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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
- #77M R.J. Johnson – Salute To Indy Winner. Photo by Patrick Shaw / Backed-In Photography.
R.J. JOHNSON STORMS TO “3RD ANNUAL SALUTE TO INDY” WIN AT CSP
By Lance Jennings
PEORIA, AZ – MAY 26, 2014... R.J. Johnson of Phoenix earned his second victory of the year by claiming Sunday’s “3rd Annual Salute To Indy” at Canyon Speedway Park. The $1,500 triumph was Johnson’s series leading 13th USAC SouthWest Sprint Car victory over Josh Hodges, “The Kid” Tye Mihocko, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, and Mike Colegrove.
Starting on the outside of the front row, R.J. Johnson powered Bill Michaels’ #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman past polesitter Josh Hodges on lap eighteen. From there, the defending champion sailed to his third career “Salute To Indy” win and has taken over the series point lead. Earlier in the program, R.J. placed third in his heat race and entered the main event fifth in passing points. Johnson left CSP with a six point advantage on the strength of three heat race victories, one hard charger award, eleven top-10 finishes, and 57 feature laps led.
Tijeras, New Mexico’s Josh Hodges had one of his best finishes at Canyon with a second place run. Racing the family owned #74X Parts Plus / Mesilla Valley Transportation Maxim, Hodges took second in his heat race, ranked sixth overall in passing points, and led the first seventeen laps. In limited non-wing appearances, Josh has climbed to twentieth in points with one hard charger award, seven top-10 finishes and 24 feature laps led to his credit.
“The Kid” Tye Mihocko of Peoria charged to third in the “Salute To Indy” after starting twelfth. Piloting the family owned #5 RSS Industries / Old World Brewery RSS, Mihocko placed fifth in his heat race and was twelfth in the nightly passing points. The young driver has climbed to fifth in the standings with two heat race victories, one semi-main win, and six top-10 finishes on the year.
Yuma’s “The Magic Man” Mike Martin scored fourth at the checkered flags. Driving his #16 PPG Professional Paints / Desert Building Materials Maxim, Martin won the night’s third 8-lap heat race and entered the feature ranked fourth in passing points. Currently eighth in points, the former “Hall of Fame Classic” winner has three heat race victories, one semi-main win, one hard charger award, six top-10 finishes, and one feature lap led in 2014.
Mike Colegrove of Peoria claimed fifth in the 30-lap “Salute To Indy” finale. Racing his #17M Precision Tile / Performance Plus Ellis, Colegrove placed third in his heat race and earned second in passing points. Mike left Canyon Speedway Park ranked ninth in the standings with two heat race victories and four top-10 finishes on the season.
Buckeye’s “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. won the night’s first heat race and was the high point driver entering the main event. Piloting the Massey Motorsports’ 50 RSS Industries / MP Environmental RSS, Davis started sixth in the feature and scored twenty-third after an early flip ended his night. The five-time state champion walked away uninjured and ranks third in points with two feature wins, eight heat race victories, ten top-10 finishes, and 38 feature laps led.
Roseville, California’s Colby Copeland earned the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a seventh place run after starting seventeenth. Driving Ted Williams’ #74 Marks Bolts / M&J Trophies Maxim, Copeland was seventh in his heat race and ranked seventeenth overall in passing points. In limited starts, the versatile driver sits twenty-first in the standings with one feature win, three heat race victories, three top-10 finishes, and 30 feature laps led in the campaign.
Josh Pelkey of Peoria claimed victory in the program’s first heat race. Racing Robbie and Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Pelkey ranked third in passing points and scored nineteenth after a flip ended his night. The former ASCA Champion left Canyon sitting second in the standings with two feature wins, two heat race victories, two hard charger awards, twelve top-10 finishes, and 53 feature laps led.
The USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars will be back in action on Saturday, June 7th at Queen Creek's Arizona Speedway. The action packed showcase will also feature IMCA Modifieds, X-Mods, and Bombers. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series thanks Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Tire, Racers Advantage Store, and the Hose Advantage Store for their support. For more information on the group, visit www.southwestsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SouthwestSprintCars).
