins), 2. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 3. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 4. Mike Bonneau (#29 Bonneau), 5. Bryan Swinehart (#68 Beal), 6. Justin Quinn (#93 Quinn), 7. Mark Morin (#28 Morin), 8. Stephen Harms (#60 Harms). NT
RACERS ADVANTAGE STORE HEAT RACE #3: (8 laps)
1. Josh Hodges (#74X Hodges), 2. Bruce St. James (#7K St. James), 3. Bob Ream Jr. (#8 BRAT), 4. Stevie Sussex (#57X Stone), 5. James Aragon (#94 Aragon), 6. Jason Grady (#45 Grady), 7. Tom Ogle (#48 Ogle), 8. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler). NT
SUNOCO RACE FUELS PASSING MASTERS DASH: (6 laps)
1. R.J. Johnson, 2. Mike Bonneau, 3. Shon Deskins, 4. Bruce St. James, 5. Josh Hodges, 6. Josh Pelkey, 7. Andy Reinbold, 8. Rick Ziehl. NT
HOSE ADVANTAGE STORE FEATURE: (30 laps - With Starting Positions)
1. R.J. Johnson (1st), 2. Stevie Sussex (13th), 3. Shon Deskins (3rd), 4. Mike Martin (11th), 5. Josh Hodges (5th), 6. Rick Ziehl (8th), 7. Andy Reinbold (7th), 8. Josh Pelkey (6th), 9. Charles Davis Jr. (10th), 10. Jason Grady (16th), 11. Chris Bonneau (14th), 12. Bob Ream Jr. (12th), 13. Justin Quinn (18th), 14. Tom Ogle (20th), 15. Ronnie Clark (17th), 16. Bryan Swinehart (15th), 17. Tye Mihocko (19th), 18. Brian Hosford (21st), 19. Michael Curtis (22nd), 20. James Aragon (9th), 21. Bruce St. James (4th), 22. Mike Bonneau (2nd), 23. Mark Morin (23rd). NT
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**Billy Chester flipped during the first heat.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-30 R.J. Johnson.
HARD CHARGER: Stevie Sussex (13th to 2nd)
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT POINT STANDINGS:
1-R.J. Johnson-428; 2-Charles Davis Jr.-359; 3-Mike Martin-344; 4-Shon Deskins-316; 5-Ronnie Clark-312; 6-Josh Pelkey-309; 7-Chris Bonneau-288; 8-Stevie Sussex-283; 9-Bryan Swinehart-270; 10-Andy Reinbold-250; 11-Justin Quinn-240; 12-Brian Hosford-229; 13-Tom Ogle-227; 14-Bruce St. James-203; 15-Mike Bonneau-202; 16-Bob Ream Jr.-195; 17-Nick Auito-162; 18-Nathan High-156; 19-James Aragon-133; 20-Michael Curtis-122.
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2013 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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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