By Lance Jennings
AUGUST 18, 2015… The Arizona based USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series will head to America’s Heartland for the “3rd Annual Freedom Tour.” With each night paying $2,500-to-win, the non-point, four-race mini-series will kickoff on Wednesday, August 19th, in Lawton, Oklahoma. Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, Oklahoma will host the following night’s action as the tour continues to Wichita and Dodge City, Kansas.
Entering Wednesday’s event, “The Real Deal” Rick Ziehl of Las Cruces, New Mexico leads all drivers with two Freedom Tour victories. The multi-time ASCS SouthWest Champion raced Gary Williams’ #41W Diamond Mechanical Maxim to victories at Sapulpa and Dodge City in 2013. Other Freedom Tour winners were Danny Smith, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., R.J. Johnson, Brady Bacon, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, and Mike Bonneau.
Last year, Johnson won the series debut at Lawton, Oklahoma behind the wheel of Bill Michael’s #77M Kodiak Products Sherman. The following night, Bacon raced his #99 Fatheadz Eyewear XXX to the Creek County triumph. Heading to Kansas, Martin led all 30-laps in his #16 Desert Building Materials Maxim at Wichita and Mike Bonneau was the surprise winner in his #29 Priced Right Auto Sales XXX at Dodge City.
NOTICE TO RACERS: The “Freedom Tour” will be run under the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Rule Book. The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is the ONLY legal right rear tire and cockpit adjustable shocks are NOT allowed. Engine restrictor rules are 1-7/8″ with open heads and 2-3/16″ with ASCS cylinder heads. The weight rule is 1,475 lbs. with driver. The USAC SouthWest Rule Book can be found online at www.southwestsprintcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Southwest-Sprint-Cars-2015-Rule-Book.pdf.
The USAC SouthWest Sprints will make their second appearance at Lawton Speedway on Wednesday, August 19th. Located at 3501 South Sheridan Road in Lawton, Oklahoma, the semi-banked 1/4-mile oval regularly hosts Champ Sprints and is a featured stop for the ASCS Sooner Region Sprints. The USA Limited Modifieds will share the spotlight and for more details, visit www.lawtonspeedway.com or call 580.355.6417.
The following night, August 20th, the “Freedom Tour” will return to Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Located on the historic Route 66 at 18450 West Highway 66, the semi-banked 1/4-mile oval is also home to Champ Sprints, Micro Sprints, and special events with the ASCS Sooner Region. The “Topless at The Creek” will also showcase the POWRi West Midgets and the Non-Winged 600 Micro Sprints. For more information, visit www.creekcountyspeedway.co or call 918.693.7223 (RACE).
On Friday, August 21st, 81 Speedway in Wichita, Kansas will host the third night of the “Freedom Tour.” Located at 100 West 77th Street North, the 3/8-mile clay oval regularly features NCRA 360 Sprints, local 360 Sprints, and 305 Sprints. The Wix Filters / Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts “Harold Leep Memorial” will also feature POWRi Midgets. For more details, visit www.race81speedway.org or call 316.755.1781.
Dodge City Raceway Park in Dodge City, Kansas will host the “Freedom Tour” finale on Saturday, August 22nd. Located at 11322 110 Road, the large 3/8-mile oval hosts URSS, NCRA, ASCS Sooner, and World of Outlaw Sprint Cars. The IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, and IMCA Hobby Stocks will share the action packed card. For more information, visit www.dodgecityraceway.com or call 620.225.3277.
With seven wins in the campaign, defending champion R.J. Johnson leads the USAC SouthWest point chase over a talented roster of drivers. “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., Matt Rossi, Stevie Sussex, Josh Pelkey, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Brian Hosford, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, Mike Colegrove, and Andy Reinbold round out the top-10 drivers. Sussex has three victories and California’s Ryan Bernal has two triumphs. Brady Bacon, Davis, Martin, and Rossi have each claimed one feature win.
The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series thanks Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Tire, the 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.
“FREEDOM TOUR” WINS:
2-Rick Ziehl, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Mike Bonneau, 1-Charles Davis Jr., 1-R.J. Johnson, 1-Mike Martin, 1-Danny Smith.
2015 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS:
7-R.J. Johnson, 3-Stevie Sussex, 2-Ryan Bernal, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Charles Davis Jr., 1-Mike Martin, 1-Matt Rossi.
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS: (2013-Date)
29-R.J. Johnson, 11-Charles Davis Jr., 6-Bryan Clauson, 5-Josh Pelkey, 4-Ryan Bernal, 4-Stevie Sussex, 3-Brady Bacon, 3-Dave Darland, 3-Mike Martin, 3-Matt Rossi, 3-Rick Ziehl, 2-Mike Spencer, 1-Mike Bonneau, 1-Colby Copeland, 1-Shon Deskins, 1-C.J. Leary, 1-Austin Liggett, 1-Danny Smith, 1-Richard Vander Weerd.
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
- R.J. Johnson-808, 2. Charles Davis Jr.-744, 3. Matt Rossi-707, 4. Stevie Sussex-680, 5. Josh Pelkey-646, 6. Mike Martin-614, 7. Brian Hosford-540, 8. Bruce St. James-490, 9. Mike Colegrove-432, 10. Andy Reinbold-403, 11. Nick Aiuto-397, 12. Dennis Gile-396, 13. Tye Mihocko-379, 14. Josh Shipley-352, 15. Shon Deskins-298, 16. Chris Bonneau-282, 17. Michael Curtis-220, —. Mike Bonneau-220, 19. Tom Ogle-209, 20. Dalten Gabbard-192.