By Lonnie Wheatley
PEORIA, Ariz. (March 27, 2010) – Defending American Sprint Car Series Canyon Region champion Charles Davis, Jr., captured his first series win of the season by racing to victory lane in Saturday night’s series debut at Canyon Speedway Park.
Following a rare finish outside the top five in the season opener two weeks prior, “Chargin’” Charles raced from fifth aboard the Roush Yates-powered Massey Motorsports No. 50 DRC to win Saturday night’s 30-lapper atop the 3/8-mile Peoria clay oval.
Davis took advantage of R.J. Johnson’s misfortune to secure his 15th career ASCS Canyon Region triumph. Johnson, who led the season-opener until the final circuit, raced from the eighth starting position on Saturday night into the lead only to be forced pitside on the 13th round with a flat tire.
Davis assumed the point and went on to secure the win in front of 13th-starter Josh Pelkey, who rallied from the tail after going tailback following an early caution flag.
Fourth-row starter Andrew Reinbold claimed the show position, while two-time series champ Jeremy Sherman bounced back from heat race issues to charge from 18th to fourth in the main event.
Mike Martin climbed from 14th to round out the top five, with 19th-starter Brian Hosford, front row starter Jeff Slinkard, Bernie Smith, Seainn Hendricsen and Josh Castro completing the top ten.
Chris Bonneau, Thomas Ogle and R.J. Johnson topped heat race action for Saturday night’s 27-car field, with Bernie Smith winning the 12-lap “B” Main.
ASCS Canyon Region Results from Canyon Speedway Park:
First Heat (10 Laps): 1. 78-Chris Bonneau, 2. 6-Ronnie Clark, 3. 75-Rickey Hood, 4. 11-Seainn Hendricsen, 5. 19-Andrew Reinbold, 6. 8m-Don Grable, 7. 93-Justin Quinn, 8. 5x-Jody Wirth, 9. 7T-Steve Tellas.
Second Heat (10 Laps): 1. 48T-Thomas Ogle, 2. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 3. 0-Darrin Bolton, 4. 77-Dalten Gabbard, 5. 23-Josh Castro, 6. 3h-Harris Brooks, 7. 62-Stevie Sussex, 8. 2g-Terry Goodwin, 9. 3-Jeremy Sherman.
Third Heat (10 Laps): 1. 77m-R.J. Johnson, 2. 61-Jeff Slinkard, 3. 9-Brandon Lane, 4. 12-Josh Pelkey, 5. 16-Mike Martin, 6. 97-Bernie Smith, 7. 32b-Brian Hosford, 8. 11g-Garrett Guilkey, 9. 27h-Jeremy Huebner.
“B” Feature (12 Laps): 1. 97-Bernie Smith, 2. 3-Jeremy Sherman, 3. 32b-Brian Hosford, 4. 5x-Jody Wirth, 5. 7T-Steve Tellas, 6. 2g-Terry Goodwin, 7. 11g-Garrett Guilkey, 8. 27h-Jeremy Huebner, 9. 3h-Harris Brooks, 10. 8m-Don Grable. DNS: 62-Stevie Sussex.
“A” Feature (30 Laps): 1. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 2. 12-Josh Pelkey, 3. 19-Andrew Reinbold, 4. 3-Jeremy Sherman, 5. 16-Mike Martin, 6. 32b-Brian Hosford, 7. 61-Jeff Slinkard, 8. 97-Bernie Smith, 9. 11-Seainn Hendricsen, 10. 23-Josh Castro, 11. 48T-Thomas Ogle, 12. 6-Ronnie Clark, 13. 93-Justin Quinn, 14. 5x-Jody Wirth, 15. 75-Rickey Hood, 16. 77-Dalten Gabbard, 17. 77m-R.J. Johnson, 18. 78-Chris Bonneau, 19. 9-Brandon Lane, 20. 0-Darrin Bolton.
ASCS Canyon Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Charles Davis, Jr. 272, 2. Josh Pelkey 267, 3. Jeremy Sherman 265, 4. Andrew Reinbold 245, 5. Mike Martin 241, 6. R.J. Johnson 238, 7. Brian Hosford 230, 8. Thomas Ogle 227, 9. (tie) Seainn Hendricsen and Ronnie Clark 219.