Casa Grande Hosts USAC Southwest Sprint Car “Haloween Havoc”

#78 Chris Bonneau – 8th in USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Point Standings. Photo by Patrick Shaw / Backed In Photography.
#78 Chris Bonneau – 8th in USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Point Standings. Photo by Patrick Shaw / Backed In Photography.

#78 Chris Bonneau – 8th in USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Point Standings. Photo by Patrick Shaw / Backed In Photography.
#78 Chris Bonneau – 8th in USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Point Standings. Photo by Patrick Shaw / Backed In Photography.
From Lance Jennings

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (October 25, 2016) — This Saturday, October 29th, 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 “Halloween Havoc” will also showcase Modifieds, Pure Stocks, and Bombers. In honor of the event, drivers will have Halloween candy for young race fans. For more event and ticket information, visit www.centralarizonaspeedway.com or call 480.266.1378.

Since March 23, 2013, Central Arizona Speedway has hosted six USAC SouthWest Sprint Car events. “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. won the series debut and is tied with R.J. Johnson for the series lead with two victories. Josh Pelkey 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 nineteenth point race, R.J. Johnson (Tempe, Arizona) has a 96-point lead over the competition. Driving Bill Michael’s #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson ran seventh in last Saturday’s “Hank Arnold Memorial” at Canyon Speedway Park. At press time, the three-time champion has eleven feature wins, nine heat race victories, six top-qualifier awards, twenty-five top-10 finishes, and 260 feature laps led on the year. R.J. leads all drivers with 43 career SouthWest victories and will be looking to add the “Halloween Havoc” trophy to his collection.

“Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (Buckeye, Arizona) is second in the championship point standings. Piloting the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis scored his first victory of the year at the “Hank Arnold Memorial.” To date, the five-time Arizona champion has twelve heat race victories, four top-qualifier awards, one hard charger award, twenty-four top-10 finishes, and 47 feature laps led on the year. With fourteen wins, “Chargin” Charles ranks second on the series win list and will have his sights on winning the “Halloween Havoc.”

After running second at Canyon Speedway Park, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin (Yuma, Arizona) has climbed to third in the point chase. Racing his #16 Sherwin-Williams / Boulevard Truck Maxim, Martin has posted six heat race victories, one top-qualifier award, three hard charger awards, seventeen top-10 finishes, and 39 feature laps led to his credit. The former Hall of Fame Classic winner is tied with Josh Pelkey for fifth on the series win list and will be looking for the victory at Casa Grande.

“The Real American” Matt Rossi (Glendale, Arizona) ranks fourth in the chase for the championship. Driving the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / IWR Spike, Rossi placed fifteenth in last Saturday’s feature. At press time, the former Western World 360 Champion has three heat race victories, one semi-main win, twelve top-10 finishes, and thirteen feature laps led on the year. Currently tied with Brady Bacon, Dave Darland, and Rick Ziehl for ninth on the series win list, Matt will have his sights on his fourth SouthWest victory.

“The Bull” Tye Mihocko (Peoria, Arizona) sits fifth in the point standings. Piloting the family owned #5 Property Solutions / Michael Most Trucking Spike, Mihocko ran seventh in the “Hank Arnold Memorial.” To date, the young driver has one top-qualifier award, one hard charger award, and fifteen top-10 finishes in the campaign. Tye will be looking to breakthrough and earn his first career USAC win at Central Arizona Speedway.

Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Dennis Gile, Stevie Sussex, Chris Bonneau, Nick Aiuto, Brian Hosford, Landon Cling, Josh Pelkey, Andy Reinbold, Michael Curtis, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, Tom Ogle, Matt Lundy, 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.

For more information on the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series, visit www.southwestsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook.

USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. R.J. Johnson-1271, 2. Charles Davis Jr.-1175, 3. Mike Martin-1009, 4. Matt Rossi-996, 5. Tye Mihocko-870, 6. Dennis Gile-837, 7. Stevie Sussex-785, 8. Chris Bonneau-691, 9. Brian Hosford-679, 10. Landon Cling-658, 11. Andy Reinbold-649, 12. Nick Aiuto-639, 13. Josh Pelkey-611, 14. Bruce St. James-489, 15. Shon Deskins-459, 16. Michael Curtis-453, 17. Matt Lundy-406, 18. Tom Ogle-353, 19. Dustin Burkhart-330, 20. Tanner Grau-224.