By Lance Jennings
PEORIA, AZ – MAY 7, 2014… This Saturday, May 10th, the cars and stars of the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series will invade Queen Creek’s Arizona Speedway. Located within ET Motopark, the “Mother’s Day Race” will also feature the AMA Mod Lites, Pure Stocks, and the Robert Horne Ford Bombers. The Front Gates will open at 5:15pm and Racing is scheduled for 7:30pm.
Saturday’s event is the second appearance of the year for the non-wing sprints at Queen Creek. On April 12th, defending champion R.J. Johnson earned his first win of the campaign at the “Spring Fling.” In seven races at Arizona Speedway, Johnson leads all drivers with four victories and “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. has two triumphs. “The Magic Man” Mike Martin won the series debut at the 1/3-mile oval on April 13, 2013.
After scoring third last Saturday at Prescott Valley, Josh Pelkey of Peoria has reclaimed the point lead. Driving Robbie and Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Pelkey holds a six point advantage with one feature win, one heat race victory, two hard charger awards, ten top-10 finishes, and 45 feature laps led. The former ASCA Champion will have his sights on his third career USAC SouthWest feature win at Arizona Speedway.
Phoenix’s Shon Deskins has climbed to second in championship points. Last Saturday, the veteran driver earned his first series win at Prescott Valley behind the wheel of his #20 Performance Plus / Spike Chassis entry. Entering the fifth point race, Deskins has two heat race victories and seven top-10 finishes on the season. Shon will be looking to continue his winning ways this Saturday at Queen Creek.
“Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. of Buckeye sits third in the USAC SouthWest point chase. Piloting the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / MP Environmental RSS, Davis raced to second in last Saturday’s feature after starting sixth. Currently, the five-time state champion has one feature win, five heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and 11 feature laps led in 2014. “Chargin” Charles will be looking to continue his championship bid with his eighth series win.
Phoenix’s R.J. Johnson is currently fourth in the point standings. Driving Bill Michaels’ #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson had a tough night at Prescott Valley and scored twentieth in the main event. To date, R.J. has one feature win, one heat race victory, one hard charger award, eight top-10 finishes, and 44 feature laps led on the year. The defending series champion will be looking to rebound with his thirteenth series victory this Saturday night.
Matt Rossi of Phoenix has climbed to fifth in the point chase. Racing the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / Advanced Engine Components Spike, Rossi placed seventh in last Saturday’s main event. Heading to Queen Creek, the hard charging driver has one heat race victory and three top-10 finishes in the campaign. Matt will have his sights on making the “Mother’s Day Race” his second USAC SouthWest triumph.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Josh Shipley, “The Kid” Tye Mihocko, Nick Aiuto, Mike Colegrove, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Andy Reinbold, Mike Bonneau, Michael Curtis, Brian Hosford, Chris Bonneau, Stevie Sussex, Tom Lee, Mark Morin, Tom Ogle, and more.
Arizona Speedway is located within ET Motopark at 47346 N. Ironwood Road in Queen Creek, Arizona. 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/
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USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Josh Pelkey-245, 2. Shon Deskins-239, 3. Charles Davis Jr.-237, 4. R.J. Johnson-212, 5. Matt Rossi-188, 6. Josh Shipley-175, 7. Tye Mihocko-162, 8. Nick Aiuto-159, 9. Mike Colegrove-151, 10. Bruce St. James-148, –. Mike Martin-148, 12. Andy Reinbold-145, 13. Mike Bonneau-136, 14. Michael Curtis-129, 15. Brian Hosford-126, 16. Chris Bonneau-108, 17. Stevie Sussex-98, 18. Tom Lee-79, 19. Mark Morin-75, 20. Tom Ogle-74.