BIG CASH PAYOUT FOR NEW MEXICO’S “THANKSGIVING BASH”

USAC United States Auto Club Southwest Sprint Car Series Logo tease

From Dick Jordan

Southwest Sprint car participants are circling November 28-29 in their 2014 calendars as Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M. will host the inaugural “Thanksgiving Bash,” showcasing USAC’s Southwest Sprint Car series in a big-cash “non-points” concluding USAC’s racing season.

The race winner will earn $10,000 and feature starters will be guaranteed $500 to start at the 3/8-mile dirt oval which hosted USAC events in 1988, 2002 and last year.

Las Cruces’ own, Rick Ziehl, will certainly be among favorites in November. He won the only two previous USAC Sprint races at Southern New Mexico Speedway, in both 2002 and 2013. The other events held there in 1988 were Midget races won by Jack Yeley, Mark Passarelli and Tommy Astone.

Ziehl, USAC’s 2003 Southwest Sprint Car Champion, actually has won four of the last five USAC Sprint races in the “Land of Enchantment,” which included a pair of wins at Hollywood Hills Speedway in San Felipe Pueblo in 2003.

“We are very excited for our fans and sponsors to be able to host a great show like this at Southern New Mexico Speedway,” said the track’s general manager, Rue Stone. “Since making the announcement, our phone has not stopped ringing with drivers calling in to let us know they will be here. It’s going to be huge.”

In addition to dozens of USAC Southwest Sprint Cars drivers such as Charles Davis Jr. and series points leader R.J. Johnson, the one-of-a-kind event is will also surely draw many of the big names from both winged and non-winged 305, 360 and 410 sprint car racing.

Jon Stanbrough, Tony Elliott, Jeff Swindell and Christopher Bell are a just a few of those who have already circled Nov. 28-29 on their calendar.

Other classes rounding out the racing card both nights include USRA Limited X-Mods, Mini-Sprints and Casa Nissan Legends Cars.

The Southern New Mexico Speedway is located 11 miles west of Las Cruces at the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. Take exit 132, go left and take the frontage road south of I-10 heading west. For more information call 575-524-7913 or 505-524-7913 or visit www.snmspeedway.com online.

To learn more about the USAC Southwest Sprint Cars, check out www.southwestsprintcars.com online.