From Lonnie Wheatley
AZTEC, N.M. (July 3, 2010) – Phoenix shoe R.J. Johnson turned the tables on reigning series champion Charles Davis, Jr., by racing to victory lane in Saturday night’s 30-lap American Sprint Car Series Canyon Region main event at Aztec Speedway.
After chasing Davis, Jr., to the stripe on Friday night, Johnson took the top spot on Saturday night for the second time this year in the Mountain Valley Performance Ford-powered Michael Brothers No. 77m Sherman-chassis.
Johnson’s fourth career ASCS Canyon Region triumph came in dramatic style as well, as he charged past both Davis, Jr., and Johnny Herrera on the white flag lap to snare the win from the eleventh starting position.
Davis settled for runner-up honors with early leader Herrera taking the show position. Mike Martin was fourth, while Rick Ziehl climbed from 15th to round out the top five.
Pole starter Jason Grady crossed the stripe sixth, with fellow front row starter Bruce St. James, Ronnie Clark, Andrew Reinbold and 18th-starter Bob Ream, Jr., completing the top ten.
Jeremy Sherman, Martin and Josh Pelkey topped Saturday night’s heat races.
ASCS Canyon Region Results from Aztec Speedway:
First Heat (8 Laps): 1. 21-Jeremy Sherman, 2. 45x-Johnny Herrera, 3. 15-Bud Goodwin, 4. 6-Ronnie Clark, 5. 75-Rickey Hood, 6. 78-Bob Ream, Jr., 7. 77-Dalten Gabbard, 8. 7b-Steve Tellas.
Second Heat (8 Laps): 1. 16-Mike Martin, 2. 45-Jason Grady, 3. 24-Jordan Mattson, 4. 77m-R.J. Johnson, 5. 32b-Brian Hosford, 6. 9-Chuck Jackson, 7. 12x-Josh Grady.
Third Heat (8 Laps): 1. 12-Josh Pelkey, 2. 7k-Bruce St. James, 3. 19-Andrew Reinbold, 4. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 5. 20z-Rick Ziehl, 6. 73-Nick Rael. DNS: 93-Justin Quinn.
“A” Feature (30 Laps): 1. 77m-R.J. Johnson, 2. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 3. 45x-Johnny Herrera, 4. 16-Mike Martin, 5. 20z-Rick Ziehl, 6. 45-Jason Grady, 7. 7k-Bruce St. James, 8. 6-Ronnie Clark, 9. 19-Andrew Reinbold, 10. 78-Bob Ream, Jr., 11. 12x-Josh Grady, 12. 75-Rickey Hood, 13. 77-Dalten Gabbard, 14. 21-Jeremy Sherman, 15. 32b-Brian Hosford, 16. 73-Nick Rael, 17. 12-Josh Pelkey, 18. 15-Bud Goodwin, 19. 24-Jordan Mattson, 20. 9-Chuck Jackson, 21. 7b-Steve Tellas. DNS: 93-Justin Quinn.
ASCS Canyon Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Charles Davis, Jr. 1,263, 2. Mike Martin 1,117, 3. R.J. Johnson 1,114, 4. Jeremy Sherman 1,102, 5. Josh Pelkey 1,078, 6. Andrew Reinbold 1,062, 7. Ronnie Clark 983, 8. Brian Hosford 871, 9. Dalten Gabbard 855, 10. Stevie Sussex 826.