R.J. Johnson Back in ASCS Canyon Victory Lane with Salute to Indy Victory!

R.J. Johnson
R.J. Johnson topped Thursday night's 25-lap ASCS Canyon Region feature to earn the pole position for the wingless portion of the 43rd Annual Western World Championships at Tucson's USA Raceway. (Tim Aylwin photo)

From Lonnie Wheatley

TUCSON, Ariz. (May 29, 2011) – R.J. Johnson found his way back to Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region victory lane by topping the Sunday’s second leg of USA Raceway’s Inaugural Salute to Indy.

After starting sixth, Johnson raced by early leader Bruce St. James and charged on to his second win of the season and first since opening night aboard Bobby Martin’s Pro Flyer-powered Weiler Farms/Pecon Builders No. 51 Maxim.

Johnson collected his tenth career ASCS Canyon score in front of St. James, who posted a career Canyon-best runner-up finish. Current series points leader Jeremy Sherman raced from 11th to claim the show position, with 12th-starter Charles Davis, Jr., and Josh Pelkey rounding out the top five.

Joshua Hodges was sixth, with Andrew Reinbold, Chris Bonneau, Nathan High and Matt Rossi completing the top ten.

Johnson and St. James won Sunday night’s heat races.

Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region Results from USA Raceway:

First Heat (8 Laps): 1. 51-R.J. Johnson, 2. 9-Ryan Linder, 3. 19-Andrew Reinbold, 4. 21-Jeremy Sherman, 5. 12-Josh Pelkey, 6. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 7. 93-Justin Quinn, 8. 22-Jesse Baker, 9. 29-Mike Bonneau, 10. 6-Ronnie Clark.

Second Heat (8 Laps): 1. 7k-Bruce St. James, 2. 62-Nathan High, 3. 2-Matt Rossi, 4. 78-Chris Bonneau, 5. 74x-Joshua Hodges, 6. 16-Mike Martin, 7. 27n-Nick Aiuto, 8. 77-Dalten Gabbard, 9. 32b-Brian Hosford, 10. 44k-Koty McGullam.

“A” Feature (30 Laps): 1. 51-R.J. Johnson, 2. 7k-Bruce St. James, 3. 21-Jeremy Sherman, 4. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 5. 12-Josh Pelkey, 6. 74x-Joshua Hodges, 7. 19-Andrew Reinbold, 8. 78-Chris Bonneau, 9. 62-Nathan High, 10. 2-Matt Rossi, 11. 6-Ronnie Clark, 12. 27n-Nick Aiuto, 13. 77-Dalten Gabbard, 14. 93-Justin Quinn, 15. 44k-Koty McGullam, 16. 22-Jesse Baker, 17. 9-Ryan Linder, 18. 16-Mike Martin, 19. 32b-Brian Hosford. DNS: 29-Mike Bonneau.

Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Jeremy Sherman 1,149, 2. Charles Davis, Jr. 1,039, 3. R.J. Johnson 986, 4. Josh Pelkey 940, 5. Ronnie Clark 918, 6. Andrew Reinbold 911, 7. Matt Rossi 907, 8. Bruce St. James 858, 9. Dalten Gabbard 850, 10. Mike Martin 776.