By Lance Jennings
PEORIA, AZ – MARCH 30, 2014… Taking command on lap three after Mike Bonneau crashed, Peoria’s Josh Pelkey led the rest of the way to claim Saturday’s “Season Opener” at Canyon Speedway Park. The $1,500 USAC SouthWest Sprint Car victory marked the second career series triumph for the 1997 Arizona Champion. Defending champion R.J. Johnson, Shon Deskins, Tom Ogle, and Andy Reinbold followed Pelkey to the checkered flags in front of the packed house.
Driving Robbie & Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Josh Pelkey sailed to victory in front of his hometown fans after starting fourth. The veteran driver placed second in his heat race and entered the main event third in passing points. With the feature win, Josh holds a three point advantage heading to Arizona Speedway’s “Spring Fling” on April 12th.
R.J. Johnson of Phoenix took second in the “CSP Season Opener” after starting seventh. Racing Bill Michaels’ #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson claimed fourth in his 8-lap heat race and ranked seventh in passing points. As this writing goes to press, the second generation driver is currently third in the point standings.
Phoenix’s Shon Deskins ran third in the 30-lap feature after starting sixth. Piloting his #20 MP Environmental / Spike Chassis entry, Deskins raced to victory in the program’s second heat race and was the high point driver entering the main event. Shon ranks second in the championship points heading to Arizona Speedway.
Tom Ogle of Surprise had a strong performance at Canyon by racing to fourth from the eleventh starting spot. Driving his #48 RSS Industries / JT Engineering machine, Ogle placed third in this heat race and started the main event eleventh in passing points. Currently fourth in the series standings, Tom will be looking for a breakthrough victory at the April 12th “Spring Fling.”
Gilbert’s Andy Reinbold placed fifth at the checkered flags after starting ninth. Racing Todd Underwood’s #19 AME Electrical / Ross Equipment Rentals RSS, Reinbold scored third in his heat race and ranked ninth in passing points. Noted as one of the tallest drivers on the circuit, Andy left Canyon fifth in the SouthWest point standings.
“The Magic Man” Mike Martin of Yuma earned the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a sixth place finish after starting fifteenth. Piloting his #16 PPG Professional Paints / Desert Building Supply Maxim, Martin scored sixth in his heat race after an early exit and ranked seventeenth in passing points. “The Magic Man” sliced his way forward in the feature to salvage his night and is now seventh in the standings.
Buckeye’s “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. claimed victory in the night’s first 8-lap heat race. Driving the Massey Motorsports owned #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis entered the feature ranked fourth in passing points but left the main event after the first lap, scoring eighteenth. Tied for fifteenth in series points, the five-time Arizona champion will be looking to rebound at Queen Creek.
“The Bull” Tye Mihocko of Peoria won the program’s third 8-lap heat race. Racing the family owned #5 RSS Industries / Old World Brewery machine, Mihocko was second in passing points entering the main event. The young driver claimed ninth in the season opener and is currently seventh in the USAC SouthWest points.
The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series will be back in action on Saturday, April 12th at Queen Creek’s Arizona Speedway for the “Spring Fling.” The action packed card will also feature X-Mods, Mod Lites, and Bombers. 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/
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USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT RACE RESULTS:
March 29, 2014 – Peoria, Arizona – Canyon Speedway Park – “CSP Season Opener”
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 2. Mike Bonneau (#29 Bonneau), 3. Michael Woodruff (#83 Woodruff), 4. Brian Hosford (#32B Weber), 5. Lonnie Oliver (#7T Oliver), 6. Bruce St. James (#7K St. James), 7. Mike Morin (#28 Morin). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins), 2. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler), 3. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood), 4. R.J. Johnson (#77M Michaels), 5. Nick Aiuto (#27N Aiuto), 6. Tom Lee (#53 Lee), 7. Mike Colegrove (#17M Colegrove). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 2. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 3. Tom Ogle (#48 Ogle), 4. Matt Rossi (#02 Rossi), 5. Josh Shipley (#2 Bishop), 6. Mike Martin (#16 Martin). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. Josh Pelkey (4th), 2. R.J. Johnson (7th), 3. Shon Deskins (6th), 4. Tom Ogle (11th), 5. Andy Reinbold (9th), 6. Mike Martin (15th), 7. Lonnie Oliver (12th), 8. Michael Curtis (1st), 9. Tye Mihocko (5th), 10. Nick Aiuto (14th), 11. Tom Lee (16th), 12. Josh Shipley (13th), 13. Michael Woodruff (8th), 14. Bruce St. James (18th), 15. Brian Hosford (10th), 16. Mike Bonneau (2nd), 17. Mike Morin (17th), 18. Charles Davis Jr. (3rd) NT
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**Mike Martin flipped during the third heat.
**Mike Bonneau and Bruce St. James flipped during the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1-2 Mike Bonneau, Laps 3-30 Josh Pelkey.
HARD CHARGER: Mike Martin (15th to 6th)
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT POINT STANDINGS:
1. Josh Pelkey-71, 2. Shon Deskins-68, 3. R.J. Johnson-62, 4. Tom Ogle-57, 5. Andy Reinbold-54, 6. Tye Mihocko-49, 7. Mike Martin-48, 8. Michael Curtis-47, 9. Lonnie Oliver-46, 10. Nick Aiuto-37, 11. Tom Lee-34, 12. Josh Shipley-33, –. Michael Woodruff-33, 14. Mike Bonneau-30, 15. Bruce St. James-28, –. Brian Hosford-28, –. Charles Davis Jr.-28, 18. Mike Morin-21, 19. Matt Rossi-5, 20. Mike Colegrove-2