Lonnie Wheatley
PEORIA, Ariz. (January 22, 2013) – Race fans and competitors can get an early jump on the outdoor racing season as Canyon Speedway Park’s Winter Challenge fires off this Friday atop the 1/3-mile clay oval near Phoenix.
Friday’s card marks the first of six events over the course of nine days featuring the USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast non-wing Sprint Cars along with IMCA Modifieds.
There will be plenty to keep everyone occupied on the off days as well, with fans and competitors alike invited to participate in outings to a Phoenix Coyotes hockey game, bowling and go kart racing.
On track action at CSP gets under way this weekend with three consecutive nights of action on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Friday and Saturday cards both offer up $2,000-to-win Sprint Car feature events with Sunday’s main event a $3,000-to-win affair.
After a pair of idle days, action resumes with another $2,000-to-win card on Wednesday, January 30, before concluding on Friday and Saturday, February 1-2. There will be another $2,000-to-win up for grabs on Friday, February 1, with the February 2 Winter Challenge finale offering up a lucrative $5,000 winner’s share.
With six days of racing action over nine days, next week’s ‘idle’ deals will in all reality be anything but idle.
Following this weekend’s initial three rounds of Winter Challenge action, there will be a group outing on Monday, January 28, to the Phoenix Coyotes NHL hockey game versus the Nashville Predators at Glendale’s Jobing.com Arena. Tickets are $55 per person and must RSVP to track promoter Kevin Montgomery by Wednesday, January 23, to secure tickets.
Tuesday night will be a Winter Challenge Bowling Tournament at Brunswick Lanes at 17210 North 59th Avenue in Glendale. There will be teams of five at $10 per person. Space is limited so RSVP as soon as possible.
Then, after Winter Challenge Round Four next Wednesday, action shifts to Octane Raceway at 17 South 48th Street in Phoenix on Thursday, January 31, for some go kart racing from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The cost is $15 per race for the first two races and $10 for the third.
All activities are open to everyone.
A stellar cast of contenders is expected for the six-race series including defending Winter Challenge champion Tracy Hines, reigning USAC National champion Bryan Clauson, defending Arizona champion Charles Davis, Jr., and USAC Southwest titlist Bud Kaeding among others.
Hines topped three of six legs of last year’s Winter Challenge, with Charles Davis, Jr., bagging a pair of wins and Jon Stanbrough scoring once.
The 2013 Winter Challenge Schedule of Events is as follows:
Thursday, January 24 – Open Practice 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday, January 25 – Round 1 (Gates open at 5:00 p.m., Racing at 7:00 p.m.)
Saturday, January 26 – Round 2 (Gates open at 3:00 p.m., Racing at 5:00 p.m.)
Sunday, January 27 – Round 3 (Gates open at 3:00 p.m., Racing at 5:00 p.m.)
Monday, January 28 – Coyotes vs. Predators NHL game at Jobing.com Arena
Tuesday, January 29 – Winter Challenge Bowling Tournament at Brunswick Lanes
Wednesday, January 30 – Round 4 (Gates open at 5:00 p.m., Racing at 7:00 p.m.)
Thursday, January 31 – Octane Raceway Go-Karts
Friday, February 1 – Round 5 (Gates open at 5:00 p.m., Racing at 7:00 p.m.)
Saturday, February 2 – Round 6 (Gates open at 3:00 p.m., Racing at 5:00 p.m.)
Six-day discounted tickets may be purchased in advance and ticket pricing and purchasing information is available at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.
Complete payout and race information is available at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.
Hotel Information can be found at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.
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 2013 Canyon Schedule can be previewed online at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.
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.