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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
STEVIE SUSSEX WINS NIGHT #1 OF CANYON’S SALUTE TO INDY
By Lance Jennings
PEORIA, AZ – MAY 26, 2015... Taking the lead from Michael Curtis on the second lap, Stevie Sussex of Tempe won Saturday’s opening night of the “4th Annual Salute to Indy.” For Sussex, the 30-lap feature at Canyon Speedway Park was his second win of the campaign. Point leader R.J. Johnson, Josh Pelkey, high point driver Chris Bonneau, and “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James followed Stevie to the checkered flags.
Piloting Dennis Gile’s #13S Quarterback Academy Ellis, Stevie Sussex began his night by finishing third in his heat race. Placing fifth out of twenty-two racers in passing points, the Las Vegas Outlaw Showdown winner started on the outside of the front row. With three USAC SouthWest victories, Sussex is now tied for sixth on the win list with Brady Bacon, Dave Darland, and Rick Ziehl.
Phoenix’s R.J. Johnson charged from thirteenth to claim second in the “Salute to Indy” opener. Racing Bill Michael’s #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson ran fifth in his heat race and was seated thirteenth in passing points. R.J. expanded his point lead heading into Sunday’s finale as he has his sights on his fifth win of the season.
Josh Pelkey of Peoria started fifth in the main event and moved to third at the checkered flags. Driving Robbie & Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Pelkey ran second to Chris Bonneau in his heat race and ranked second in passing points. The former ASCA Champion is looking for his first win of the campaign.
Phoenix’s Chris Bonneau scored fourth in the 30-lap main event at Canyon Speedway Park. Piloting his #78 Priced Right Auto Sales XXX machine, Bonneau won his first heat race of the year. In doing so, the veteran driver earned the night’s high point driver honors. Chris has his sights on claiming his first career win with the USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars.
“The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James of Phoenix had one of his best nights of the season with a fifth place run from eleventh. Racing his #7K Woodland Auto Display / Weld Racing Maxim, St. James took fourth in his heat race and placed eleventh in passing points. The veteran driver is looking to celebrate his first series main event win in victory lane.
South Central’s Matt Rossi earned his second “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a sixth place run from twenty-first. Driving the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / IWR Spike, Rossi scored seventh in his 10-lap heat race and ranked twenty-first in passing points. The Western World Champion has his sights on his third career series triumph.
Nick Aiuto of Camp Verde raced to victory in the night’s second 8-lap heat race. Piloting his #27 David Dick Attorney at Law / Ellis Race Cars entry, Aiuto placed third in passing points before scoring twentieth in the main event. The veteran driver is looking to break into the winner’s list with the SouthWest Sprints.
Peoria’s Mike Colegrove took the checkered flag in the evening’s third 8-lap heat race. Racing his #17 Precision Tile / Ellis Race Cars machine, Colegrove ranked fourth in passing points and claimed nineteenth in the Saturday feature. Mike has his sights on adding a USAC winning trophy to his collection.
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 23, 2015 – Peoria, Arizona – Canyon Speedway Park – “Salute to Indy”
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Chris Bonneau (#78 Bonneau), 2. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 3. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 4. Brian Hosford (#32B Weber), 5. Dalten Gabbard (#77 Gabbard), 6. Josh Shipley (#2 Bishop), 7. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 8. Mark Morin (#28 Morin). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Nick Aiuto (#27 Aiuto), 2. Michael Curtis (Turner/Wheeler), 3. Tom Ogle (#48 Ogle), 4. Mike Bonneau (#29 Bonneau), 5. R.J. Johnson (#77M Michaels), 6. Dennis Gile (#13 Gile), 7. Matt Rossi (#02 Rossi). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Mike Colegrove (#17 Colegrove), 2. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood), 3. Stevie Sussex (#13S Gile), 4. Bruce St. James (#7K St. James), 5. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 6. Koty McGullam (#44K McGullam), 7. Ray Bishop (#20AZ Bishop). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Stevie Sussex (2nd), 2. R.J. Johnson (13th), 3. Josh Pelkey (5th), 4. Chris Bonneau (6th), 5. Bruce St. James (11th), 6. Matt Rossi (21st), 7. Charles Davis Jr. (8th), 8. Andy Reinbold (7th), 9. Dalten Gabbard (12th), 10. Michael Curtis (1st), 11. Tom Ogle (9th), 12. Josh Shipley (18th), 13. Mike Martin (19th), 14. Dennis Gile (16th), 15. Mike Bonneau (10th), 16. Koty McGullam (17th), 17. Tye Mihocko (15th), 18. Brian Hosford (14th), 19. Mike Colegrove (3rd), 20. Nick Aiuto (4th), 21. Ray Bishop (20th), 22. Mark Morin (22nd). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1 Curtis, Laps 2-30 Sussex.
HARD CHARGER: Matt Rossi (21st to 6th.)
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