Queen Creek, AZ — (May 13, 2015) — This Saturday, May 16th, the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series will invade Queen Creek’s Arizona Speedway. Located within ET Motopark, the “Central Arizona College Student Night” will also showcase X-Mods, ModLites, and the Robert Horne Ford Bombers. The Front Gates will open at 5:15pm and Racing at the popular 3/8-mile oval will start at 7:00pm. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
Since April 2013, thirteen USAC SouthWest Sprint Car races have been held at the Queen Creek facility. Two-time and defending series champion R.J. Johnson leads all drivers with eight wins followed by “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (3), “The Magic Man” Mike Martin (1), and Josh Pelkey (1). Saturday’s event will be the second of six dates at Arizona Speedway, as Johnson won the “Spring Fling” on April 18th.
After winning his fourth consecutive main event, R.J. Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona holds a 58-point advantage. Racing Bill Michaels’ #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson also has three heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 54 feature laps led to his credit. This Saturday, the point leader will be looking to earn his series leading his 27th USAC SouthWest victory.
Buckeye, Arizona’s “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. is second in the point standings. Driving the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis stormed to seventh from sixteenth at the May 2nd “Canyon Clash.” Heading to Queen Creek, the five-time Arizona Sprint Car Champion has two high point driver awards, three heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 4 feature laps led. “Chargin” Charles will have his sights on claiming his eleventh career series main event.
Josh Pelkey of Peoria, Arizona sits third in the USAC SouthWest point chase. Piloting Robbie and Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Pelkey charged to second at Canyon Speedway Park after starting sixth. To date, the 1997 ASCA Champion has one high point driver award, one heat race victory, and four top-10 finishes. At Queen Creek, Josh will be looking for his sixth USAC SouthWest feature win.
South Central, Arizona’s Matt Rossi is fourth in the championship points. Racing the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / IWR Spike, Rossi led the first twenty-two laps of the “Canyon Clash” before placing sixteenth. Entering Saturday’s race, the defending Western World Champion has one hard charger award and three top-10 finishes in the campaign. This Saturday, Matt will have his sights on making the “Central Arizona College Student Night” his third career series victory.
Stevie Sussex of Tempe, Arizona is fifth in the point standings. Switching to Dennis Gile’s #13S Quarterback Academy Ellis, Sussex led four laps at Canyon Speedway Park before problems resulted in a fifteenth place finish. To date, the 2-time Hank Arnold Memorial champion has one feature win, two hard charger awards, five top-10 finishes, and 43 feature laps led on the year. At Arizona Speedway, Stevie will be looking to claim his third career USAC SouthWest win.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Shon Deskins, Mike Colegrove, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Brian Hosford, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, Andy Reinbold, Dennis Gile, Nick Aiuto, “The Bull” Tye Mihocko, Josh Shipley, Michael Curtis, Mike Bonneau, and more.
Arizona Speedway is located at 47346 N. Ironwood Road in Queen Creek, just five miles south of Mesa. To get to the track, exit Ironwood Drive on US 60, then head four miles south. Adult Tickets are $15, Senior Tickets are $12, Kids Tickets (11-7) are $5, and Children 6 and under are FREE. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
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/SouthwestSprintCars).
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USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS:
2013-R.J. Johnson, 2014-R.J. Johnson.
2015 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS:
4-R.J. Johnson, 2-Ryan Bernal, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Stevie Sussex.
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. R.J. Johnson-319, 2. Charles Davis Jr.-261, 3. Josh Pelkey-252, 4. Matt Rossi-233, 5. Stevie Sussex-227, 6. Shon Deskins-220, 7. Mike Colegrove-218, 8. Mike Martin-213, 9. Brian Hosford-194, 10. Bruce St. James-168, 11. Andy Reinbold-164, 12. Dennis Gile-133, 13. Nick Aiuto-117, 14. Tye Mihocko-107, 15. Josh Shipley-99, 16. Dalten Gabbard-82, 17. Michael Curtis-76, 18. Ryan Bernal-71, 19. Mike Bonneau- 65, 20. Matt Mitchell-62, –. Koty McGullam-62.