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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
R.J. JOHNSON CONTINUES WINNING STREAK AT CANYON CLASH
By Lance Jennings
PEORIA, AZ – MAY 4, 2015... Continuing to rewrite the record books, R.J. Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona won the “5th Annual Canyon Clash” at Canyon Speedway Park. Saturday’s $1,500 USAC SouthWest Sprint Car triumph was Johnson’s fourth straight victory and the 26th win in series history. High point driver Josh Pelkey, Mike Colegrove, Brian Hosford, and Dalten Gabbard followed Johnson to the checkered flags.
Starting seventh, R.J. Johnson tied his series record of four consecutive victories for the second time. Driving Bill Michaels’ #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson ran second to Mike Martin in his heat race, placing the defending champion seventh in the night’s passing points. With a late race charge, R.J. took command on the twenty-seventh lap from Stevie Sussex to seal the victory. The point leader extended his advantage to 58 points heading to Queen Creek on May 16th.
After posting high point driver honors on the night, Peoria, Arizona’s Josh Pelkey claimed second in the “Canyon Clash” from sixth. Piloting Robbie and Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Pelkey also won the night’s first 8-lap heat race. The former ASCA Champion left his home track ranked third in the standings.
Mike Colegrove of Peoria, Arizona charged to third from the eighth starting spot at Canyon. Racing his #17 Precision Tile / Ellis Race Cars entry, Colegrove took fourth in his heat race and was seated eighth overall in passing points. After a solid performance at Canyon, Mike heads to Arizona Speedway placed seventh in championship points.
Gilbert, Arizona’s Brian Hosford had one of his best showings with a fourth place finish in the “Canyon Clash.” Driving Bernie Weber’s #22B Coffin & Trout Fine Jewelers / Invision Auto Body Spike, Hosford won his first 8-lap heat race of the campaign and ranked fifth in passing points. Currently sitting ninth in SouthWest points, Brian will be looking for his first victory at Queen Creek.
Dalten Gabbard of Peoria, Arizona claimed fifth at his hometown race track. Piloting the family owned #77 BG Chemicals / AZ Heat Trucking Maxim, Gabbard took second to Hosford in his heat race and placed third in passing points. Dalten left Saturday’s “Canyon Clash” ranked sixteenth in the chase for the championship.
Peoria, Arizona’s “The Bull” Tye Mihocko earned the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with an eighth place run from nineteenth. Driving the family owned #5 Property Solutions / Beaver Stripes RSS, Mihocko was seventh in his heat race and placed nineteenth in passing points. The young driver heads to Arizona Speedway ranked fourteenth in series points.
“The Magic Man” Mike Martin of Yuma, Arizona won the night’s third 8-lap heat race. Racing his #16 Sherwin-Williams / Ultimate Offroad Maxim, Martin placed fourth in passing points and scored nineteenth in the main event. The former Hall of Fame classic winner is eighth in points and will be looking to rebound at Queen Creek on May 16th.
On Saturday, May 16th, the USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars will battle at Queen Creek’s Arizona Speedway. Located at the ET Motopark, the event will also feature the X-Mods, ModLites, and Bombers. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or calling 480.926.6688.
The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series would like to thank Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Tire, Hose Advantage Store, and the Racers Advantage Store for their support. For more information on the series, 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:
May 2, 2015 – Peoria, Arizona – Canyon Speedway Park – “Canyon Clash”
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 2. Matt Rossi (#02 Rossi), 3. Bruce St. James (#7K St. James), 4. Mike Colegrove (#17 Colegrove), 5. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins), 6. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler), 7. Mike Bonneau (#29 Bonneau). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Brian Hosford, (#22B Weber), 2. Dalten Gabbard (#77 Gabbard), 3. Stevie Sussex (#13S Sussex), 4. Nick Aiuto (#27 Aiuto), 5. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 6. Josh Shipley (#2 Bishop), 7. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 2. R.J. Johnson (#77M Michaels), 3. Dennis Gile (#13 Gile), 4. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood), 5. Chris Bonneau (#78 Bonneau), 6. Koty McGullam (#44K McGullam). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. R.J. Johnson (7th), 2. Josh Pelkey (6th), 3. Mike Colegrove (8th), 4. Brian Hosford (5th), 5. Dalten Gabbard (4th), 6. Andy Reinbold (11th), 7. Charles Davis Jr. (16th), 8. Tye Mihocko (19th), 9. Chris Bonneau (14th), 10. Bruce St. James (10th), 11. Dennis Gile (9th), 12. Shon Deskins (13th), 13. Mike Bonneau (20th), 14. Michael Curtis (17th), 15. Stevie Sussex (1st), 16. Matt Rossi (2nd), 17. Koty McGullam (18th), 18. Nick Aiuto (12th), 19. Mike Martin (3rd), 20. Josh Shipley (15th). NT
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**Rossi and Deskins flipped during the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-22 Rossi, Laps 23-26 Sussex, Laps 27-30 Johnson.
HARD CHARGER: Tye Mihocko (19th to 8th)
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. R.J. Johnson-319, 2. Charles Davis Jr.-261, 3. Josh Pelkey-252, 4. Matt Rossi-233, 5. Stevie Sussex-227, 6. Shon Deskins-220, 7. Mike Colegrove-218, 8. Mike Martin-213, 9. Brian Hosford-194, 10. Bruce St. James-168, 11. Andy Reinbold-164, 12. Dennis Gile-133, 13. Nick Aiuto-117, 14. Tye Mihocko-107, 15. Josh Shipley-99, 16. Dalten Gabbard-82, 17. Michael Curtis-76, 18. Ryan Bernal-71, 19. Mike Bonneau- 65, 20. Matt Mitchell-62, --. Koty McGullam-62.
2015 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
May 16: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
May 23: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Salute To Indy)
May 24: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Salute To Indy)
June 13: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
June 20: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Father’s Day Classic)
June 27: USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Hot Summer Nights)
July 10: #El Paso Speedway Park - El Paso, TX (Border Tour / $2,000-to-Win)
July 11: #Southern New Mexico Speedway - Las Cruces, NM (Border Tour / $2,000-to-Win)
July 18: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
August 1: Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Allscapes Back To School Special)
August 19: Lawton Speedway - Lawton, OK (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 20: Creek County Speedway - Sapulpa, OK (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 21: 81 Speedway - Wichita, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 22: Dodge City Raceway Park - Dodge City, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 28: Prescott Valley Raceway - Prescott Valley, AZ (Rick Stewart Memorial)
August 29: Prescott Valley Raceway - Prescott Valley, AZ (Rick Stewart Memorial)
September 19: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
September 26: *Canyon Speedway Park - Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series)
October 3: Arizona Speedway - Queen Creek, AZ
October 17: Central Arizona Speedway - Casa Grande, AZ
November 19: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series)
November 20: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series)
November 21: *USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Western World Championships / Grudge Series)
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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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