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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
- #16 “The Magic Man” Mike Martin – 6th in USAC SouthWest Point Standings. Photo by Patrick Shaw / Backed-In Photography.
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINTS BATTLE AT QUEEN CREEK SATURDAY
By Lance Jennings
PHOENIX, AZ – SEPTEMBER 2, 2014... This Saturday, September 6th, the powerful USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars will invade Queen Creek’s Arizona Speedway. Located within ET Motopark, the sixteenth point race of the campaign will also feature Pure Stocks, Mod Lites, and the Robert Horne Ford Bombers. Racing is scheduled for 7:15pm and for more information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
Saturday’s race will be the fifth of six dates at fast 1/3-mile facility. Defending champion R.J. Johnson won the April 12th “Spring Fling” and the June 7th point race. On May 10th, five-time state champion “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. claimed the 30-lap “Mother’s Day Race” and Josh Pelkey scored the victory on July 12th. While Johnson leads all drivers with five triumphs at Arizona Speedway, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin won the series debut on April 13, 2013.
After sweeping the three-race USAC-NMMRA “Border Tour,” R.J. Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona has a 119-point advantage over the competition. Racing Bill Michaels’ #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson leads all drivers with nine main event wins on the season. In addition, the defending champion has eleven heat race victories, one hard charger award, twenty-three top-10 finishes, and 164 feature laps led. R.J. will be looking to continue his run for the championship with another win at Arizona Speedway.
After finishing third at Tularosa, Peoria, Arizona’s Josh Pelkey has climbed to second in the point chase. Piloting Robbie and Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Pelkey has three feature wins in 2014. Currently, the 1997 ASCA Champion has four heat race victories, two hard charger awards, twenty-four top-10 finishes, and 54 feature laps led to his credit. Josh will have his sights on the $1,500 payday and gaining valuable championship points on Johnson.
Buckeye, Arizona’s “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. is third in the championship points. Driving the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / MP Environmental RSS, Davis ran second in the “Border Tour” finale at Tularosa. To date, the five-time state champion has three feature wins, twelve heat race victories, one semi-main win, twenty top-10 finishes, and 102 feature laps led. “Chargin” Charles will be looking for the Queen Creek victory and his tenth SouthWest victory.
Shon Deskins of Phoenix, Arizona sits fourth in the SouthWest point standings. Piloting his #20 MP Environmental / Performance Plus Spike, Deskins placed eighth at Tularosa Speedway. Heading to Queen Creek, the veteran driver has one feature win, seven heat race victories, one hard charger award, eighteen top-10 finishes, and 59 feature laps led. Shon will have his sights on adding a SouthWest triumph at Queen Creek to his win list.
Phoenix, Arizona’s Matt Rossi ranks fifth in the USAC SouthWest championship chase. Driving the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / Advanced Engine Components Spike, Rossi charged to fourth at Tularosa after starting twelfth. Currently, the veteran has three heat race victories, two hard charger awards, twelve top-10 finishes, and 28 feature laps led on the year. Matt will be looking for a breakthrough win this Saturday at Queen Creek.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, “The Kid” Tye Mihocko, Nick Aiuto, Andy Reinbold, Michael Curtis, Brian Hosford, Mike Colegrove, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, Josh Shipley, Tom Ogle, Stevie Sussex, Mark Morin, Mike Bonneau, Chris Bonneau, and more.
Arizona Speedway is located within ET Motopark at 47346 N. Ironwood Road in Queen Creek, Arizona. To get to the track, exit Ironwood Drive on US 60, then head four miles south. Adult Tickets are $15, Senior Tickets are $12, Kids Tickets (11-7) are $5, and Children 6 and under are FREE. 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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2014 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS:
9-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.
QUEEN CREEK USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINNERS
04/13/13: Mike Martin – Mike Martin #16
05/11/13: R.J. Johnson – Bill Michaels #77M
06/08/13: Charles Davis Jr. – Massey Motorsports #50
07/13/13: R.J. Johnson – Bill Michaels #77M
09/07/13: Charles Davis Jr. – Massey Motorsports #50
10/19/13: R.J. Johnson – Bill Michaels #77M
04/12/14: R.J. Johnson – Bill Michaels #77M
05/10/14: Charles Davis Jr. – Massey Motorsports #50
06/07/14: R.J. Johnson – Bill Michaels #77M
07/12/14: Josh Pelkey – Robbie & Gaye Allen #12
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. R.J. Johnson-955, 2. Josh Pelkey-836, 3. Charles Davis Jr.-834, 4. Shon Deskins-768, 5. Matt Rossi-731, 6. Mike Martin-697, 7. Tye Mihocko-696, 8. Nick Aiuto-533, 9. Andy Reinbold-513, 10. Michael Curtis-497, 11. Brian Hosford-451, 12. Mike Colegrove-442, 13. Bruce St. James-434, 14. Josh Shipley-385, 15. Tom Ogle-337, 16. Josh Hodges-279, 17. Stevie Sussex-271, 18. Mark Morin-245, 19. Mike Bonneau-242, 20. Chris Bonneau-225.
2014 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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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