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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
- #99 Brady Bacon in Canyon Speedway’s Victory Circle. Photo by Gaye Allen.
BRADY BACON STORMS TO CANYON “WINTER CHALLENGE” VICTORY
By Lance Jennings
PEORIA, AZ – JANUARY 25, 2014... Starting thirteenth, Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma took command from Josh Pelkey on lap 14 to claim opening night of the “3rd Annual Winter Challenge.” For his efforts, the former Western World Champion earned $2,000 for scoring Friday’s USAC SouthWest and West Coast Sprint Car victory at Canyon Speedway. Pelkey, R.J. Johnson, Casey Shuman, and Ryan Bernal rounded out the top-five drivers as the second leg of the six-race mini-series gets underway tonight.
Piloting his #99 Fatheadz Eyewear / Tel Star Communications Triple X, Brady Bacon raced to the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors at Kevin Montgomery’s 1/3-mile facility. Earning his first USAC SouthWest/West Coast triumph and scoring fourth in his heat race, the versatile driver is the current “Winter Challenge” point leader.
From the pole position, Peoria’s Josh Pelkey shook free from Casey Shuman and led the first thirteen circuits before taking second in the main event. Driving Robbie & Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, the former ASCA Champion ran second in his heat race and trails Bacon by a single point heading to Saturday night’s action.
R.J. Johnson of Phoenix charged from fourteenth to claim third at the checkered flags. Racing Bobby Martin’s #51 Weiler Farms / Pecon Builders Maxim, the defending USAC SouthWest Champion ran sixth in the night’s first 8-lap heat race. As this writing goes to press, Johnson is currently third in the “Winter Challenge” standings.
Casey Shuman of Rattlesnake Bend fought hard to score fourth in the 30-lap main event. Piloting Rick Pollock’s #21X Greenwell Auto Body / Bates Commodities Inc. Maxim, Shuman also took fourth in his heat race. Now a regular in the Indiana Sprint Car scene, Casey sits fourth in the mini-series point chase.
Hollister, California’s Ryan Bernal raced to fifth at Canyon Speedway after stating fifteenth. Making his first start in the Casey Minks owned #111 Champion Auto & Truck Recyclers / Shark Racing Engines Eagle, Bernal placed sixth in his heat race. The defending USAC Western Classic Champion is currently sixth in the “Winter Challenge” standings.
Now racing out of Indianapolis, Indiana, Dalten Gabbard won the night’s first 8-lap heat race. Driving the Baldwin Brothers #5D Fox Paving / Chances Are Maxim, Gabbard ran sixteenth in the main event. The Peoria native left the speedway running fourteenth in the point standings.
“The People’s Champion” Dave Darland of Lincoln, Indiana raced to victory in the second heat race. Racing Casey Minks’ #1X Mesilla Valley Transportation / Shark Racing Engines Eagle, the 3-time Oval Nationals Champion scored twenty-second in the feature after an early exit. After the first round, Darland is in a three-way tie for eighteenth in points.
Ventura, California’s Jimmy “Neutron” Crawford won the third 8-lap heat race. Piloting his #51X Twister X / Steve Gresham Racing Engines Triple X, the former VRA Champion ran twentieth in the feature after problems ended his night. Like Darland, Crawford is tied for eighteenth in the “Winter Challenge.”
“The Kid” Tye Mihocko won the program’s 10-lap semi-main event. Driving the family owned #5 Old Word Brewery / RSS Industries machine, the young driver was seventh in his heat race before scoring eighteenth in the main event. Mihocko left Canyon tied with Darland and Crawford in the standings.
The USAC Southwest and West Coast Sprint Cars will return to action tonight, January 25th, at Canyon Speedway in Peoria. Round #2 of the “Winter Challenge” will also feature IMCA Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Mini Sprints, and Modlites. Located at 9777 West Carefree Highway, more event information can be found at www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or calling (602) 258-RACE (7223).
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).
For more information on the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/#!/pages/USAC-West-Coast-Sprint-Car-Series/369549755817), or Twitter (www.twitter.com/#!/USACwc360).
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USAC SOUTHWEST & WEST COAST SPRINT SPECIAL EVENT RACE RESULTS:
January 24, 2014 – Peoria, Arizona – Canyon Speedway – "Winter Challenge"
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Dalten Gabbard (#5D Baldwin), 2. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 3. Nic Faas (#73 Ford), 4. Jason Grady (#45 Grady), 5. Aaron Reutzel (#21A Miller), 6. R.J. Johnson (#51 Martin), 7. Ryan Linder (#9 Linder/Whitney), 8. Davis Dykes (#55NM Dykes). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Dave Darland (#1X Minks), 2. Josh Hodges (#74X Hodges), 3. Mike Rux Jr. (#22 Rux), 4. Brady Bacon (#99 Bacon), 5. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins), 6. Ryan Bernal (#111 Minks), 7. Stevie Sussex (#4 Price), 8. Josh Grady (#12J Grady). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Jimmy Crawford (#51X Crawford), 2. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 3. Colby Copeland (#74 Williams), 4. Casey Shuman (#21X Pollock), 5. Mitch Mack (#92 Mack), 6. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler), 7. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 8. Mike Martin (#16 Martin). NT
SEMI: (10 laps)
1. Tye Mihocko, 2. Michael Curtis, 3. Mike Martin, 4. Stevie Sussex, 5. Mitch Mack, 6. Josh Grady, 7. David Dykes, 8. Ryan Linder. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Brady Bacon (13th), 2. Josh Pelkey (1st), 3. R.J. Johnson (14th), 4. Casey Shuman (2nd), 5. Ryan Bernal (15th), 6. Josh Hodges (9th), 7. Aaron Reutzel (16th), 8. Shon Deskins (12th), 9. Nic Faas (8th), 10. Charles Davis Jr. (7th), 11. Stevie Sussex (20th), 12. Mike Martin (19th), 13. Jason Grady (10th), 14. Mitch Mack (21st), 15. Josh Grady (22nd), 16. Dalten Gabbard (4th), 17. Colby Copeland (5th), 18. Tye Mihocko (17th), 19. Michael Curtis (18th), 20. Jimmy Crawford (3rd), 21. Mike Rux Jr. (11th), 22. Dave Darland (6th). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-13 Josh Pelkey, Laps 14-30 Brady Bacon.
HARD CHARGER: Brady Bacon (13th to 1st)
WINTER CHALLENGE POINT STANDINGS:
1-Brady Bacon-65, 2-Josh Pelkey-64, 3. R.J. Johnson-57, 4-Casey Shuman-56, 5-Josh Hodges-52, 6-Ryan Bernal-51, 7-Aaron Reutzel-46, 8-Shon Deskins-43, 9-Nic Faas-42, 10-Charles Davis Jr.-40, 11-Jason Grady-32, 12-Stevie Sussex-32, 13-Mike Martin-31, 14-Dalten Gabbard-29, 15-Mitch Mack-26, 16-Colby Copeland-25, 17-Josh Grady-24, 18-Dave Darland-21, --Jimmy Crawford-21, --Tye Mihocko-21.
2014 WINTER CHALLENGE SCHEDULE:
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
January 25: Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ ($2,000-to-Win)
January 26: Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ ($3,000-to-Win)
January 28: Brunswick Lanes - Glendale, AZ (Bowling Tournament, 7pm)
January 30: Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ ($2,000-to-Win)
January 31: Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ ($2,000-to-Win)
February 1: Canyon Speedway - Peoria, AZ ($5,000-to-Win)
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This schedule is subject to change.
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