By Lance Jennings
OCTOBER 13, 2015… This Saturday, October 17th, the USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars will make their only appearance of the year at Central Arizona Speedway. Located on the Pinal County Fairgrounds in Casa Grande, Arizona, the “Central Arizona College Student Night” will also feature Dwarf Cars, X-Mods, Super Stocks, and Bomber Stocks. The Spectator Gates will open at 5:00pm and Racing is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm. For more event and ticket information, visit www.centralarizonaspeedway.com or call 480.266.1378.
Since March 23, 2013, Central Arizona Speedway has hosted five USAC SouthWest Sprint Car events. “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. leads all drivers with two wins, including last year’s September appearance. Josh Pelkey, R.J. Johnson, and Matt Rossi have also won at the 3/8-mile clay oval and the Casa Grande win list is at the end of this release.
Entering the seventeenth point race, R.J. Johnson of Laveen, Arizona has a 61-point lead over the competition. Piloting Bill Michael’s #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson scored his ninth win of the year at Queen Creek on October 3rd. In addition, the 2-time champion has seven heat race victories, one top-qualifier award, two hard charger awards, twenty top-10 finishes, and 160 feature laps led. This Saturday, R.J. will be looking to continue his championship bid by claiming his 32nd SouthWest victory.
Buckeye, Arizona’s “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. is second in the chase for the championship. Driving the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis ran second to Johnson in the Queen Creek feature. Currently, the five-time Arizona champion has three feature wins, eight heat race victories, two top-qualifier awards, one semi-main win, one hard charger award, twenty top-10 finishes, and 104 feature laps led. “Chargin” Charles will have his sights on gaining valuable points with his third win at Casa Grande.
Stevie Sussex of Tempe, Arizona ranks third in the USAC SouthWest point standings. Racing Mike Burkhart’s #21AZ Stratis Construction / Westin Diversified RSS, Sussex led the first ten laps at Arizona Speedway before claiming seventh. To date, the Grudge Series point leader has three feature wins, three heat race victories, two top-qualifier awards, three hard charger awards, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 122 feature laps led to his credit. Stevie is tied with Ryan Bernal for sixth on the win list and will be looking for his first Central Arizona Speedway triumph.
South Central, Arizona’s Matt Rossi sits fourth in the championship point chase. Piloting the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / IWR Spike, Rossi raced to fifth at Queen Creek after starting eighth. As this writing goes to press, the Western World Champion has one feature win, two heat race victories, three top-qualifier awards, three hard charger awards, twelve 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 Casa Grande’s $1,500 payday.
Josh Pelkey of Peoria, Arizona is currently fifth in the point chase. Driving Robbie and Gaye Allen’s #12 ABC Body Shop / Napa Auto Parts Maxim, Pelkey raced from twelfth to score eighth in the October 3rd feature. To date, the 1997 ASCA Champion has one heat race victory, one top-qualifier award, and fourteen top-10 finishes on the season. Josh is tied for fourth on the win list with “The Magic Man” Mike Martin and will be looking to add another trophy to his collection.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Brian Hosford, Andy Reinbold, Nick Aiuto, “The Bull” Tye Mihocko, Dennis Gile, Josh Shipley, Chris Bonneau, Shon Deskins, Tom Ogle, Michael Curtis, Mike Bonneau, Koty McGullam, and more.
Central Arizona Speedway is located on the Pinal County Fairgrounds at 512 N. 11 Mile Corner Road in Casa Grande. To get to the track, take Exit 194 from Interstate 10, then head east five miles to 11 Mile Corner Road, then head south. Adult Tickets are $15, Senior tickets are $12, and Kids (11 and under) are FREE. For more event and ticket information, visit www.centralarizonaspeedway.com or call 480.266.1378.
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.
CASA GRANDE USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS:
03/23/13: Charles Davis Jr.
06/22/13: Josh Pelkey
09/14/13: R.J. Johnson
10/12/13: Matt Rossi
09/20/14: Charles Davis Jr.
2015 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS:
9-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-980, 2. Charles Davis, Jr.-919, 3. Stevie Sussex-846, 4. Matt Rossi-837, 5. Josh Pelkey-803, 6. Mike Martin-799, 7. Brian Hosford-639, 8. Andy Reinbold-559, 9. Nick Aiuto-539, 10. Bruce St. James-523, 11. Tye Mihocko-489, 12. Dennis Gile-469, 13. Josh Shipley-442, 14. Mike Colegrove-432, 15. Chris Bonneau-410, 16. Shon Deskins-393, 17. Tom Ogle-366, 18. Michael Curtis-316, 19. Mike Bonneau-287, 20. Koty McGullam-200.