From Lonnie Wheatley
Peoria, AZ — (January 28, 2014) — Three nights of racing action down and three nights to go as it’s halfway through the Third Annual Winter Challenge atop the 1/3-mile Canyon Speedway Park clay oval.
Winter Challenge action featuring USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast non-wing Sprint Cars resumes on Thursday night with the final two rounds of the six-race series to follow on Friday and Saturday. Thursday and Friday’s cards get under way at 7:00 p.m. with Saturday’s finale firing off at 5:00 p.m.
The wingless stars of the USAC Southwest and USAC West Coast will battle it out for $2,000 to win on both Thursday and Friday before mixing it up for Saturday’s $5,000-to-win tilt. The IMCA Modifieds battle it out for a $1,000 winner’s share each night with Pure Stocks, Mini Sprints and Renegades joining in on Friday and Saturday action.
The Winter Challenge kicked off with the initial three events this past weekend. Oklahoma’s Brady Bacon rallied from 13th to win the Friday night opener before Indiana veteran shoe Dave Darland reeled off back-to-back wins on Saturday and Sunday.
While Darland eyes a third win in a row on Thursday, it’s Peoria shoe Josh Pelkey out to the lead in Winter Challenge points aboard Robbie Allen’s ABC Motorsports No. 12 after finishes of second, fourth and third in the initial three events.
Pelkey holds a 15-point advantage over Darland with reigning USAC Southwest champion R.J. Johnson, California’s Ryan Bernal and Casey Shuman rounding out the current top five. The balance of the top ten in Winter Challenge points includes Charles Davis, Jr., Bacon, Texas shoe Aaron Reutzel, New Mexico’s Josh Hodges and Cali ace Nic Faas.
While Darland guns for a third consecutive win in the Sprint Car ranks on Thursday, Ricky Thornton, Jr., will be trying for the same feat in the IMCA Modifieds. Thornton, Jr., topped the Saturday and Sunday features this past weekend after Jason Noll won the Friday opener.
Ty Warner topped the last two Pure Stock features as well after Matt Martinez won the Friday lidlifter with Kenny Hilton, Dustin Cormany and Tyler Seavey spreading the wealth in the Micro Sprint ranks.
The Remaining 2014 Winter Challenge Schedule of Events is as follows:
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.)
Winter Challenge 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 2014 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.