From Lance Jennings
Queen Creek, AZ — (June 12, 2015) — This Saturday, June 13th, the cars and stars of the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series will return to Arizona Speedway. Located in Queen Creek, Arizona’s ET Motopark, the ninth point race of the season will also feature IMCA Modifieds, Dwarf Cars, and the Robert Horne Ford Bombers. The Front Gates will open at 5:00pm and Racing at the fast 3/8-mile oval will start at 7:45pm. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
Since April 13, 2013, fourteen 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. (4), “The Magic Man” Mike Martin (1), and Josh Pelkey (1). Saturday’s event will be the third of six dates for the traditional sprints at ET Motopark. On April 18th, Johnson won the “4th Annual Spring Fling” and Davis claimed the May 16th feature.
After scoring his fifth win of the year at Canyon’s “Salute to Indy” on May 24th, R.J. Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona holds an 81-point advantage. Racing Bill Michaels’ #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson also has one high point driver award, four heat race victories, ten top-10 finishes, and 81 feature laps led to his credit. At Queen Creek, R.J. will be looking to extend his point lead by earning his series leading 28th main event win.
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 raced to fifth at the “Salute to Indy” after starting tenth. Entering Saturday’s event, the five-time Arizona Sprint Car Champion has one main event win, two high point driver awards, three heat race victories, ten top-10 finishes, and 34 feature laps led. “Chargin” Charles will have his sights on his twelfth series triumph and gaining valuable points at Arizona Speedway.
Josh Pelkey of Peoria, Arizona sits third in the chase for the championship. Piloting Robbie and Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts RSS, Pelkey placed seventh in the May 24th main event. To date, the 1997 ASCA Champion has one high point driver award, one heat race victory, and seven top-10 finishes. Currently fourth on the USAC SouthWest win list, Josh will be looking to claim his sixth feature victory.
Tempe, Arizona’s Stevie Sussex is fourth in the point standings. Racing Gene Gile’s #13S Quarterback Academy / Bobby Q Ellis, Sussex ran second to Johnson at the “Salute to Indy.” At press time, the 2-time Hank Arnold Memorial winner has two feature wins, three hard charger awards, eight top-10 finishes, and 72 feature laps led on the year. Currently tied with Brady Bacon, Dave Darland, and Rick Ziehl for sixth on the series win list, Stevie will have his sights on his fourth USAC SouthWest win.
Matt Rossi of South Central, Arizona is fifth in the championship points. Piloting the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / IWR Spike, Rossi placed fourth at Canyon Speedway Park. Heading to Arizona Speedway, the defending Western World Champion has two hard charger awards and six top-10 finishes in the campaign. Tied with Mike Martin and Mike Spencer for tenth in the SouthWest win list, Matt will be going for his third win on Saturday night.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Mike Colegrove, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Brian Hosford, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, Shon Deskins, Andy Reinbold, Josh Shipley, Dennis Gile, Chris Bonneau, “The Bull” Tye Mihocko, Nick Aiuto, Michael Curtis, Dalten Gabbard, 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.