By Lonnie Wheatley
PEORIA, Ariz. (June 16, 2015) – The USAC Southwest Sprint Cars are back at it among a stellar card of action atop the 1/3-mile Canyon Speedway Park clay with this Saturday night’s Fifth Annual Father’s Day Classic.
After an open practice on Friday night from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the USAC Southwest Sprint Cars will be joined on Saturday’s card by the 9th World Vapor IMCA Modifieds, Arizona Differential Pure Stocks, Scottsdale Muffler & Automotive Renegades and Micro Sprints.
Reigning USAC Southwest champion R.J. Johnson is the defending winner of the Father’s Day Classic while Ricky Thornton, Jr., has sandwiched wins in two of the last three renditions of the event around a Jason Noll score in 2013.
Not only are Johnson and Thornton, Jr., defending Father’s Day Classic winners, they both have topped their most respective feature event at CSP.
Johnson topped the May 24 portion of the Salute to Indy for his third triumph in four regular season USAC Southwest Sprint Car events at CSP while Thornton, Jr., reeled off his second straight 9th World Vapor IMCA Modified score in the June 6 Summer Sizzle event.
Johnson comes off his sixth overall USAC Southwest win of the year this past Saturday night, extending his lead in the series title chase to 86 points over Charles Davis, Jr., with Josh Pelkey, Stevie Sussex and Matt Rossi also among the top five.
Sussex ranks as the only driver to deny Johnson victory lane at CSP in regular season action with a Salute to Indy opener triumph on May 23.
While Thornton, Jr., has enjoyed the hot hand in recent 9th World Vapor IMCA Modified action, Shawn Zelenka holds a miniscule one-point lead over Garrett Funk in a hotly-contested championship points battle with George Fronsman, Bo Partain and Bryson Curry also among a top five that is separated by only 17 points.
Matt Martinez has picked off the most recent pair of wins in Arizona Differential Pure Stock action to close to within two points of Matt McCurdy, Jr., in the title chase with Zack Madrid, Steve Bitting and Joe Vlasity also in the top five.
With five different winners in the last five Scottsdale Muffler & Automotive Renegades, Daniel Romero holds a 14-point advantage over Mike Hartsock with Vlasity another nine points back in third. Chris McCurdy, Sr., topped the most recent Renegade outing.
In Micro Sprint action, Ryan Walter topped the June 6 Summer Sizzle feature to become the fifth consecutive different winner after Spencer Hill, Gary Winter, Cliff Cormany and Colton Hardy won in previous outings.
Tickets for Saturday’s Fifth Annual Father’s Day Classic are just $16, with a $3 discount for Military, Seniors and Students. Children ages 7-12 are $6, with children 6 and under admitted free. VIP passes are available for $20.
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 2015 Canyon Schedule 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.