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USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS:
May 25, 2014 – Peoria, Arizona – Canyon Speedway Park – “Salute To Indy”
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 2. Josh Hodges (#74X Hodges), 3. R.J. Johnson (#77M Michaels), 4. Chris Bonneau (#78 Bonneau), 5. Tom Ogle (#48 Ogle), 6. Mike Bonneau (#29 Bonneau), 7. Colby Copeland (#74 Williams), 8. Mark Morin (#28 Morin). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 2. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood), 3. Mike Colegrove (#17M Colegrove), 4. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins), 5. Matt Rossi (#02 Rossi), 6. Dustin Cormany (#18 Deskins), 7. Brian Hosford (#32B Weber), 8. Lonnie Oliver (#7T Oliver). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 2. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler), 3. Nick Aiuto (#27 Aiuto), 4. Bruce St. James (#7K St. James), 5. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 6. Stevie Sussex (#1DM Sussex), 7. Dennis Giles (#13 Giles). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. R.J. Johnson (2nd), 2. Josh Hodges (1st), 3. Tye Mihocko (12th), 4. Mike Martin (3rd), 5. Mike Colegrove (5th), 6. Michael Curtis (8th), 7. Colby Copeland (17th), 8. Andy Reinbold (17th), 9. Tom Ogle (15th), 10. Chris Bonneau (13th), 11. Mike Bonneau (18th), 12. Shon Deskins (9th), 13. Nick Aiuto (11th), 14. Dennis Giles (20th), 15. Brian Hosford (21st), 16. Dustin Cormany (19th), 17. Bruce St. James (14th), 18. Lonnie Oliver (23rd), 19. Josh Pelkey (4th), 20. Matt Rossi (10th), 21. Stevie Sussex (16th), 22. Mark Morin (22nd), 23. Charles Davis Jr. (6th). NT
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**Charles Davis Jr., Matt Rossi, Josh Pelkey, Bruce St. James, and Lonnie Oliver flipped during the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-17 Josh Hodges, Laps 18-30 R.J. Johnson.
HARD CHARGER: Colby Copeland (17th to 7th)
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. R.J. Johnson-411, 2. Josh Pelkey-405, 3. Charles Davis Jr.-395, 4. Shon Deskins-351, 5. Tye Mihocko-315, 6. Matt Rossi-295, 7. Andy Reinbold-291, 8. Mike Martin-282, 9. Mike Colegrove-267, 10. Nick Aiuto-253, 11. Bruce St. James-244, 12. Michael Curtis-244, 13. Brian Hosford-220, 14. Mike Bonneau-215, 15. Josh Shipley-207, 16. Stevie Sussex-197, 17. Chris Bonneau-191, 18. Tom Ogle-164, 19. Mark Morin-132, 20. Josh Hodges-110.
2014 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
June 7: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
June 14: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Father’s Day Classic)
June 28: Prescott Valley Raceway - Prescott Valley, AZ
July 12: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
July 26: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Summer Slam)
August 1: Prescott Valley Raceway - Prescott Valley, AZ (Rick Stewart Memorial)
August 2: Prescott Valley Raceway - Prescott Valley, AZ (Rick Stewart Memorial)
August 13: Lawton Speedway - Lawton, OK (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 14: Creek County Speedway - Sapulpa, OK (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 15: 81 Speedway - Wichita, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 16: Dodge City Raceway Park - Dodge City, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 29: **El Paso Speedway Park - El Paso, TX (Border Tour)
August 30: **Southern New Mexico Speedway - Las Cruces, NM (Border Tour)
August 31: **Tularosa Speedway - Tularosa, NM (Border Tour)
September 6: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
September 20: Central Arizona Raceway - Casa Grande, AZ
September 27: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series)
October 11: Prescott Valley Raceway - Prescott Valley, AZ
October 18: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Southwest Championships)
November 1: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
November 6: *Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Oval Nationals / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series / Non-Points)
November 20: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 21: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 22: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / $7,500-to-Win)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC West Coast Sprints.
** = Co-Sanctioned Event with NMMRA Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.
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