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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
- #19 Andy Reinbold – 8th in USAC SouthWest Point Standings. Photo by Patrick Shaw / Backed-In Photography.
USAC SOUTHWEST & NMMRA SPRINTS CLASH AT LAS CRUCES SATURDAY
By Lance Jennings
PHOENIX, AZ – AUGUST 26, 2014... On Saturday, August 30th, the cars and stars of the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series will return to Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Co-sanctioned with the New Mexico Motor Racing Association (NMMRA), the second round of the “Border Tour” will also showcase 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.snmspeedway.com or call 575.524.7913.
For the third consecutive season, the 5/16-mile facility has featured the traditional sprint cars of Arizona and New Mexico. Last year, “The Real Deal” Rick Ziehl raced the family’s #20Z Lucas Oil Maxim to a popular hometown victory. On June 9, 2012, veteran Rickey Hood backed up his El Paso triumph with the ASCS Canyon win at Las Cruces.
At press time, 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 earning the $1,500 main event win.
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 the Las Cruces victory and taking over the points lead.
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 by adding the winning trophy to his collection.
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. Entering the “Border Tour,” 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 the feature win 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 add Southern New Mexico Speedway to his win list and earing 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.
Southern New Mexico Speedway is located at 12125 Robert Larson Boulevard in Las Cruces, New Mexico. To get to the track, I-10 to exit 132, then south to the frontage road, then 3.1 miles west on Robert Larson Blvd. Adult Tickets are $15, Family Packs at $30, and Pit Passes are $30. For more event information, visit www.snmspeedway.com or call 575.524.7913.
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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