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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
R.J. JOHNSON WINS USAC SOUTHWEST SHOOTOUT AT DODGE CITY
By Lance Jennings
AUGUST 24, 2015... Racing past “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. on lap eleven, R.J. Johnson of Laveen, Arizona led the rest of the way to claim the Dodge City Raceway Park finale of the “3rd Annual Freedom Tour.” For Johnson, the $2,500 USAC SouthWest Sprint Car triumph was his eighth victory of the campaign as he was followed by Ryan Bernal, Davis, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, and Shon Deskins.
Starting fourth, R.J. Johnson piloted Bill Michael’s #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman to his series high 30th feature win of his career. The point leader began his night by winning the program’s third 8-lap heat race and ranking third in passing points. Heading to Queen Creek on September 19th, Johnson has six heat race victories, one high-point driver award, two hard charger awards, eighteen top-10 finishes, and 140 feature laps led to his credit.
Hollister, California’s Ryan Bernal earned the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a second place run from twelfth. Racing Mike Phulps’ #56 Metal Works / Tri-L Mandarin Ranch ART, Bernal took fourth in his heat race and placed twelfth in the night’s passing points. To date, the 2-time USAC Western Classic Champion has two feature wins, two high-point driver awards, four heat race victories, two hard charger awards, six top-10 finishes, and 31 feature laps led on the year.
After leading the first 10-laps, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. of Buckeye, Arizona ran third in the “Freedom Tour” finale. Driving the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis was second to R.J. Johnson and ranked sixth in passing points. Returning home to the “Copper State,” the five-time state champion has two feature wins, two high-point driver awards, six heat race victories, one semi-main win, one hard charger award, eighteen top-10 finishes, and 65 feature laps led.
Yuma, Arizona’s “The Magic Man” Mike Martin scored fourth in the Dodge City, Kansas feature. Piloting his #16 Sherwin-Williams / Desert Building Supplies Maxim, Martin won his series leading ninth heat race of the year. After placing second in passing points, “The Magic Man” has two feature wins, two high-point driver awards, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 83 feature laps led in the campaign.
Shon Deskins of Waddell, Arizona closed out the “Freedom Tour” with a fifth place run at Dodge City. Racing his #20 Mesilla Valley Transportation / Bell Racing Spike, Deskins finished second to Mike Martin in his heat race and ranked fourth in passing points. Currently, the veteran driver has one hard charger award, eight top-10 finishes, and 4 feature laps led to his credit.
Tempe, Arizona’s Stevie Sussex won the night’s first 8-lap heat race and the program’s high point driver. Driving Mike Burkhart’s #21AZ Stratis Construction / Westin Homes RSS, Sussex placed sixteenth in the main event. The young driver returns home with three feature wins, two high-point driver awards, three heat race victories, three hard charger awards, 12 top-10 finishes, and 98 feature laps led.
In the second heat, Patrick Stasa of Kingman, Kansas flipped his machine and was transported to a local hospital. Everyone with the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series wishes Patrick a quick and speedy recovery.
NOTE: Earlier 2015 USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Schedules listed races at Prescott Valley on August 28th and 29th for the Rick Stewart Memorial. The racetrack has closed and those events have been cancelled.
On Saturday, September 19th, the USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars will invade Queen Creek’s Arizona Speedway. Located at the ET Motopark, the event will also showcase Pure Stocks, X-Mods, and Bomber Stocks. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or calling 480.926.6688.
The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series thanks Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Tire, the 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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USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT (Special Event) RACE RESULTS:
August 22, 2015 – Dodge City, Kansas – Dodge City Raceway Park – “Freedom Tour”
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Stevie Sussex (#21AZ Burkhart), 2. Shannon McQueen (#7 Decker), 3. Mike Bonneau (#29 Bonneau), 4. Dennis Gile (#13 Gile), 5. Harli White (#17W White), 6. Koby Barksdale (#22 Barksdale), 7. Jeremy Huish (#88J Huish). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 2. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins), 3. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 4. Chris Bonneau (#78 Bonneau), 5. Ray Seemann (#E85 Seemann), 6. Patrick Stasa (#19 Stasa). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps)
1. R.J. Johnson (#77M Michael), 2. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 3. Josh Hodges (#74X Hodges), 4. Ryan Bernal (#56 Phulps), 5. Gavin Stout (#15 Stout), 6. Layne Himebaugh (#24 Himebaugh). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. R.J. Johnson (4th), 2. Ryan Bernal (12th), 3. Charles Davis Jr. (1st), 4. Mike Martin (5th), 5. Shon Deskins (3rd), 6. Josh Hodges (7th), 7. Shannon McQueen (2nd), 8. Chris Bonneau (8th), 9. Harli White (13th), 10. Layne Himebaugh (17th), 11. Ray Seemann (14th), 12, Tye Mihocko (10th), 13. Gavin Stout (15th), 14. Koby Barksdale (16th), 15. Dennis Gile (11th), 16. Stevie Sussex (6th), 17. Mike Bonneau (9th), 18. Jeremy Huish (18th).
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**Stasa flipped during the second heat. M.Bonneau & Huish flipped during the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-10 Davis, Laps 11-30 Johnson.
HARD CHARGER: Ryan Bernal (12th to 2nd)
2015 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK – LOCATION
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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