#50 Charles Davis Jr. - 2012 Arizona Sprint Car Champion. Photo by Terry Shaw / TKA Photography.
2013 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR PREVIEW & SCHEDULE
by Lance Jennings
PEORIA, AZ - JANUARY 4, 2013... The newly formed USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series is preparing for action and Series Promoter Kevin Montgomery has announced the 2013 schedule. The traditional sprint cars will showcase thirty-four events, starting with the "Winter Challenge" and closing with the $7,500-to-win "Western World Championships" at Canyon Speedway Park. In addition, the Arizona based group will travel to Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, and California to settle the championship.
2013 is shaping up to be a historic season for Arizona Sprint Car Racing. After winning three of the last four Arizona sprint car titles, Charles Davis Jr. has tied Jeremy Sherman with five state championships. The veteran driver is among the favorites to claim the USAC Southwest crown, matching Ricky Johnson who has six "Copper State" championships to his credit.
Starting on January 25th, Montgomery's Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria will host the "2nd Annual Winter Challenge." Featuring six races in nine days and co-sanctioned with the USAC West Coast Sprints, the non-point "Arizona Speed Week" will showcase many talented drivers from across the country. With more than $100,000 up for grabs, each main event will pay at least $2,000-to-win, while the winner of the February 2nd finale will take home $5,000. On the strength of three victories, Indiana's Tracy Hines won last year's "Winter Challenge" ahead of Davis who won twice and January 28th winner Jon Stanbrough.
The popular three-race "Grudge Series" has returned with the USAC West Coast Sprints. The "Sin City Showdown" at Las Vegas, Canyon Speedway Park's "Brawl For It All," and the opening night of the "Oval Nationals" at Perris are non-point races that will feature $2500-to-win and $300-to-start main events. Last season, Ryan Bernal claimed the $5,000 championship and the point fund paid over $15,000 to racers that competed in every event. Officials with both groups are looking for additional sponsorship to build an even larger point fund in 2013.
In August, the Southwest Series will compete in the inaugural four-race "Freedom Tour." Showcasing races in Wichita and Dodge City, Kansas, the non-point $2,500-to-win and $250-to-start main events are some of the "must see" dates of the season. As this writing goes to press, officials are looking to book the August 21st tour opener and raise tow money for series regulars.
Noted as the "home track" for the USAC Southwest Sprint Cars, Canyon Speedway Park will host sixteen races of the campaign. In addition to the "Winter Challenge" and "Grudge Series" dates, the 1/3-mile facility will feature many other special events like the "Championship Opener" on March 16th and the "Canyon Clash" on April 27th. The popular two-day "Salute To Indy" begins on May 25th and the "Summer Sizzle" is set for June 29th. The "Summer Slam" will be held on July 27th and the champion will be crowned at the three-night "46th Annual Western World Championships" starting on November 14th. For more information on the Canyon events and the "Winter Challenge" series, visit canyonspeedwaypark.com.
The March 7th "Sin City Showdown" at The Las Vegas Motor Speedway will kickoff the "Grudge Series" with a special Thursday night program. Held during NASCAR weekend and showcased with the famed World of Outlaw Sprint Cars, the non-point event will feature drivers from California, Arizona, and New Mexico as they battle on the large 1/2-mile oval. Last season, Bud Kaeding scored the $2,500 jackpot over a surging Ryan Bernal at the checkered flags. For more details on the Las Vegas race, check out lvms.com.
Located on the Pinal County Fairgrounds, Central Arizona Raceway in Casa Grande has four events on the schedule. Re-opened by promoter Benji Lyons after a four year absence, the 3/8-mile clay oval will feature the USAC Southwest Sprints on March 23rd, June 22nd, September 14th, and October 12th. For more information on the Casa Grande events, visit usaraceway.net.
Beginning with the "Spring Fling" on April 13th, Jonah Trussel's Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek has six races on the calendar. The powerful sprint card will also invade the 3/8-mile facility on May 11th, June 8th, July 13th, September 7th, and October 19th. In last year's action, Davis claimed two victories on his way to the title and other victories were scored by Josh Pelkey, Ronnie Clark, Shon Deskins, and R.J. Johnson. For more details on the Queen Creek dates, check out arizonaspeedway.net.
Royal Jones' El Paso Speedway Park has one event on the 2013 schedule. The Friday, July 19th event is the group's only appearance in the "Lone Star State" and opens a special doubleheader with the New Mexico Racing Association (NMMRA). When the 3/8-mile oval hosted the Arizona-New Mexico "clash" last June, it was veteran driver Rickey Hood that scored the 30-lap feature triumph. For more information on the El Paso, Texas race, visit epspeedway.com.
Also promoted by Royal Jones, Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces will host one date on the calendar. On Saturday, July 20th, the 5/16-mile facility will close out the special Arizona-New Mexico doubleheader with the NMMRA. Last season, Rickey Hood followed up his El Paso victory with a victory at the popular racetrack. For more details on the Las Cruces, New Mexico event, check out snmspeedway.com.
On Thursday, August 22nd, the USAC Southwest Series will travel to C. Ray Hall's 81 Speedway in Wichita, Kansas. The 3/8-mile clay oval will host the second night of the "Freedom Tour" in one of the most anticipated dates of the schedule. For more information on the Wichita, Kansas race, visit 81speedway.org.
Promoted by former racer Tommie Estes Jr., Dodge City Raceway Park in southwest Kansas will showcase two nights of action. Starting August 23rd, the Friday and Saturday events at the large 3/8-mile facility will close out the "Freedom Tour." For more details on the Dodge City, Kansas races, check out dodgecityraceway.com.
On Thursday, October 31st, the USAC Southwest Sprints will compete at Don Kazarian's Perris Auto Speedway. Co-sanctioned with the USAC West Coast group, the finale of the "Grudge Series" will kickoff the "18th Annual Oval Nationals." With drivers from USAC/CRA and the USAC National Sprints in town, many surprise guests will join the battle at the 1/2-mile facility. For more information on the Perris date, visit perrisautospeedway.com.
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, usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook (facebook.com/SouthwestSprintCars).
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2013 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
January 25: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Winter Challenge / Non-Points)
January 26: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Winter Challenge / Non-Points)
January 27: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Winter Challenge / Non-Points)
January 30: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Winter Challenge / Non-Points)
February 1: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Winter Challenge / Non-Points)
February 2: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Winter Challenge / Non-Points)
March 7: *Las Vegas Motor Speedway - Las Vegas, NV (Sin City Showdown / Grudge Series / Non-Points)
March 16: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Championship Opener)
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: TBA (Freedom Tour / Non-Points)
August 22: 81 Speedway - Wichita, KS (Freedom Tour / Non-Points)
August 23: Dodge City Raceway Park - Dodge City, KS (Freedom Tour / Non-Points)
August 24: Dodge City Raceway Park - Dodge City, KS (Freedom Tour / 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 / 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 / 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)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC West Coast Sprints.
** = Co-Sanctioned Event With NMMRA Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
