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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
- #77M R.J. Johnson – Arizona Speedway Winner. Photo by Patrick Shaw / Backed-In Photography.
R.J. JOHNSON SPRINTS TO QUEEN CREEK VICTORY
By Lance Jennings
QUEEN CREEK, AZ – JUNE 8, 2014... Taking the lead from “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. on lap 20, Phoenix’s R.J. Johnson powered to his third USAC SouthWest Sprint win of the season. Saturday’s $1,500 triumph at Queen Creek’s Arizona Speedway was Johnson’s series leading fourteenth victory ahead of Davis, Josh Pelkey, Shon Deskins, and Matt Rossi.
Piloting Bill Michaels’ #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, R.J. Johnson ranked third in passing points after winning the night’s second 8-lap heat race. By racing to his fifth Queen Creek victory from fourth, the defending champion maintains a thirteen point lead heading to Saturday’s event at Canyon Speedway Park. To date, R.J. has four heat race victories, one hard charger award, twelve top-10 finishes, and 68 feature laps led to his credit.
Starting on the outside of the front row, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. of Buckeye led the first nineteen laps before taking second at the checkered flags. Racing the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / MP Environmental RSS, Davis claimed second in his heat race and was seated fifth in passing points. The five-time state champion is currently third in the point chase with two feature wins, eight heat race victories, eleven top-10 finishes, and 57 feature laps led on the season.
Peoria’s Josh Pelkey had a solid night with a third place finish at Queen Creek. Driving Robbie and Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Pelkey won the night’s first heat race and placed fourth overall in passing points. Ranked second in the point standings, the former ASCA Champion has two feature wins, three heat race victories, two hard charger awards, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 53 feature laps led on the year.
Shon Deskins of Phoenix claimed fourth in the 30-lap main event after starting sixth. Piloting his #20 MP Environmental / Performance Plus Spike, Deskins raced to victory in the program’s third heat race and was the night’s high point driver. The veteran racer left Queen Creek ranked fourth in SouthWest points with one feature win, three heat race victories, nine top-10 finishes, and 30 feature laps led.
Phoenix’s Matt Rossi scored fifth at Arizona Speedway after starting on the pole position. Racing the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / Advanced Engine Components Spike, Rossi took fourth in his heat race and was sixth in passing points. Heading to Canyon, the hard charger is fifth in the standings with one heat race victory, one hard charger award, and six top-10 finishes on the season.
Nick Aiuto of Camp Verde earned the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with an eighth place run from fourteenth. Driving his #27 Bob Bondurant School Of High Performance Driving / David Dick Attorney at Law DRC, Rossi scored fourth in his heat race and ranked fifteenth in passing points. At press time, Nick is tenth in the point chase with three top-10 finishes.
The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series will be back in action this Saturday, June 14th at Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria. The “Father’s Day Classic” will also feature IMCA Modifieds, Mini Sprints, Pure Stocks, and Renegades. In addition, an open practice will be held on Wednesday, June 11th from 6pm to 9pm. Advance tickets are on sale and for more information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or call 602.258.7223.
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:
June 7, 2014 – Queen Creek, Arizona – Arizona Speedway
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 2. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 3. Stevie Sussex (#1DM Sussex), 4. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 5. Dean Colquette (#29X Colquette), 6. Tom Ogle (#48 Ogle). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
1. R.J. Johnson (#77M Michaels), 2. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 3. Bruce St. James (#7K St. James), 4. Mike Colegrove (#17M Colegrove), 5. Nick Aiuto (#27 Aiuto), 6. Mark Morin (#28 Morin), 7. Rick Ziehl (#0SR Ziehl). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins), 2. Chris Bonneau (#78 Bonneau), 3. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood), 4. Matt Rossi (#02 Rossi), 5. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler), 6. Dennis Giles (#13 Giles), 7. Mike Bonneau (#29 Bonneau). NT
ALSO AT TRACK: Brian Hosford (#32B Weber)
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. R.J. Johnson (4th), 2. Charles Davis Jr. (2nd), 3. Josh Pelkey (3rd), 4. Shon Deskins (6th), 5. Matt Rossi (1st), 6. Mike Martin (5th), 7. Andy Reinbold (10th), 8. Nick Aiuto (14th), 9. Stevie Sussex (11th), 10. Tom Ogle (15th), 11. Bruce St. James (8th), 12. Mike Colegrove (9th), 13. Chris Bonneau (7th), 14. Mike Bonneau (17th), 15. Michael Curtis (13th), 16. Dennis Giles (16th), 17. Tye Mihocko (12th), 18. Dean Colquette (19th), 19. Mark Morin (18th), 20. Rick Ziehl (20th). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-19 Davis, Laps 20-30 Johnson.
HARD CHARGER: Nick Aiuto (14th to 8th)
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. R.J. Johnson-483, 2. Josh Pelkey-470, 3. Charles Davis Jr.-461, 4. Shon Deskins-416, 5. Matt Rossi-349, 6. Tye Mihocko-339, -. Andy Reinbold-339, -. Mike Martin-339, 9. Mike Colegrove-301, 10. Nick Aiuto-296, 11. Bruce St. James-281, 12. Michael Curtis-271, 13. Mike Bonneau-242, 14. Stevie Sussex-239, 15. Chris Bonneau-225, 16. Brian Hosford-220, 17. Josh Shipley-207, 18. Thomas Ogle-200, 19. Mark Morin-150, 20. Dennis Giles-116.
2014 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
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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