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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
MATT ROSSI SCORES CANYON FATHER’S DAY CLASSIC VICTORY
By Lance Jennings
JUNE 23, 2015... Inheriting the lead on lap 26, Matt Rossi of South Central, Arizona held off all challengers to win the “5th Annual Father’s Day Classic” at Canyon Speedway Park. For Rossi, Saturday’s $1,500 USAC SouthWest Sprint Car triumph was his first win of the season. “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., Stevie Sussex, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin”, and “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James chased Rossi to the finish line.
Looking for his first series win, pole sitter Mike Colegrove grabbed the early lead and set a torrid pace around the speedway. With the main event well in control, disaster struck on the 25th circuit. The leader flipped his machine out of the track and officials and safety crew rushed to his aid. Taking precautions, Mike was extracted from his car and transported to a local hospital. As this writing goes to press, Colegrove is back home and is starting the healing process from his injuries. Everyone with the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series wishes Mike a complete and speedy recovery.
Staring sixth, Matt Rossi had sliced his way to second before the Colegrove crash. Once out front, the defending Western World Champion was not to be denied and sailed to the checkered flags. Piloting the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / IWR Spike, Rossi had claimed his third career USAC SouthWest victory and earned the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors. After finishing second to Mike Martin in his heat race, Matt also scored the night’s high point driver award. Heading to Saturday’s race at Tucson, Rossi has climbed to third in points with three hard charger awards, eight top-10 finishes, and 22 feature laps led.
Buckeye, Arizona’s “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. claimed second in the “Father’s Day Classic.” Racing the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis ran third in his heat race and ranked fifth in passing points. The five-time Arizona Champion left Canyon placed second in the standings with one feature win, two high point driver awards, three heat race victories, twelve top-10 finishes, and 36 feature laps led on the year.
Stevie Sussex of Tempe, Arizona came home third in the 30-lap main event. Driving Dennis Gile’s #13S Quarterback Academy Ellis, Sussex ran second to Bruce St. James in his heat race and placed fourth in passing points. Heading to USA Raceway, Stevie is fifth in the point chase with two feature wins, three hard charger awards, ten top-10 finishes, and 72 feature laps led in the campaign.
Yuma, Arizona’s “The Magic Man” Mike Martin scored fourth at Canyon Speedway Park. Piloting his #16 Sherwin-Williams / Ultimate Offroad Maxim, Martin won the night’s second 8-lap heat race and ranked third in passing points. The former Hall of Fame Classic Champion is currently seventh in the standings with two high point driver awards, six heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and 4 feature laps led on the season.
“The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James had a solid night at Canyon with his fifth place finish. Racing his #7K Woodland Auto Display / Weld Racing Maxim, St. James earned his second heat race win of the season and placed second in passing points. To date, the veteran driver sits ninth in points with three top-10 finishes to his credit.
This Saturday, June 27th, the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series will travel to USA Raceway in Tucson, Arizona. After rain washed away two January races, “The Hot Summer Nights” honoring America’s Military will be the series debut at the fast 3/8-mile oval. The action packed card will also showcase IMCA Modifieds, SCRA Stock Cars, XMods, and Dwarf Cars. In addition, the speedway will host an Open Practice on Friday night. Advance tickets are on sale and for more information, visit www.raceusaraceway.com or call 520.664.2074.
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:
June 20, 2015 – Peoria, Arizona – Canyon Speedway Park – “Father’s Day Classic”
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Bruce St. James (#7K St. James), 2. Stevie Sussex (#13S Gile), 3. Mike Colegrove (#17 Colegrove), 4. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 5. R.J. Johnson (#77M Michaels), 6. Dennis Gile (#13 Gile), 7. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 2. Matt Rossi (#02 Rossi), 3. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 4. Brian Hosford (#22B Weber), 5. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 6. Nick Aiuto (#27 Aiuto), 7. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Matt Rossi (6th), 2. Charles Davis Jr. (2nd), 3. Stevie Sussex (3rd), 4. Mike Martin (4th), 5. Bruce St. James (5th), 6. Josh Pelkey (9th), 7. Nick Aiuto (12th), 8. R.J. Johnson (8th), 9. Dennis Gile (11th), 10. Andy Reinbold (14th), 11. Brian Hosford (10th), 12. Michael Curtis (13th), 13. Mike Colegrove (1st), 14. Tye Mihocko (7th). NT
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**Colegrove flipped during the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-25 Colegrove, Laps 26-30 Rossi.
HARD CHARGER: Matt Rossi (6th to 1st.)
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. R.J. Johnson-629, 2. Charles Davis Jr.-562, 3. Matt Rossi-543, 4. Josh Pelkey-533, 5. Stevie Sussex-530, 6. Mike Colegrove-432, 7. Mike Martin-424, 8. Brian Hosford-381, 9. Bruce St. James-369, 10. Andy Reinbold-319, 11. Dennis Gile-283, 12. Tye Mihocko-270, 13. Nick Aiuto-263, 14. Shon Deskins-256, 15. Josh Shipley-249, 16. Chris Bonneau-231, 17. Michael Curtis-220, 18. Dalten Gabbard-165, 19. Mike Bonneau-152, 20. Tom Ogle-142.
2015 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
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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