LAKE HAVASU HOSTS PAVEMENT MIDGETS MARCH 15;

JOHNSON WIRE-TO-WIRE AT CANYON; SATURDAY A WASH

Havasu 95 Speedway in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. hosts the next Honda USAC Western Midget race March 15, while the dirt portion of the calendar resumes May 3 at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway.

R.J. Johnson of Phoenix, Ariz. led all 20 laps to win Friday night’s dirt opener at the 7th “Copper on Dirt” at Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Ariz. Driving the Weiler Farms/Pecon Builders Spike/Fontana, he was trailed at the checkered flag by Alex Schutte, Trey Marcham, Terry Goodwin and Jake Swanson. Defending series champion Ronnie Gardner’s car was plagued by mechanical ills all night. Chad Nichols flipped during the feature.

Johnson’s victory tied Bryan Clauson with 12 wins as the winningest USAC drivers in Arizona history.

The Lake Havasu City event marks the first time the Western Midget series has visited the track which has hosted numerous HPD USAC Midget events.