By Lance Jennings
PEORIA, AZ – JANUARY 28, 2014… After a break in the schedule, the “3rd Annual Winter Challenge” will resume Thursday for three nights of action at Peoria’s Canyon Speedway. Featuring the USAC SouthWest and West Coast Sprint Cars, drivers have traveled from Indiana, Oklahoma, California, New Mexico, Texas, and Minnesota to battle with a talented roster from Arizona. At the halfway point, twenty-five drivers have taken the green flag and Peoria’s Josh Pelkey leads the six-race mini-series point chase. Promoter Kevin Montgomery has raised an impressive purse that will pay $2,000-to-win on Thursday and Friday nights, with $5,000 up for grabs at Saturday’s finale. Racing will start at 5pm on Thursday and Friday and is scheduled to begin at 7pm on Saturday.
After scoring a second, fourth, and third place finish in Robbie & Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Josh Pelkey holds a 15 point advantage over the competition. The 1997 ASCA Champion has led 13 main event laps and will be among the favorites to watch at Canyon Speedway. Pelkey will have his sights on his first win of the season and claiming the “Winter Challenge” crown.
The hottest driver in the “Winter Challenge” has been Lincoln, Indiana’s Dave Darland. Piloting Casey Minks’ #1X Mesilla Valley Transportation / Shark Racing Engines Eagle, “The People’s Champion” has won the last two 30-lap features and is second in the standings. Making history in the process, Darland has at least one main event win in twenty-two consecutive seasons of USAC competition. This accomplishment broke a three-way tie with A.J. Foyt (1959-79) and Mel Kenyon (1962-82). Scoring twenty-second on opening night, Dave has three heat race victories and 43 feature laps led to his credit. The former USAC National Champion will be looking to continue his hot streak and winning Saturday’s $5,000 finale.
Currently sitting third in point chase is R.J. Johnson of Phoenix. Racing Bobby Martin’s #51 Weiler Farms / Pecon Builders Maxim, the defending USAC SouthWest Champion has recorded two thirds and a sixth place finish. With two drives from deep in the field, the second generation driver earned last Saturday’s Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” with a fifteenth to third place run. Johnson had a career season in 2013 with 12 USAC Sprint Car wins and he will have his sights on adding the mini-series title to his resume.
Hollister, California’s Ryan Bernal is fourth in the point standings. Driving Casey Minks’ #111 Champion Auto & Truck Recyclers / Shark Racing Engines Eagle, Bernal ran fifth on opening night from fifteenth, placed second to teammate Darland on Saturday, and took fourth last Sunday from tenth. The defending USAC Western Classic Champion has 17 feature laps led during the “Winter Challenge” and will be looking to add Canyon Speedway to his win list.
Rattlesnake Bend’s Casey Shuman is fifth in the mini-series points. Piloting Rick Pollock’s #21X Greenwell Auto Body / Bates Commodities Inc. Maxim, the second generation driver has a fourth, twelfth, and fifth place finish at Canyon Speedway. To date, Shuman has one heat race victory and will have his sights on adding several “Winter Challenge” trophies to his collection
Five-time Arizona Champion “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., Friday winner Brady Bacon of Oklahoma, Texas’ Aaron Reutzel, Josh Hodges of New Mexico, and California’s Nic Faas round out the top-ten in points. Other drivers expected to compete are “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Stevie Sussex, Shon Deskins, Dalten Gabbard, former VRA Champion Jimmy “Neutron” Crawford, Colby Copeland, Michael Curtis, and many more.
The USAC Southwest and West Coast Sprint Cars will return to action on Thursday, January 30th, at Canyon Speedway in Peoria. Round #4 of the “Winter Challenge” mini-series will also feature the popular IMCA Modifieds. Located at 9777 West Carefree Highway, more event information can be found at www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or calling (602) 258-RACE (7223).
The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series would like to thank Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Tire, Hose Advantage Store, and the Racers Advantage Store for their support. For more information on the series, visit www.southwestsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/
For more information on the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series, visit www.westcoastsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/#!/pages/
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WINTER CHALLENGE POINT STANDINGS:
1-Josh Pelkey-194, 2-Dave Darland-179, 3-R. J. Johnson-177, 4-Ryan Bernal-174, 5-Casey Shuman-166, 6-Charles Davis Jr.-164, 7-Brady Bacon-151, 8-Aaron Reutzel-139, 9-Josh Hodges-129, 10-Nic Faas-117, 11-Tye Mihocko-110, 12-Mike Martin-109, 13-Stevie Sussex-106, 14-Shon Deskins-98, 15-Dalten Gabbard-84, 16-Jimmy Crawford-76, 17-Colby Copeland-75, 18-Michael Curtis-65, 19-Mitch Mack-65, 20-Josh Grady-64, 21-Jason Grady-62, 22-David Dykes-36, 23- Matt Rossi-24, 24-Mike Rux Jr.-19, 25-Ryan Linder-9.
2014 WINTER CHALLENGE SCHEDULE:
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
January 30: Canyon Speedway – Peoria, AZ ($2,000-to-Win)
January 31: Canyon Speedway – Peoria, AZ ($2,000-to-Win)
February 1: Canyon Speedway – Peoria, AZ ($5,000-to-Win)
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This schedule is subject to change.