by Lance Jennings
PEORIA, AZ – MAY 7, 2013… This Saturday, May 11th, the USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series will return to Queen Creek’s Arizona Speedway for a night of action packed racing. Located within the ET Motopark, the showcase will also feature Supers, Mini Sprints, and Bombers. The Front Gates will open at 5:00pm and Racing at the popular 3/8-mile facility is scheduled to begin at 7:30pm.
After winning the April 27th “Canyon Clash” at Canyon Speedway Park, R.J. Johnson of Phoenix has taken over the points lead. Piloting Bill Michaels’ #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson has three feature wins, three heat race victories, one Sunoco Fuels Passing Masters Dash win, one hard charger award, six top-10 finishes, and 56 main event laps led to his credit. The second generation driver will have his sights on increasing his 13 point advantage with a feature win on Saturday.
Buckeye’s “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. is second in the point standings. Racing the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply entry, Davis scored nineteenth in the “Canyon Clash” after leading twice in the feature. To date, the five-time Arizona Sprint Car Champion has one feature win, two heat race victories, one Sunoco Fuels Passing Masters Dash win, one semi-main win, one hard charger award, seven top-10 finishes, and 36 feature laps led. The veteran driver will be looking to rebound with a victory and tie Damion Gardner, Bryan Clauson, Dave Steele, and A.J. Foyt with 8 USAC wins in Arizona.
Ronnie Clark of Tucson has climbed to third in the championship points. Driving the family owned #6 RCM / Ellis Race Cars machine, Clark finished seventh at Canyon Speedway Park. As this writing goes to press, the hard charger has one heat race victory and four top-10 finishes in the campaign. Last June, Ronnie won at Arizona Speedway and he will have his sights adding this Saturday’s feature to his win list.
Peoria’s Josh Pelkey sits fourth in the USAC Southwest point standings. Piloting Robbie and Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts DRC, Pelkey came home eighth in the “Canyon Clash.” Currently, the 1997 ASCA Champion has one heat race victory and six top-10 finishes to his credit. On Saturday, Josh will be looking to score a breakthrough win at Queen Creek and take home the $1,500 prize.
Bryan Swinehart of Prescott Valley has climbed to fifth in the standings. Racing Tim and Shelly Beal’s #68 Beal’s Auto Body / DNS Performance RSS, Swinehart had his best run of the year on April 27th with a second place run from twelfth. With one heat race victory and two top-10 finishes on the season, Bryan will be looking for his first win of 2013 on Saturday.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Justin Quinn, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Tom Ogle, Shon Deskins, Chris Bonneau, Stevie Sussex, Brian Hosford, Nick Aiuto, Mike Bonneau, Nathan High, “The Bullet” Bob Ream Jr., Bruce St. James, Andy Reinbold, James Aragon, Jody Wirth, and more.
Arizona Speedway is located at 47346 N. Ironwood Road in Queen Creek, just five miles south of Mesa. To get to the track, exit Ironwood Drive on US 60, then head four miles south. Adult Tickets are $15, Senior Tickets are $12, Kids Tickets (7-12) are $5, and Children 6 and under are FREE. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call (480) 926-6688.
The USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series would like to thank Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Tire, Racers Advantage Store, and the Hose Advantage Store for their support. For more information on the group, visit www.southwestsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/
——————————
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1-R.J. Johnson-231; 2-Charles Davis Jr.-218; 3-Ronnie Clark-207; 4-Josh Pelkey-196; 5-Bryan Swinehart-188; 6-Justin Quinn-186; 7-Mike Martin-171; 8-Thomas Ogle-162; 9-Shon Deskins-158; 10-Chris Bonneau-150; 11-Stevie Sussex-149; 12-Brian Hosford-144; 13-Nick Auito-143; 14-Mike Bonneau-128; 15-Nathan High-112; 16-Bob Ream Jr.-110; 17-Bruce St. James-99; 18-Andy Reinbold-97; 19-James Aragon-85; 20-Jody Wirth-68.
2013 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
May 11: Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ
May 25: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Salute To Indy)
May 26: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Salute To Indy)
June 8: Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ
June 22: Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ
June 29: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Summer Sizzle)
July 13: Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ
July 19: **El Paso Speedway Park – El Paso, TX
July 20: **Southern New Mexico Speedway – Las Cruces, NM
July 27: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Summer Slam)
August 21: Mid America Speedway – South Coffeyville, OK (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 22: 81 Speedway – Wichita, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 23: Dodge City Raceway Park – Dodge City, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 24: Dodge City Raceway Park – Dodge City, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
September 7: Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ
September 14: Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ
September 28: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series)
October 12: Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ
October 19: Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ
October 31: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series / Non-Points)
November 14: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 15: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 16: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / $7,500-to-Win)
——————————
* = Co-Sanctioned Event With USAC West Coast Sprints.
** = Co-Sanctioned Event With NMMRA Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.