From Dick Jordan
Indianapolis, IN — (December 17, 2012) — A 34-race slate of events has been announced for the 2013 USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series which will visit a half-dozen dirt ovals in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
The series debuts with a six-race “Winter Challenge” at Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Ariz. in January and February and closes in mid-November with the 46th “Western World Championships” at the same track.
In between, races will be held at the Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway Dirt Track, Central Arizona Raceway in Casa Grande, Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, El Paso Speedway Park in Texas and Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces.
The 34-race schedule also contains a four-night August swing with venues yet to be announced.
USAC Sprint racing in the Southwest has a rich tradition, dating all the way back to Don Branson’s 1964 victory at the now-defunct Arizona State Fairgrounds one-mile oval in Phoenix. In the ensuing half-century, numerous events have been held in the area, including the 2003 and 2004 Southwest Sprint Car Series which crowned driver champions Rick Ziehl and Beau Binder respectively.
While USAC Sprint cars have previously competed at Peoria, Las Vegas and Las Cruces, the 2013 races at Casa Grande, Queen Creek and El Paso will be the first at those venues for USAC Sprints.
Defending Arizona Sprint Car Champion Charles Davis Jr. has been a frequent USAC participant and won a USAC feature last September at Peoria.
The announcement of the 2013 Southwest Sprint Series completes a triple-header of Western racing for race fans, coupled with the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Cars and the West Coast Sprint Cars. Mike Spencer (USAC/CRA) and Bud Kaeding (West Coast) captured 2012 titles in the other two disciplines.
The 2013 Winter Challenge will feature top traditional Sprint Car drivers from around the country as the USAC Southwest Sprint Cars face off with the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series in the valley of the sun for what is anticipated to be one of the largest racing events of 2013. More than $100,000 in “A” Feature money alone will be distributed over the course of the blockbuster event that kicks off with the $2,000 to win Winter Challenge opener and will conclude with the $5,000 to win finale on February 2nd.
2013 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES
January 25 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park
January 26 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park
January 27 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park
January 30 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park
February 1 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park
February 2 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park
March 7 Las Vegas, NV/The Dirt Track @ LVMS
March 16 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park
March 23 Casa Grande, AZ/Central Arizona Raceway
April 13 Queen Creek, AZ/Arizona Speedway
April 27 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park
May 11 Queen Creek, AZ/Arizona Speedway
May 25 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park
May 26 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park
June 8 Queen Creek, AZ/Arizona Speedway
June 22 Casa Grande, AZ/Central Arizona Raceway
June 29 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park
July 13 Queen Creek, AZ/Arizona Speedway
July 19 El Paso, TX/El Paso Speedway Park
July 20 Las Cruces, NM/Southern New Mexico Speedway
July 27 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park
August 21 Tour Dates TBA
August 22 Tour Dates TBA
August 23 Tour Dates TBA
August 24 Tour Dates TBA
September 7 Queen Creek, AZ/Arizona Speedway
September 14 Casa Grande, AZ/Central Arizona Raceway
September 28 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park
October 12 Casa Grande, AZ/Central Arizona Raceway
October 19 Queen Creek, AZ/Arizona Speedway
October 31 Grudge Series Finale TBA
November 14 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park
November 15 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park
November 16 Peoria, AZ/Canyon Speedway Park