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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
- #02 Matt Rossi – 5th in USAC SouthWest Point Standings. Photo by Patrick Shaw / Backed-In Photography.
EL PASO HOSTS USAC-NMMRA “BORDER TOUR” SHOOTOUT THIS FRIDAY
By Lance Jennings
PHOENIX, AZ – AUGUST 26, 2014... This Friday, August 29th, the popular USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series will open the three-race “Border Tour” at El Paso Speedway Park in El Paso, Texas. Co-sanctioned with the New Mexico Motor Racing Association (NMMRA), the thirteenth point race of the season will also feature Topless Modifieds, USRA Street Stocks, Hornets, and the CASA Nissan Legend Cars. The Front Gates will open at 5:30pm with Racing scheduled to begin at 7:45pm. For more event information, visit www.epspeedwaypark.com or call 915.791.8749.
For the third year in a row, El Paso Speedway Park has showcased the Arizona-New Mexico “Border Tour.” Last season, R.J. Johnson raced to victory on his way to the inaugural USAC SouthWest title. On June 8, 2012, veteran Rickey Hood claimed the ASCS Canyon Region event at the 3/8-mile facility.
Heading into the “Border Tour,” R.J. Johnson of Phoenix holds a 44-point advantage over the competition. Piloting Bill Michaels’ #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson leads all drivers with six feature wins in the campaign. To date, the defending champion has eight heat race victories, one hard charger award, twenty top-10 finishes, and 103 feature laps led to his credit. R.J. will be looking to extend his point lead by claiming his eighteenth career SouthWest main event.
Buckeye’s “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. is second in the championship points. Driving the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / MP Environmental RSS, Davis has three main event wins on the season. Currently, the five-time Arizona champion has twelve heat race victories, one semi-main win, eighteen top-10 finishes, and 102 feature laps led. “Chargin” Charles will have his sights on his tenth career series triumph and gaining valuable points on Johnson.
Josh Pelkey of Peoria ranks third in the point standings. Racing Robbie and Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Pelkey has three feature wins in 2014. To date, the 1997 ASCA Champion has three heat race victories, two hard charger awards, twenty-two top-10 finishes, and 54 feature laps led. Josh will be looking to continue his championship bid with the $1,500 payday in the “Lone Star State.”
Phoenix’s Shon Deskins sits fourth in the SouthWest point chase. Piloting his #20 MP Environmental / Performance Plus Spike, Deskins earned his first SouthWest triumph at Prescott Valley on May 3rd. Heading to El Paso, the veteran racer has six heat race victories, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 30 feature laps led on the season. Shon will have his sights adding El Paso to his win list and moving up the point standings.
Matt Rossi of Phoenix is fifth in the USAC SouthWest championship chase. Driving the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / Advanced Engine Components Spike, Rossi has two heat race victories, two hard charger awards, and ten top-10 finishes on the year. Matt will be looking to score his second career SouthWest triumph and claim the $1,500 payday.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, “The Kid” Tye Mihocko, Andy Reinbold, Mike Colegrove, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, Nick Aiuto, Michael Curtis, Josh Shipley, Tom Ogle, Brian Hosford, Stevie Sussex, Mark Morin, Mike Bonneau, Chris Bonneau, and more.
Farmington, New Mexico’s Jason Grady leads the NMMRA point standings. Bill Mitchell, Stephen Nix, Cody Mansfield, Austin Mansfield, Randy Smith, James Hatch, Robert Marfia, Jesse Baker, and Josh Grady round out the top-10 drivers.
El Paso Speedway Park is at 14751 Marina Boulevard in El Paso, Texas. Located 6 miles east of FM 375 on US 62, then 0.5 miles north on Krag Street, then east on Tangerine Avenue. Adult Tickets are $15, Family Packs at $30, and Pit Passes are $30. For more event information, visit www.epspeedwaypark.com or call 915.791.8749.
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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2014 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS:
6-R.J. Johnson, 3-Dave Darland, 3-Charles Davis Jr., 3-Josh Pelkey, 2-Brady Bacon, 1-Mike Bonneau, 1-Colby Copeland, 1-Shon Deskins, 1-Austin Liggett, 1-Mike Martin, 1-Richard Vander Weerd.
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. R.J. Johnson-739, 2. Charles Davis Jr.-695, 3. Josh Pelkey-680, 4. Shon Deskins-607, 5. Matt Rossi-575, 6. Mike Martin-564, 7. Tye Mihocko-517, 8. Andy Reinbold-459, 9. Mike Colegrove-442, 10. Bruce St. James-434, 11. Nick Aiuto-418, 12. Michael Curtis-403, 13. Josh Shipley-385, 14. Brian Hosford-337, --. Tom Ogle-337, 16. Stevie Sussex-271, 17. Mark Morin-245, 18. Mike Bonneau-242, 19. Chris Bonneau-225, 20. Dennis Gile-187.
NMMRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Jason Grady-337, 2. Bill Mitchell-300, 3. Stephen Nix-297, 4. Cody Mansfield-290, 5. Austin Mansfield-288, 6. Randy Smith-282, 7. James Hatch-248, 8. Robert Marfia-237, 9. Jesse Baker-236, --. Josh Grady-236, 11. Dillon Tanner-232, 12. Matthew Cardenas-231, 13. Michael Fanelli-225, 14. Kristy Smith-216, --. David Dykes-216, 16. Bo Baker-210, 17. Ronnie Smith-208, 18. Stephen Spiak-192, 19. Don Grable-142, 20. Josh Hodges-127.
2014 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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 Speedway - 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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