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Winter Challenge Kicks Off this Weekend at CSP!
Lonnie Wheatley, PEORIA, Ariz. (January 20, 2015) – The initial North American Sprint Car races of 2015 take place this weekend as Canyon Speedway Park hosts the initial three rounds of the E&K Winter Challenge.
Following an open practice session at the 1/3-mile clay oval on Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday’s card marks the first of the five race set featuring the USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast non-wing Sprint Cars.
Canyon Speedway Park will host the initial three rounds of the E&K Winter Challenge this Friday, Saturday and Sunday before Tucson’s USA Raceway host the final two rounds next Friday and Saturday, January 30-31.
The Friday and Saturday cards at CSP this weekend both offer up a $2,000 winner’s share with $4,000 up for grabs in Sunday’s tilt. The first round at Tucson on January 30 is $2,000 to win as well with the January 31 finale another $4,000-to-win affair.
E&K has posted a $5,000 point fund for the five-race series with the champion pocketing $2,000 with the balance of the top five collecting $1,000, $750, $500 and $250, respectively. Another $500 will be awarded to the E&K Winter Challenge “Most Valuable Player”, the lowest point earner that starts all five feature events.
A stout field of competitors is expected to vie for the E&K Winter Challenge including invaders such as reigning USAC National Sprint Car champion Brady Bacon, Dave Darland, Colby Copeland and Ryan Bernal along with top USAC Southwest contenders such as R.J. Johnson, Charles Davis, Jr., Mike Martin and more.
After Bacon topped last year’s Winter Challenge opener, Darland went on a tear with three triumphs while Copeland and Richard Vander Weerd also took wins.
In addition to the Sprint Cars, the IMCA Modifieds will be in action for all five rounds of the E&K Winter Challenge with a minimum of $1,000 to win each night. Jason Noll topped last year’s Winter Challenge opener before Ricky Thornton, Jr., got on a roll that continued throughout the year. Jesse Sobbing did manage to stop Thornton, Jr., in the finale.
The 2015 Winter Challenge Schedule of Events is as follows:
Thursday, January 22 – Open Practice at CSP 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday, January 23 – Round 1 at CSP (Gates open at 5:00 p.m., Racing at 7:00 p.m.)
Saturday, January 24 – Round 2 at CSP (Gates open at 3:00 p.m., Racing at 5:00 p.m.)
Sunday, January 25 – Round 3 at CSP (Gates open at 3:00 p.m., Racing at 5:00 p.m.)
Thursday, January 29 – Open Practice at USA from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday, January 30 - Round 4 at USA (Gates open at 5:00 p.m., Racing at 7:00 p.m.)
Saturday, January 31 – Round 5 (Gates open at 3:00 p.m., Racing at 5:00 p.m.)
While the USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds and Stock Cars will be in action during all five E&K Winter Challenge nights, the Micro Sprints and AMA Mod Lites join in on the initial three rounds at CSP before the X-Mods/Sport Mods and Dwarf Cars round out the card in the final two rounds at USA Raceway.
Five-day discounted tickets may be purchased in advance with ticket pricing and purchasing information available at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/tickets/winter-challenge-2012/ or by calling the track office at 602-258-7223.
Hotel Information can be found at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/fan-info/lodging/ or by calling the Courtyard by Marriott at 623-580-8844.
To keep up on all the latest news and happenings, sign up for Canyon Speedway E-News. The track update registration can be found at the top of the www.canyonspeedwaypark.com home page.
The entire 2015 Canyon Schedule can be previewed online at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/schedule/.
Canyon Speedway Park is located in north Peoria, AZ, off Lake Pleasant Parkway, then 1.3 miles west on Carefree Highway. For more information, contact the track at 602-258-RACE(7223) or check online at www.canyonspeedwaypark.com.
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