By Lance Jennings
JUNE 14, 2016… Racing past Matt Rossi on the thirteenth lap, R.J. Johnson (Tempe, Arizona) led the rest of the way to claim Saturday’s victory at Arizona Speedway. For Johnson, the $1,500 triumph marked his fourth USAC SouthWest Sprint Car win of the campaign. “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., Rossi, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, and Nick Aiuto chased the point leader to the checkered flags.
Starting fifth, R.J. Johnson earned his series leading thirty-sixth career feature win. Racing Bill Michael’s #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson was second in passing points after running second to Dennis Gile in his heat race. The three-time champion left Arizona Speedway with a 104-point lead with five heat race victories, five top-qualifier awards, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 109 feature laps led.
“Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (Buckeye, Arizona) powered from eighth to claim second in the Queen Creek main event. Driving the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis was fourth in his heat race and ranked eighth in passing points. Returning to Queen Creek on July 2nd, the five-time Arizona champion has climbed to second in the standings with eight heat race victories, two top-qualifier awards, one hard charger award, fourteen top-10 finishes, and 34 feature laps led to his credit.
After leading the first twelve laps, Matt Rossi (Glendale, Arizona) scored third at the finish line. Piloting the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / IWR Spike, Rossi was sixth in passing points after finishing second to Mike Martin in his heat race. The former Western World 360 Champion left Arizona Speedway sitting fifth in the standings with one heat race victory, one semi-main win, seven top-10 finishes, and 13 feature laps led on the year.
“The Magic Man” Mike Martin (Yuma, Arizona) placed fourth in the 30-lap main event. Racing his #16 Sherwin-Williams / Boulevard Truck Maxim, Martin won the night’s second 8-lap heat race and ranked fourth in passing points. The former Hall of Fame Classic winner heads to the schedule break with five heat race victories, two hard charger awards, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 27 feature laps led in the campaign.
Nick Aiuto (Camp Verde, Arizona) raced to fifth at Queen Creek after starting seventh. Driving his #27 4AZjustice.com / Ellis Race Cars entry, Aiuto placed seventh in passing points after running fourth in his heat race. To date, the veteran racer is sixth in championship points with two heat race victories, one hard charger award, and six top-10 finishes on the season.
After winning the night’s first 8-lap heat race, Dennis Gile (Phoenix, Arizona) earned his second top-qualifier award of the campaign. Piloting the family owned #13 Quarterback Academy / Bobby Q Ellis. Gile scored eighth in the main event. Last season’s Rookie of the Year left Queen Creek ranked ninth in the point standings with three heat race victories and nine top-10 finishes.
Michael Curtis (Cottonwood, Arizona) earned the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a ninth place run from seventeenth. Racing the Kevin Turner / Greg Wheeler owned #11C DAR Racing / JT Engineering Maxim, Curtis ran sixth in his heat race and placed seventeenth in passing points. The young driver currently ranks eighteenth in points with one top-qualifier award, two heat race victories, and four top-10 finishes to his credit.
“The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James (Phoenix, Arizona) raced to victory in the night’s third 8-lap heat race. Driving his #7K Woodland Auto Display / Weld Racing Maxim, St. James was third in passing points and scored tenth at the checkered flags. Sitting fifteenth in the point standings, the veteran racer had four top-10 finishes and 2 feature laps led.
After a break in the schedule, the USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars will return to Queen Creek’s Arizona Speedway on Saturday, July 2nd. Located at the ET Motopark, the “Independence Celebration” will also feature Dwarf Cars, Pure Stocks, and Bombers. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
For more information on the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series, visit www.southwestsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook.
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USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS:
June 11, 2016 – Queen Creek, Arizona – Arizona Speedway
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
- Dennis Gile (#13 Gile), 2. R.J. Johnson (#77M Michael), 3. Landon Cling (#54 Cling), 4. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood), 5. Jordan Stetson (#8AZ Stetson), 6. Joe Scheopner (#17 Scheopner), 7. Chris Bonneau (#78 Bonneau). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
- Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 2. Matt Rossi (#02 Rossi), 3. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 4. Nick Aiuto (#27 Aiuto), 5. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 6. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps)
- Bruce St. James (#7K St. James), 2. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 3. Dustin Burkhart (#14AZ Burkhart/White), 4. Brian Hosford (#32B Weber), 5. Matt Lundy (#98 Lundy), 6. Jonas Reynolds (#0 Reynolds). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
- R.J. Johnson (5th), 2. Charles Davis Jr. (8th), 3. Matt Rossi (1st), 4. Mike Martin (3rd), 5. Nick Aiuto (7th), 6. Tye Mihocko (2nd), 7. Brian Hosford (12th), 8. Dennis Gile (6th), 9. Michael Curtis (17th), 10. Bruce St. James (4th), 11. Josh Pelkey (15th), 12. Dustin Burkhart (9th), 13. Matt Lundy (14th), 14. Jonas Reynolds (16th), 15. Joe Scheopner (18th), 16. Jordan Stetson (13th), 17. Andy Reinbold (10th), 18. Landon Cling (11th), 19. Chris Bonneau (19th). NT
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**Cling flipped during the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-12 Rossi, Laps 13-30 Johnson.
HARD CHARGER: Michael Curtis (17th to 9th)
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
- R.J. Johnson-749, 2. Charles Davis Jr.-645, 3. Stevie Sussex-640, 4. Mike Martin-611, 5. Matt Rossi-592, 6. Nick Aiuto-517, 7. Tye Mihocko-492, 8. Josh Pelkey-444, 9. Dennis Gile-420, 10. Andy Reinbold-417, 11. Brian Hosford-377, 12. Chris Bonneau-358, 13. Landon Cling-324, 14. Shon Deskins-320, 15. Bruce St. James-304, 16. Dustin Burkhart-250, 17. Tom Ogle-241, 18. Michael Curtis-240, 19. Spencer Hill-138, 20. Jonas Reynolds-119.