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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
- #1X Dave Darland in action at Canyon Speedway. Photo by Patrick Shaw / Backed-In Photography.
DAVE DARLAND MAKES USAC HISTORY AT CANYON SPEEDWAY
By Lance Jennings
PEORIA, AZ – JANUARY 26, 2014... Taking the lead from teammate Ryan Bernal on lap 18, “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland of Lincoln, Indiana won the second night of the six-race “3rd Annual Winter Challenge.” The veteran driver earned $2,000 for his first USAC SouthWest and West Coast Sprint Car victory at Canyon Speedway in Peoria. Bernal, R.J. Johnson, Josh Pelkey, and Brady Bacon followed Darland to the checkered flags as the racers will return to the fast 1/3-mile oval for Sunday’s $3,000 payday,
According to Dick Jordan, USAC historian and Vice President of Communications, Darland’s Saturday night victory marks his 22nd consecutive season with a victory in USAC competition. This accomplishment set a new record and broke a three-way tie with A.J. Foyt (1959-1979) and Mel Kenyon (1962-82).
Driving Casey Minks’ #1X Mesilla Valley Transportation / Shark Racing Engines Eagle, Dave Darland rebounded from a tough opening night to win the 30-lap feature after starting fourth. Also winning the night’s second 8-lap heat race, “The People’s Champion” has now climbed to fifth in the mini-series points with two heat race victories, one top-10 finish, and 13 main event laps led.
Taking command from pole-sitter Tye Mihocko at the green flag, Hollister, California’s Ryan Bernal had to settle for second on this night. Piloting Casey Minks’ #111 Champion Auto & Truck Recyclers / Shark Racing Engines Eagle, Bernal ran fourth in his heat race and is currently third in the “Winter Challenge.” To date, the defending USAC Western Classic Champion has two top-10 finishes and 17 feature laps led to his credit.
Phoenix’s R.J. Johnson earned the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a third place run after starting fifteenth. Racing Bobby Martin’s #51 Weiler Farms / Pecon Builders Maxim, the defending USAC SouthWest Champion placed sixth in his heat race and is now fourth in the “Winter Challenge” points. Entering Sunday’s action at Canyon Speedway, Johnson has recorded two top-10 finishes.
After finishing second on opening night, Josh Pelkey of Peoria raced to fourth in the Saturday feature after starting seventh. Driving Robbie & Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Pelkey was second in his heat race and sits atop the mini-series point chase. With two top-10 finishes and 13 feature laps led, the former ASCA Champion will be looking to claim Sunday’s $3,000 victory.
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma’s Brady Bacon ran fifth in the 30-lap main event after starting eighth. Piloting his #99 Fatheadz Eyewear / Tel Star Communications Triple X, Bacon placed third in his heat race and is currently second in the “Winter Challenge.” To date, the former Western World Champion has one feature win, one hard charger award, two top-10 finishes, and 17 feature laps led.
“Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. of Buckeye drove to victory in the program’s first 8-lap heat race. Racing the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis ran seventh in the feature and is now seventh in the mini-series point standings. Heading to the third round of the “Winter Challenge,” the five-time Arizona Champion has two top-10 finishes.
Driving Rick Pollock’s #21X Greenwell Auto Body / Bates Commodities Inc. Maxim, Rattlesnake Bend’s Casey Shuman won the night’s third 8-lap heat race. After scoring twelfth in the 30-lap feature, the veteran driver is currently sixth in the point chase with one top-10 finish.
In his second Canyon Speedway start, Mitch Mack of East Grand Forks, Minnesota took his first checkered flags by winning the 10-lap semi-main. Piloting the family owned #92 J&J, Mack finished seventeenth in the main event and is now eighteenth in points. A regular on the winged NOSA sprint car circuit, the grandson of former Outlaw driver Don Mack is adjusting to racing without a wing.
The USAC Southwest and West Coast Sprint Cars will return to action tonight, January 26th, at Canyon Speedway in Peoria. Round #3 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 “SPECIAL EVENT” SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS:
January 25, 2014 – Peoria, Arizona – Canyon Speedway – "2014 Winter Challenge"
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Charles Davis Jr., (#50 Massey), 2. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 3. Jimmy Crawford (#51X Crawford), 4. Ryan Bernal (#111 Minks), 5. Aaron Reutzel (#21A Miller), 6. Josh Grady (#12J Grady), 7. Dalten Gabbard (#5D Baldwin), 8. Colby Copeland (#74 Williams). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Dave Darland (#1X Minks), 2. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 3. Brady Bacon (#99 Bacon), 4. Matt Rossi (#02 Rossi), 5. Nic Faas (#73 Ford), 6. R.J. Johnson (#51 Martin), 7. Jason Grady (#45 Grady), 8. David Dykes (#55NM Dykes). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Casey Shuman (#21X Pollock), 2. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 3. Stevie Sussex (#4 Price), 4. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins), 5. Josh Hodges (#74X Hodges), 6. Mitch Mack (#92 Mack), 7. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler), 8. Ryan Linder (#9 Linder/Whitney). NT
SEMI: (10 laps)
1. Mitch Mack, 2. Dalten Gabbard, 3. Michael Curtis, 4. Colby Copeland, 5. Josh Grady, 6. David Dykes, 7. Jason Grady, 8. Ryan Linder. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Dave Darland (4th), 2. Ryan Bernal (2nd), 3. R.J. Johnson (15th), 4. Josh Pelkey (7th), 5. Brady Bacon (8th), 6. Aaron Reutzel (16th), 7. Charles Davis Jr. (5th), 8. Tye Mihocko (1st), 9. Nic Faas (14th), 10. Josh Hodges (9th), 11. Mike Martin (3rd), 12. Casey Shuman (6th), 13. Dalten Gabbard (18th), 14. Shon Deskins (13th), 15. Stevie Sussex (11th), 16. Jimmy Crawford (10th), 17. Matt Rossi (12th), 18. Michael Curtis (19th), 19. Mitch Mack (17th), 20. David Dykes (22nd), 21. Josh Grady (21st), 22. Colby Copeland (20th). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-17 Bernal, Laps 18-30 Darland.
HARD CHARGER: R.J. Johnson (15th to 3rd)
WINTER CHALLENGE POINT STANDINGS:
1-Josh Pelkey-124, 2-Brady Bacon-119, 3-Ryan Bernal-117, 4-R.J. Johnson-114, 5-Dave Darland-109, 6-Casey Shuman-109, 7-Charles Davis Jr.-100, 8-Aaron Reutzel-95, 9-Josh Hodges-89, 10-Nic Faas-82, 11-Mike Martin-74, 12-Shon Deskins-73, 13-Tye Mihocko-67, 14-Dalten Gabbard-66, 15-Stevie Sussex-62, 16-Jimmy Crawford-54, 17-Colby Copeland-48, 18-Mitch Mack-47, 19-Josh Grady-40, 20-Jason Grady-38.
2014 WINTER CHALLENGE SCHEDULE:
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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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