Lonnie Wheatley
PEORIA, Ariz. (May 25, 2016) – Canyon Speedway Park will celebrate Memorial Day weekend’s biggest racing event with the Fifth Annual “Salute to Indy” atop the 1/3-mile clay oval near Phoenix this Saturday and Sunday.
The two-night card that goes green at 7:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday features a full slate of USAC Southwest Sprint Cars both nights along with NAPA Non-Wing Sprint Cars, Scottsdale Muffler & Automotive IMCA Hobby Stocks vs. Renegades, Western Mod Lites and Power 600 Micro Sprints.
Stevie Sussex takes the momentum into the weekend’s USAC Southwest double with three wins in the most recent four series events, including the most recent outing at Canyon Speedway Park on March 26.
Sussex split last year’s “Salute to Indy” honors with three-time and reigning USAC Southwest champion R.J. Johnson, who has topped four of the last six Indy weekend feature events.
Johnson swept the 2013 edition and then split 2014 honors with Josh Pelkey before splitting last year’s glory with Sussex. Dalten Gabbard and Colby Copeland shared inaugural Salute to Indy honors in 2012.
Sussex currently holds a 30-point edge over Johnson in USAC Southwest Sprint Car points with Charles Davis, Jr., Mike Martin and Matt Rossi among the current top five. Others in the top ten include Pelkey, Nick Aiuto, Dennis Gile, Chris Bonneau and Tye Mihocko.
The NAPA Non-Wing Sprint Cars have mixed it up at CSP once already this year with Cody Cambensy racing to victory lane ahead of Matt Lundy and Cody Batten.
Paul O’Connor reeled off his second Scottsdale Muffler & Automotive Hobby Stock vs. Renegade feature win last time out on May 7 but it’s Jason Crowe holding a two-point edge over Richard Bennett in the track championship chase with Jacob Madrid another eight points back in third and Mark Kilian another marker behind in fourth.
Hayden Bender scored the win in Western Mod Lite action last time out while Shon Deskins became the first repeat winner in Power 600 Micro Sprint completion after six different drivers had topped the initial six events of the season.
Paul Martin is the current Power 600 Micro Sprint points leader with a 24-point advantage over Tyler Merrill.
Tickets to this weekend’s Fifth Annual Salute to Indy are just $16 on both Saturday and Sunday, 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 Holiday Inn Express at 623-853-1313.
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 2016 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.