From Lance Jennings
Peoria, AZ — (March 25, 2014) — This Saturday, March 29th, the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series will open their 2014 point season Peoria’s Canyon Speedway Park. Joining the action packed “CSP Season Opener” will be the popular Mini Sprints, Pure Stocks, and AMA Modlites. The Front Gates will open at 5:00pm with Racing scheduled to begin at 7:00pm. The track will also host an open practice session on Wednesday night from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.
Since January 2013, the fast 1/3-mile facility has hosted twenty USAC SouthWest Sprint Car events. R.J. Johnson leads all drivers with six triumphs and Bryan Clauson has five victories. “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland has three feature wins and “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. has claimed two main events. Brady Bacon, Colby Copeland, Mike Spencer, and Richard Vander Weerd have one victory at Canyon Speedway Park.
After winning his first USAC Sprint Car Championship, Phoenix’s R.J. Johnson is back in Bill Michaels’ potent #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman. Last season, the second generation driver led the series with eleven feature wins, five dash wins, and 328 feature laps led. In addition, R.J. had nine heat race victories, three hard charger awards, and twenty-three top-10 finishes. Johnson will be looking to start his championship bid with another win this Saturday night.
“Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. of Buckeye ranked second in the point standings. Driving the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis led the series with one fast time award (tied), eleven heat race victories, two semi-main wins, and twenty-five top-10 finishes. The five-time state champion also had six feature wins, four dash wins, three hard charger awards, and 117 feature laps led in 2013. “Chargin” Charles” will have his sights on claiming the $1,500 victory at Canyon Speedway Park.
Yuma’s “The Magic Man” Mike Martin placed third in the USAC SouthWest point chase. Piloting his #16 PPG Pittsburg Paints / Ultimate Offroad Maxim, Martin had one feature win, one fast time award, seven heat race victories, one semi-main win, twenty-one top-10 finishes and 24 feature laps led to his credit. “The Magic Man” has championship aspirations and will be a threat to win at Canyon.
Ronnie Clark of Tucson claimed fourth in the point standings. Racing the family owned #6 RCM / Ellis Race Cars machine, Clark did not win a main event but had three heat race victories, one hard charger award, and fifteen top-10 finishes in the campaign. On Saturday, Ronnie will be looking for a breakthrough victory in the “CSP Season Opener.”
Phoenix’s Shon Deskins ran fifth in the championship point chase. Driving his #20 Performance Plus / Bell Racing Spike, Deskins did not win a feature but scored one fast time award, eight heat race victories, one semi-main win, one hard charger award, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 8 feature laps led on the year. The veteran driver will be one of the favorites to win Saturday’s 30-lap main event.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Josh Pelkey, Andy Reinbold, Brian Hosford, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, Mike Bonneau, Chris Bonneau, Steven Harms, Tom Ogle, Stevie Sussex, “Bullet” Bob Ream Jr., Michael Curtis, Justin Quinn, “The Kid” Tye Mihocko, Tom Lee, Colby Copeland, Jody Wirth, and more.
Canyon Speedway Park is located at 9777 West Carefree Highway in Peoria, Arizona. To get to the track, take Lake Pleasant Parkway, then 1.3 miles west on Carefree Highway. Adult Tickets are $15 with $2 discounts available for Seniors, Military, and Students. Kids Tickets (7-12) are $6 and Children (6 and under) are FREE. VIP passes are available for $20 and advance tickets are on sale now. For more event information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or call (602) 258-7223 (RACE).
The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series thanks 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/
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2014 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
March 29: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (CSP Season Opener)
April 12: Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ (Spring Fling)
April 26: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Canyon Clash)
May 3: Prescott Valley Raceway – Prescott Valley, AZ
May 10: Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ (Mother’s Day Race)
May 24: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Salute To Indy)
May 25: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Salute To Indy)
June 7: Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ
June 14: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Father’s Day Classic)
June 28: Prescott Valley Raceway – Prescott Valley, AZ
July 12: Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ
July 26: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Summer Slam)
August 1: Prescott Valley Raceway – Prescott Valley, AZ (Rick Stewart Memorial)
August 2: Prescott Valley Raceway – Prescott Valley, AZ (Rick Stewart Memorial)
August 13: Lawton Speedway – Lawton, OK (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 14: Creek County Speedway – Sapulpa, OK (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 15: 81 Speedway – Wichita, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 16: Dodge City Raceway Park – Dodge City, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 29: **El Paso Speedway Park – El Paso, TX (Border Tour)
August 30: **Southern New Mexico Speedway – Las Cruces, NM (Border Tour)
August 31: **Tularosa Speedway – Tularosa, NM (Border Tour)
September 6: Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ
September 20: Central Arizona Raceway – Casa Grande, AZ
September 27: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Brawl For It All / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series)
October 11: Prescott Valley Raceway – Prescott Valley, AZ
October 18: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Southwest Championships)
November 1: Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ
November 6: *Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Oval Nationals / $2,500-to-Win / Grudge Series / Non-Points)
November 20: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 21: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 22: *Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Western World Championships / $7,500-to-Win)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC West Coast Sprints.
** = Co-Sanctioned Event with NMMRA Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.