From Lonnie Wheatley
Peoria, AZ — (November 17, 2014) — The Western World Championships, the perfect way to end a season.
That’s how Canyon Speedway Park will bring the curtains down on the 2014 season with this weekend’s 47th Annual USAC Sands Chevrolet Western World Championships atop the 1/3-mile clay oval near Phoenix.
The Honda USAC National Midgets and the USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will battle it out for three nights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday following an open practice session on Wednesday night from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The week’s festivities get under way early with Tuesday night’s Western World Kickoff Party at the Saddle Ranch Chop House in Glendale.
By week’s end, one elite driver could pocket $15,000 in Saturday night’s Western World finale with a winner’s share of $7,500 up for grabs in both the Midget and Sprint Car ranks.
It’s a feat that Bryan Clauson pulled off last year. After dominating the Sprint Car portion for his second Western World title in as many years, Clauson made a last lap pass in the Midget main event to make it a sweep.
A winner of ten CSP main events in 2013, Clauson comes off a win in this past weekend’s USAC National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Classic.
Clauson will have his hands full in both divisions with a number of top competitors looking to add the title of Western World champion to the ledger.
In the Midget ranks, Rico Abreu leads Keith Kunz Racing teammate Christopher Bell into the weekend with Hall of Fame opening night winner Tracy Hines third in points.
Current USAC Southwest points leader R.J. Johnson defends his home turf in the Sprint Car portion with series champion Matt Mitchell leading the way for the USAC West Coast forces along with USAC Western Classics champ Ryan Bernal.
Johnson is one of several top contenders along with Clauson pulling double duty over the weekend including two-time Western World winner Brady Bacon, Dave Darland, USAC/CRA shoe Mike Spencer and Casey Shuman.
Approximately 70 Midgets and Sprint Cars are anticipated for the event, with a quick glimpse at the entry list revealing one of the most competitive fields in Western World history.
Honda USAC National Midgets:
0 Jack Hawley (Menifee, CA)
1p Terry Nichols (Delano, CA)
5d Zach Daum (Pocahontas, IL)
7 Shannon McQueen (Tehachapi, CA)
17 Shane Golobic (Fremont, CA)
17n Johnathon Henry (Stockton, CA)
24 Tracy Hines (New Castle, IN)
32 Casey Shuman (Phoenix, AZ)
51 Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK)
51 R.J. Johnson (Phoenix, AZ)
52c Isaac Chapple (Wilkinson, IN)
55 Tony Everhart (El Cajon, CA)
56 Darren Hagen (Riverside, CA)
57 Mike Spencer (Temecula, CA)
63 Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, IN)
67 Tanner Thorson (Minden, NV)
68 Ronnie Gardner (Norco, CA)
71 Christopher Bell (Norman, OK)
73 Trey Marcham (Newcastle, OK)
73x Dave Darland (Lincoln, IN)
91T Tyler Thomas (Tulsa, OK)
97 Rico Abreu (Rutherford, CA)
98 Jarid Blondel (Orange, CA)
USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast Sprint Cars:
2 Larry Gibson (El Mirage, AZ)
2 Josh Shipley (Peoria, AZ)
02 Matt Rossi (Peoria, AZ)
5 Tye Mihocko (Peoria, AZ)
5v Bradley Terrell (Sebastopol, CA)
7k Bruce St. James (Phoenix, AZ)
7m Mike Spencer (Temecula, CA)
8 Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA)
11c Michael Curtis (Cottonwood, AZ)
12 Josh Pelkey (Peoria, AZ)
12x Robert Ballou (Rocklin, CA)
16 Mike Martin (Yuma, AZ)
17m Michael Colegrove (Peoria, AZ)
17rw Kevin Thomas, Jr. (Cullman, AL)
19 Andrew Reinbold (Chandler, AZ)
20 Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, IN)
20 Shon Deskins (Waddell, AZ)
20s Jon Stanbrough (Avon, IN)
21az Stevie Sussex (Phoenix, AZ)
22b Chris Windom (Canton, IL)
28 Mark Morin (Surprise, AZ)
30 C.J. Leary (Greenfield, IN)
32b Brian Hosford (Gilbert, AZ)
37 Matt Mitchell (Yorba Linda, CA)
48 Thomas Ogle (Surprise, AZ)
50 Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ)
55 Tony Everhart (El Cajon, CA)
56 Ryan Bernal (Hollister, CA)
73 Dave Darland (Lincoln, IN)
74 Colby Copeland (Roseville, CA)
74x Josh Hodges (Tijeras, NM)
75 Casey Shuman (Phoenix, AZ)
77 Dalten Gabbard (Peoria, AZ)
77m R.J. Johnson (Phoenix, AZ)
87 Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX)
92 Jake Swanson (Anaheim, CA)
98 Matt Lundy (Phoenix, AZ)
99 Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK)
In a slight alteration to the format of yesteryear, the USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast Sprint Car field will not be split, with all entries running each night just as the Midgets have done.
