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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
- #1X Dave Darland in victory circle. Photo by Gaye Allen.
“THE PEOPLE’S CHAMPION” STRIKES AGAIN AT CANYON
By Lance Jennings
PEORIA, AZ – JANUARY 27, 2014... After winning the Saturday night feature, “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland of Lincoln, Indiana continued his winning ways at Canyon Speedway. Leading all 30-laps to claim the third leg of the six-race “3rd Annual Winter Challenge,” Darland earned $3,000 for his Sunday night victory. “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., Josh Pelkey, Ryan Bernal, and Casey Shuman rounded out the top-five as the USAC SouthWest and West Coast Sprint Cars will return to action on Thursday.
Starting on the outside of the front row, Dave Darland outdueled Casey Shuman to take command at the fast 1/3-mile oval. Piloting Casey Minks’ #1X Mesilla Valley Transportation / Shark Racing Engines Eagle, “The People’s Champion” sailed to victory as the action was furious behind the leader. After winning the third 8-lap heat race and main event, the veteran driver has climbed to second in the “Winter Challenge” point chase. At the halfway point, Darland has recorded two feature wins, three heat race victories, and 43 feature laps led.
Buckeye’s “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. sliced his way to second in the main event after starting ninth. Driving the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis ran second in his heat race and is currently sixth in the point standings. To date, the five-time Arizona Champion has one heat race victory and three top-10 finishes in the “Winter Challenge.”
Josh Pelkey of Peoria had another solid night at Canyon Speedway with a third place run from fifth. Racing Robbie & Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Pelkey was second in his heat race and continues to lead the point standings. The former ASCA Champion has three top-5 finishes and 13 feature laps led in the mini-series.
Hollister, California’s Ryan Bernal charged from tenth to score fourth at the checkered flags. Driving Casey Minks’ #111 Champion Auto & Truck Recyclers / Shark Racing Engines Eagle, Bernal placed third in his heat race and is currently fourth in the “Winter Challenge.” After three events, the defending USAC Western Classic Champion has three top-5 finishes and 17 feature laps led.
Casey Shuman of Rattlesnake Bend fought hard to take fifth in the Sunday night feature. Piloting Rick Pollock’s #21X Greenwell Auto Body / Bates Commodities Inc. Maxim, Shuman was second in his heat race and is currently fifth in the standings. To date, the second generation driver has one heat race victory and two top-5 finishes.
Clute, Texas’ Aaron Reutzel earned his the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a seventh place finish after starting twentieth. Racing Bob Miller’s #21A Car Parts Machine / BC Fundz J&J, Reutzel was seventh in his heat race and is now eighth in the “Winter Challenge” standings.
“The Kid” Tye Mihocko of Peoria won the night’s first 8-lap heat race and scored thirteenth in the feature. Driving the family owned #5 Old World Brewery / RSS Industries entry, the young driver sits eleventh in the point standings and is gaining valuable experience. To date, Mihocko has one semi-main win and one top-10 finish in the “Winter Challenge.”
Roseville, California’s Colby Copeland raced to victory in the program’s second heat race. Piloting the Ted Williams’ owned #74 Bandit Racing / Marks Bolts Maxim, Copeland also scored twentieth in the main event after an early exit. The former “Salute to Indy” winner has had a tough “Winter Challenge” and is currently seventeenth in the point standings.
Before racing resumes, the Brunswick Lanes in Glendale will host the 2014 Winter Challenge Bowling Tournament on Tuesday, January 28th. Located at 17210 North 59th Avenue, warm-ups will start at 6:30pm and the tournament will begin at 7:00pm.
The USAC Southwest and West Coast Sprint Cars will return to action on Thursday, January 30th, at Canyon Speedway in Peoria. Round #4 of the “Winter Challenge” will also feature the popular IMCA Modifieds. 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 26, 2014 – Peoria, Arizona – Canyon Speedway – "2014 Winter Challenge"
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 2. Josh Grady (#12J Grady), 3. R.J. Johnson (#51 Martin), 4. Stevie Sussex (#4 Price), 5. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins), 6. Jimmy Crawford (#51X Crawford), 7. David Dykes (#52NM Dykes), 8. Jason Grady (#45 Grady). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Colby Copeland (#74 Williams), 2. Casey Shuman (#21X Pollock), 3. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 4. Mitch Mack (#92 Mack), 5. Nic Faas (#73 Ford), 6. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler), 7. Aaron Reutzel (#21A Miller). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Dave Darland (#1X Minks), 2. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 3. Ryan Bernal (#111 Minks), 4. Dalten Gabbard (#5D Baldwin), 5. Josh Hodges (#74X Hodges), 6. Brady Bacon (#99 Bacon), 7. Mike Martin (#16 Martin). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Dave Darland (2nd), 2. Charles Davis Jr. (9th), 3. Josh Pelkey (5th), 4. Ryan Bernal (10th), 5. Casey Shuman (1st), 6. R.J. Johnson (6th), 7. Aaron Reutzel (20th), 8. Stevie Sussex (7th), 9. Josh Hodges (12th), 10. Mike Martin (19th), 11. Nic Faas (11th), 12. Brady Bacon (17th), 13. Tye Mihocko (4th), 14. Michael Curtis (18th), 15. Jason Grady (22nd), 16. Shon Deskins (15th), 17. Jimmy Crawford (16th), 18. Josh Grady (8th), 19. David Dykes (21st), 20. Colby Copeland (3rd), 21. Dalten Gabbard (13th), 22. Mitch Mack (14th). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-30 Dave Darland.
HARD CHARGER: Aaron Reutzel (20th to 7th)
WINTER CHALLENGE POINT STANDINGS:
1-Josh Pelkey-194, 2-Dave Darland-179, 3-R. J. Johnson-177, 4-Ryan Bernal-174, 5-Casey Shuman-166, 6-Charles Davis Jr.-164, 7-Brady Bacon-151, 8-Aaron Reutzel-139, 9-Josh Hodges-129, 10-Nic Faas-117, 11-Tye Mihocko-110, 12-Mike Martin-109, 13-Stevie Sussex-106, 14-Shon Deskins-98, 15-Dalton Gabbard-84, 16-Jimmy Crawford-76, 17-Colby Copeland-75, 18-Michael Curtis-65, 19-Mitch Mack-65, 20-Josh Grady-64.
2014 WINTER CHALLENGE SCHEDULE:
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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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