From Lonnie Wheatley
Peoria, AZ — (January 20, 2014) — It’s the perfect way to get a jump start on the 2014 outdoor racing season as Canyon Speedway Park’s Winter Challenge fires off this Friday atop the 1/3-mile clay oval near Phoenix.
Following an open practice session on Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., 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.
On-track action at CSP gets under way this weekend with three consecutive nights of competition 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 three idle days, one of which includes the Winter Challenge 2014 Bowling Tournament on Tuesday night at Brunswick Lanes, racing action resumes with three more nights of competition on Thursday through Saturday, January 30-31 and February 1.
The January 30 and January 31 cards offer up $2,000 to win in the USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast Sprint Car ranks with the February 1 Winter Finale offering up a lucrative $5,000 winner’s share.
With the 1/3-mile clay oval now surrounded by an outer wall, a stout cast of contenders is expected for the six-race series including the likes of invaders Dave Darland, Brady Bacon, Nic Faas, Ryan Bernal, Colby Copeland and Josh Hodges.
The strong local contingent is led into the event by defending USAC Southwest Sprint Car champion and reigning Non-Wing 360 Sprint Car driver of the year R.J Johnson along with the likes of Charles Davis, Jr., Josh Pelkey and Mike Martin among others.
Bryan Clauson topped three of four Winter Challenge events last year with R.J. Johnson victorious in the other round that wasn’t impacted by weather. Tracy Hines topped three of six legs of the 2012 Winter Challenge, with Charles Davis, Jr., bagging a pair of wins and Jon Stanbrough scoring once.
The 2014 Winter Challenge Schedule of Events is as follows:
Thursday, January 23 – Open Practice 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday, January 24 – Round 1 (Gates open at 5:00 p.m., Racing at 7:00 p.m.)
Saturday, January 25 – Round 2 (Gates open at 3:00 p.m., Racing at 5:00 p.m.)
Sunday, January 26 – Round 3 (Gates open at 3:00 p.m., Racing at 5:00 p.m.)
Tuesday, January 28 – Winter Challenge Bowling Tournament at Brunswick Lanes
Thursday, January 30 – Round 4 (Gates open at 5:00 p.m., Racing at 7:00 p.m.)
Friday, January 31 – Round 5 (Gates open at 5:00 p.m., Racing at 7:00 p.m.)
Saturday, February 1 – Round 6 (Gates open at 3:00 p.m., Racing at 5:00 p.m.)
While the USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will be in action all six Winter Challenge nights, the Pure Stocks and Mini Sprints will join in on all but Round Four on January 30, Mod Lites fill out the initial three cards and then Renegades round out the final two nights of action.
Six-day discounted tickets may be purchased in advance and ticket pricing and purchasing information is available at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/tickets/winter-challenge-2012/ or by calling the track office at 602-258-7223.
Complete payout and race information is available at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Winter-Challenge-Flyer-Web3.pdf.
Hotel Information can be found at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/fan-info/lodging/ or by calling the Courtyard by Marriott at 623-580-8844.
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 2014 Canyon Schedule can be previewed online at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/schedule/.
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