While all entries in Midgets will race each night with Thursday and Friday preliminary events following standard USAC format including qualifying, heat races and features, the Sprint Cars will do similar with a full card of heat races and features on both Thursday and Friday. Separate qualifying (Midgets only), heat and feature points will be tabulated to determine Saturday night Western World Championship lineups.
The top eight in combined points for both Midgets and Sprint Cars from Thursday and Friday action will be locked into Saturday’s main event. Those eight will engage in a Revenge Draw during Saturday’s opening ceremonies to determine the Dash lineups for both Midgets and Sprint Cars. The Dash finish will determine the alignment of the front four rows of the main event.
The balance of the field will be aligned in Qualifying races straight up by points, with finishes determining the balance of the night’s “A” and “B” Main lineups.
Past Western World Championship Winners (Wing / Non-Wing / Midget)
2013 – Bryan Clauson (nw) / Bryan Clauson (m)
2012 – Wayne Johnson (w) / Bryan Clauson (nw)
2011 – Donny Schatz (w) / Tracy Hines (nw)
2010 – Donny Schatz (w) / Brady Bacon (nw)
2009 – Sammy Swindell (w) / Brady Bacon (nw)
2008 – Kevin Swindell (nw)
2007 – Jerry Coons, Jr. (nw)
2006 – Josh Wise (nw)
2005 – Dave Darland (nw)
2004 – Bud Kaeding (nw)
2003 – Tony Elliott (nw)
2002 – Bud Kaeding (nw)
2001 – Jeremy Sherman (nw)
2000 – Jay Drake (nw)
1999 – Donny Schatz (w)
1998 – Tyler Walker (w)
1997 – Mark Kinser (w)
1996 – Steve Kinser (w)
1995 – Lealand McSpadden (nw)
1994 – Ron Shuman (nw)
1993 – Lealand McSpadden (nw)
1992 – Steve Kinser (w)
1991 – Danny Lasoski (w)
1990 – Steve Kinser (w)
1989 – Sammy Swindell (w)
1988 – Mark Kinser (w)
1987 – Steve Kinser (w)
1986 – Bobby Davis, Jr. (w)
1985 – Steve Kinser (w)
1984 – Ron Shuman (nw)
1983 – Steve Kinser (nw)
1982 – Steve Kinser (nw)
1981 – Ron Shuman (nw)
1980 – Jeff Swindell (nw)
1979 – Tim Green (nw)
1978 – Lealand McSpadden (nw)
1977 – Ron Shuman (nw)
1976 – Bubby Jones (nw)
1975 – Ron Shuman (nw)
1974 – Rick Ferkel (nw)
1973 – Earl Wagner (nw)
1972 – Jan Opperman (nw)
1971 – Jan Opperman (nw)
1970 – Jerry McClung (nw)
1969 – Bob Huebner (nw)
1968 – Bob Cleberg (nw)
Three-day advanced tickets are available for just $65 with VIP Suite tickets for all three days available for $95 and All Access Passes for $110.
Single day tickets are $20 for both Thursday and Friday and $25 for Saturday’s Western World Championships finale.
Detailed Western World Championships ticket information and pricing is available at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/tickets/the-45th-annual-western-world-championships/.
Tickets may be ordered by calling the track at 602-258-RACE (7223).
Hotel Information can be found at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/fan-info/lodging/ or by calling the Courtyard by Marriott at 623-580-8844.
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 and early portion of 2015 can be previewed online at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/schedule/.
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.