By Lance Jennings
QUEEN CREEK, AZ – APRIL 13, 2014… Grabbing the lead from Josh Pelkey on lap six, R.J. Johnson of Phoenix claimed Saturday’s “Spring Fling” victory at Arizona Speedway. The $1,500 USAC SouthWest Sprint Car triumph marked Johnson’s first win of the season (12th overall) as the series heads back to Canyon Speedway Park on April 26th. Pelkey, Shon Deskins, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., and Matt Rossi rounded out the top-five drivers at the fast 1/3-mile clay oval.
Racing the Bill Michaels owned #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, R.J. Johnson won the 30-lap Queen Creek main event after starting fourth. Earlier in the program, Johnson won his first 8-lap heat race of the campaign and entered the feature ranked third in passing points. The defending series champion has climbed to second in the point standings with one hard charger award, seven top-10 finishes, and 25 feature laps led in 2014.
After leading four laps of the “Spring Fling,” Peoria’s Josh Pelkey took second at the checkered flags. Piloting Robbie & Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Pelkey scored third in his heat race and ranked fifth in passing points. The SouthWest point leader finished the night with a two point advantage with one feature win, one heat race victory, one hard charger award, eight top-10 finishes, and 45 feature laps led to his credit.
For the second straight race, Shon Deskins of Phoenix scored third in the main event. Driving his #20 MP Environmental / Spike Chassis entry, Deskins was third in his heat race and placed fourth in passing points. Heading to the April 26th “Canyon Clash,” the veteran driver is third in the point chase with one heat race victory and six top-10 finishes on the year.
Buckeye’s “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. ran fourth in Arizona Speedway’s “Spring Fling.” Racing the Massey Motorsports owned #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis was second in his heat race and was the high point driver entering the feature. The five-time Arizona champion has climbed to fifth in SouthWest points with three heat race victories and six top-10 finishes in 2014.
Matt Rossi of Phoenix scored fifth in the “Spring Fling” after starting seventh. Driving the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / Advanced Engine Components Ellis, Rossi was third in his heat race and placed seventh in passing points. In limited action, Rossi is tied for eleventh in the point standings.
Michael Curtis of Cottonwood earned the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with an eleventh place finish after starting sixteenth. Piloting Kevin Turner and Greg Wheeler’s #11C DAR Racing / JT Engineering Maxim, Curtis was sixth in his heat race and was ranked sixteenth in passing points. The young driver is currently eighth in the point standings with one top-10 finish on the season.
Yuma’s “The Magic Man” Mike Martin raced to victory in the night’s second 8-lap heat race. Racing his #16 PPG Professional Paints / Desert Building Supply Maxim, Martin placed sixth in passing points and led the first lap before problems resulted in a seventeenth place finish. “The Magic Man” sits tenth in SouthWest points with one heat race victory, one semi-main win, one hard charger award, and three top-10 finishes in the campaign.
“The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James of Phoenix won his first 8-lap heat race of the season. Driving his #7K Woodland Auto Display / Weld Racing machine, St. James ranked second in passing points and scored sixth in the “Spring Fling.” As this writing goes to press, the veteran driver is sixth in the point chase with one top-10 finish on the season.
The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series will be back in action on Saturday, April 26th at Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria. The “4th Annual Canyon Clash” will also feature Mini Sprints, Pure Stocks, and AMA Modlites. Advance tickets are on sale and for more information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or call 602.258.7223.
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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USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS:
April 12, 2014 – Queen Creek, Arizona – Arizona Speedway – “Spring Fling”
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
1. R.J. Johnson (#77M Michaels), 2. Josh Shipley (#2 Bishop), 3. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins), 4. Nick Aiuto (#27N Aiuto), 5. Mike Colegrove (#17M Colegrove), 6. Carson Ditsch (#96 Ditsch), 7. Mark Morin (#28 Morin). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 2. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 3. Matt Rossi (#02 Rossi), 4. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 5. Alex Pettas (#T164 Pettas), 6. Michael Woodruff (#83 Woodruff), 7. Mike Bonneau (#29 Bonneau). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Bruce St. James (#7K St. James), 2. Chris Bonneau (#78 Bonneau), 3. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 4. Rick Ziehl (#0SR Ziehl), 5. Brian Hosford (#32B Weber), 6. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
1. R.J. Johnson (4th), 2. Josh Pelkey (2nd), 3. Shon Deskins (3rd), 4. Charles Davis Jr. (6th), 5. Matt Rossi (7th), 6. Bruce St. James (5th), 7. Nick Aiuto (11th), 8. Tye Mihocko (12th), 9. Josh Shipley (8th), 10. Rick Ziehl (10th), 11. Michael Curtis (16th), 12. Chris Bonneau (9th), 13. Brian Hosford (14th), 14. Alex Pettas (15th), 15. Mike Bonneau (20th), 16. Mike Colegrove (13th), 17. Mike Martin (1st), 18. Michael Woodruff (18th), 19. Carson Ditsch (17th), 20. Mark Morin (19th). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1 Mike Martin, Laps 2-5 Josh Pelkey, Laps 6-30 R.J. Johnson.
HARD CHARGER: Michael Curtis (16th to 11th)
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Josh Pelkey-136, 2. R.J. Johnson-134, 3. Shon Deskins-131, 4. Tye Mihocko-93, 5. Charles Davis Jr.-92, 6. Bruce St. James-86, 7. Nick Aiuto-84, 8. Michael Curtis-81, 9. Josh Shipley-76, 10. Mike Martin-74, 11. Matt Rossi-59, –. Brian Hosford-59, 13. Tom Ogle-57, 14. Mike Bonneau-55, 15. Andy Reinbold-54, 16. Michael Woodruff-53, 17. Lonnie Oliver-46, 18. Rick Ziehl-38, 19. Chris Bonneau-36, 20. Tom Lee-34.