By Lance Jennings
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015… After a hard fought “Brawl For It All,” the USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars will make their final appearance of the year at Arizona Speedway. Located in Queen Creek, Arizona’s ET Motopark, Saturday’s $1750-to-win “Neils Garage Cabinets Night at the Races” will also feature Pure Stocks, Dwarf Cars, and Bomber Stocks. The Front Gates will open at 5:00pm and Racing at the fast 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 13, 2013, Arizona Speedway has hosted sixteen USAC SouthWest Sprint Car events. R.J. Johnson leads all drivers with nine victories, including the April 18th and June 13th shows. “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., who won the May 16th and September 19th races, has five wins at the fast 1/3-mile oval. Other Queen Creek winners are Mike Martin and Josh Pelkey.
Heading into the sixteenth point race, R.J. Johnson of Laveen, Arizona has a 61-point lead over the competition. Driving Bill Michael’s #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson ran fourteenth in the “Brawl For It All.” To date, the 2-time champion has eight feature wins, six heat race victories, one top-qualifier award, two hard charger awards, eighteen nineteen top-10 finishes, and 140 feature laps led. This Saturday, R.J. will be looking to continue his championship bid by claiming his 31st SouthWest triumph.
Buckeye, Arizona’s “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. is second in the chase for the championship. Racing the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis led nine laps at Canyon before scoring thirteenth. Heading to Queen Creek, the five-time Arizona Sprint Car Champion has three feature wins, seven heat race victories, two top-qualifier awards, one semi-main win, one hard charger award, nineteen top-10 finishes, and 104 feature laps led.. “Chargin” Charles will have his sights on a victory and gaining valuable points this Saturday night.
Stevie Sussex of Tempe, Arizona ranks third in the SouthWest point chase. Piloting Mike Burkhart’s #21AZ Stratis Construction / Westin Diversified RSS, Sussex ran fifth last Saturday night. To date, the Grudge Series point leader has three feature wins, three heat race victories, two top-qualifier awards, three hard charger awards, fourteen top-10 finishes, and 112 feature laps led. Stevie is currently tied with Ryan Bernal for sixth on the series win list and will be looking for first win at Queen Creek.
South Central, Arizona’s Matt Rossi sits fourth in the point standings. Driving the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / IWR Spike, Rossi claimed eleventh in the “Brawl For It All.” At press time, the Western World Champion has one feature win, two heat race victories, three top-qualifier awards, three hard charger awards, eleven top-10 finishes, and 27 feature laps led. Tied with Brady Bacon, Dave Darland, and Rick Ziehl for eighth on the win list, Matt will have his sights on adding another trophy to his collection.
Josh Pelkey of Peoria, Arizona is fifth in the championship standings. Racing Robbie and Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Pelkey charged from fourteenth to finish seventh at Canyon Speedway Park. Heading to Queen Creek, the 1997 ASCA Champion has one heat race victory, one top-qualifier award, and thirteen top-10 finishes in the campaign. Josh is currently tied for fourth on the SouthWest win list with five main events and will be looking to earn the $1,750 payday.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Brian Hosford, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, Andy Reinbold, Nick Aiuto, Dennis Gile, “The Bull” Tye Mihocko, Josh Shipley, Shon Deskins, Chris Bonneau, Michael Curtis, Mike Bonneau, Tom Ogle, 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.
QUEEN CREEK USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS:
9-R.J. Johnson, 5-Charles Davis Jr., 1-Mike Martin, 1-Josh Pelkey
2015 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS:
8-R.J. Johnson, 3-Charles Davis Jr., 3-Mike Martin, 3-Stevie Sussex, 2-Ryan Bernal, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Blake Hahn, 1-Matt Rossi.
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
- R.J. Johnson-910, 2. Charles Davis, Jr.-849, 3. Stevie Sussex-796, 4. Matt Rossi-783, 5. Josh Pelkey-760, 6. Mike Martin-733, 7. Brian Hosford-617, 8. Andy Reinbold-524, 9. Bruce St. James-523, 10. Nick Aiuto-489, 11. Tye Mihocko-452, 12. Dennis Gile-435, 13. Mike Colegrove-432, 14. Josh Shipley-420, 15. Chris Bonneau-387, 16. Shon Deskins-363, 17. Tom Ogle-303, 18. Michael Curtis-279, 19. Mike Bonneau-271, 20. Dalten Gabbard-192