Lonnie Wheatley
PEORIA, Ariz. (November 5, 2012) – Finishing off the season in strong form, just two more big weekends of racing action remain at the 1/3-mile Canyon Speedway Park near Phoenix.
On tap for this weekend is the Western Classic on Friday and Saturday featuring the USAC Mopar National Midget series along with the West Coast Late Models. Both nights of racing get under way at 7:00 p.m. following an open practice session on Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
All that remains following this weekend’s Western Classic is next weekend’s 45th Annual FVP Western World Championships presented by Sands Chevrolet featuring the winged Lucas Oil ASCS National Sprint Car series and the wingless Sprint Cars of the Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region. The Western World unfolds over the course of three nights on November 15-17.
This weekend’s Western Classic marks the first USAC National Midget event in Arizona since Brad Sweet scored a win a Tucson early in the 2010 season.
With only the Turkey Night Grand Prix remaining after this weekend’s Midget double at CSP, Riverside, CA, native Darren Hagen leads the way into the weekend with a 184-point lead over Tracy Hines. Closing in on his first USAC National Championship, Hagen has parked the RFMS Liberty Village/McGladrey & Pullen entry in victory lane four times this season along with capturing the Indiana Midget Week championship.
Hines, ranked fourth in the all-time USAC National feature win list at 83 overall, has claimed three Midget wins this season. Bryan Clauson, who claimed the USAC National Sprint Car championship this past weekend, enters the weekend 44 points behind Hines in third with Caleb Armstrong and Kyle Larson rounding out the top five. The balance of the top ten in points includes Brad Kuhn, Bobby East, Rico Abreu, Chris Windom and Jerry Coons, Jr.
This weekend also marks the final 2012 weekend of competition for the West Coast Late Models. Clay Daly enters the weekend just three points ahead of Jason Papich, with Rob Sanders, Tony Toste and Nick Bartels rounding out the current top five. R.C. Whitwell topped the series most recent event at Cocopah on October 6.
Two-day passes are available for this weekend’s Desert Classic at $40 for adults (or $20 on Friday and $25 on Saturday) and $20 for children ages 7-12 (or $10 on Friday and $15 on Saturday). Children six and under are free.
VIP Suites are available for $60 for two days (or $30 on Friday and $35 on Saturday), with All Access passes at $70 for two days (or $35 on Friday and $40 on Saturday).
Detailed ticket and pricing information is available at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/tickets/the-western-classic/.
To keep up on all the latest news and happenings, sign up for Canyon Speedway E-News. The track update registration can be found at the top of the www.canyonspeedwaypark.com home page.
The entire 2012 Canyon Schedule can be previewed online at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/schedule/.
Hotel Information can be found at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/fan-info/lodging/ or by calling the Hampton Inn & Suites at 623-516-9300.
Canyon Speedway Park is located in north Peoria, AZ, off Lake Pleasant Parkway, then 1.3 miles west on Carefree Highway. For more information, contact the track at 602-258-RACE(7223) or check online at www.canyonspeedwaypark.com.