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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CARS BATTLE AT ARIZONA SPEEDWAY
By Lance Jennings
SEPTEMBER 16, 2015... This Saturday, September 19th, the USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars are back in action at Arizona Speedway. Located in Queen Creek, Arizona’s ET Motopark, the $1750-to-win “GEF Construction & Restorations Night” will also feature the Neils Garage Cabinets Pure Stocks, X-Mods, and Bombers. The Front Gates will open at 5:00pm and Racing at the fast 3/8-mile oval will start at 7:00pm. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
Since April 13, 2013, fifteen USAC SouthWest Sprint Car events have been held at Arizona Speedway. While rain washed out the July 18th show, two-time and defending series champion R.J. Johnson leads all drivers with nine wins. Johnson claimed the April 18th and June 13th races, while “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. earned his fourth Queen Creek triumph on May 16th.
Heading into the event, R.J. Johnson of Laveen, Arizona has a 64-point lead over the competition. Racing Bill Michael’s #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson scored his eighth win of the campaign at Dodge City, Kansas on August 22nd. To date, the second generation driver has six heat race victories, one high-point driver award, two hard charger awards, eighteen top-10 finishes, and 140 feature laps led. This Saturday, R.J. will be looking to continue his championship bid with another win at Arizona Speedway.
Buckeye, Arizona’s “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. ranks second in the chase for the championship. Piloting the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis won the August 19th Freedom Tour race at Lawton, Oklahoma. Heading to Queen Creek, the five-time Arizona Sprint Car 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 on the season. “Chargin” Charles will have his sights on gaining valuable points with a Queen Creek victory.
Matt Rossi of South Central, Arizona sits third in the SouthWest point standings. Driving the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / IWR Spike, Rossi has one feature win, two high-point driver awards, one heat race victory, three hard charger awards, eleven top-10 finishes, and 27 feature laps led on the year. Tied with Brady Bacon, Dave Darland, Stevie Sussex, and Rick Ziehl for eighth on the win list, Matt will be looking to add another trophy to his collection.
Tempe, Arizona’s Stevie Sussex is currently fourth in the point chase. Splitting time between Mike Burkhart’s #21AZ Stratis Construction RSS and Dennis Gile’s #13S Quarterback Academy Ellis, Sussex has three feature wins, three heat race victories, two high point driver awards, three hard charger awards, twelve top-10 finishes, and 98 feature laps led. Like Rossi, Stevie is currently tied for eighth on the series win list and will have his sights on his fourth victory.
Josh Pelkey of Peoria, Arizona is fifth in the championship standings. Piloting Robbie and Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Pelkey has one heat race victory, one high-point driver award, and eleven top-10 finishes in the campaign. The 1997 ASCA Champion ranks fourth on the SouthWest win list with five main events and will be looking to earn the $1,750 payday.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Brian Hosford, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, Andy Reinbold, Nick Aiuto, Dennis Gile, “The Bull” Tye Mihocko, Josh Shipley, Shon Deskins, Chris Bonneau, Michael Curtis, Mike Bonneau, Tom Ogle, and more.
Arizona Speedway is located at 47346 N. Ironwood Road in Queen Creek, just five miles south of Mesa. To get to the track, exit Ironwood Drive on US 60, then head four miles south. Adult Tickets are $15, Senior Tickets are $12, Kids Tickets (11-7) are $5, and Children (6 and under) are FREE. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series thanks Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Tire, 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 CAR CHAMPIONS:
2013-R.J. Johnson, 2014-R.J. Johnson.
QUEEN CREEK USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS:
9-R.J. Johnson, 4-Charles Davis Jr., 1-Mike Martin, 1-Josh Pelkey
2015 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS:
8-R.J. Johnson, 3-Stevie Sussex, 2-Ryan Bernal, 2-Charles Davis Jr., 2-Mike Martin, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Blake Hahn, 1-Matt Rossi.
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. R.J. Johnson-808, 2. Charles Davis Jr.-744, 3. Matt Rossi-707, 4. Stevie Sussex-680, 5. Josh Pelkey-646, 6. Mike Martin-614, 7. Brian Hosford-540, 8. Bruce St. James-490, 9. Mike Colegrove-432, 10. Andy Reinbold-403, 11. Nick Aiuto-397, 12. Dennis Gile-396, 13. Tye Mihocko-379, 14. Josh Shipley-352, 15. Shon Deskins-298, 16. Chris Bonneau-282, 17. Michael Curtis-220, ---. Mike Bonneau-220, 19. Tom Ogle-209, 20. Dalten Gabbard-192.
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.
This schedule is subject to change.
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