Peoria, AZ — (January 29, 2016) — Bryan Clauson and Ricky Thornton, Jr., maintained the hottest of Winter Challenge 2016 hands on Friday night as both drivers posted their third triumphs in the fourth round of competition atop the 1/3-mile Canyon Speedway Park clay oval.
While Clauson captured another USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast non-wing Sprint Car feature victory and Thornton, Jr., topped the IMCA Modifieds for a third time as well, other Friday night winners included Matt Martinez in IMCA Stock Car vs. Pure Stock action, Jason Crowe in IMCA Hobby Stocks vs. Renegades and John Isabella in Dwarf Cars.
Noblesville, Indiana’s Bryan Clauson continued his mastery of the 1/3-mile CSP clay oval by racing into the lead on the fourth round and then checking out on the field in the 30-lapper to make it three-for-four in USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast Sprint Car action at Winter Challenge 2016.
Gridding the field fifth in Mike Martin’s Cancer Treatment Centers of America/Jonathan Byrd’s Racing No. 16, Clauson was up to second within two laps and then slipped underneath Brian Hosford to take command in turns one and two on the fourth round.
With just one caution after ten laps slowing the pace, Clauson cruised to a comfortable victory and his fourth overall win in the 10th race of his “Circular Insanity” pursuit of 200 races in 2016.
“We let the one Sunday get away, the guys worked hard all week to make sure that didn’t happen again,” Clauson commented in victory lane after the $2,000 triumph. “We threw some different things at it and what we tried tonight really brought this thing to life.”
In Clauson’s wake, Stevie Sussex rallied on the high side from 11th all the way to second by the midway point and then fought off R.J. Johnson over the closing circuits to secure runner-up honors. Johnson crossed the stripe third for his fourth top-four run in as many Winter Challenge events with Charles Davis, Jr., and Josh Hodges rounding out the top five.
USAC SOUTHWEST/WEST COAST “Special Event” SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS: January 29, 2016 – Peoria, Arizona – Canyon Speedway – “5th Winter Challenge” – “Arizona Speed Week”
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Kenny Perkins (#0K Perkins), 2. R.J. Johnson (#51 Martin), 3. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 4. Bob Strait (#45 Strait), 5. Matt McCarthy (#5X McCarthy), 6. Landon Cling (#54 Strait). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Brian Hosford (#22B Weber), 2. Dennis Gile (#13 Gile), 3. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 4. Stevie Sussex (#21Z Burkhart), 5. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood), 6. Matt Lundy (#98 Lundy), 7. Will Perkins (#50X Perkins), NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 2. Bryan Clauson (#16B Martin), 3. Josh Hodges (#74X Hodges), 4. Larry Gibson (#2X Gibson), 5. Guy Weedman (#27X Weedman). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Bryan Clauson, 2. Stevie Sussex, 3. R.J. Johnson, 4. Charles Davis Jr., 5. Josh Hodges, 6. Mike Martin, 7. Andy Reinbold, 8. Brian Hosford, 9. Tye Mihocko, 10. Dennis Gile, 11. Matt Lundy, 12. Landon Cling, 13. Bob Strait, 14. Guy Weedman, 15. Kenny Perkins, 16. Will Perkins, 17. Larry Gibson, 18. Matt McCarthy, 19. Tom Ogle (#48 Ogle), 20. Kyle Danielson (#17K Danielson). NT
—————————-
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1 Martin, Laps 2-3 Hosford, Laps 4-30 Clauson.
WINTER CHALLENGE POINTS:
NEXT SOUTHWEST/WEST COAST “Special Event” SPRINT CAR RACE: January 30 – Peoria, AZ – Canyon Speedway – “5th Winter Challenge” – “Arizona Speed Week”