SOUTHWEST SPRINTS AT EL PASO AUGUST 29;

JOHNSON, BACON, MARTIN, BONNEAU SHARE “FREEDOM TOUR” GLORY

The USAC Southwest Sprint Car points race resumes August 29 at El Paso (Texas) Speedway Park and point leader R.J. Johnson will once again continue his pursuit of a USAC championship after four “non-point” races this past week in America’s heartland.

Johnson, of Phoenix, Ariz., was one of four different winners during the “Freedom Tour” in Oklahoma and Kansas. He won Wednesday night’s 30-lap race at Lawton (Okla.) Speedway. Driving the Bill Michaels-owned Kodiak Products Sherman, he caught early leader and home-state favorite Brady Bacon on lap 19 and led the rest of the way to beat Bacon, Mike Martin, Aaron Reutzel and Koby Barksdale to the checkered flag.

Bacon, of Broken Arrow, Okla., captured Thursday night’s 30-lapper at Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, Okla. Second in the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint car standings at present, Bacon caught early leader Wyatt Burks on lap eight and led the rest of the way in his Fatheadz Eyewear Triple X to beat Colby Copeland, Josh Pelkey, Seth Bergman and Casey Shuman.

Mike Martin of Yuma, Ariz. captured Friday night’s 30-lap “Harold Leep Memorial” at 81 Speedway in Wichita, Kans. The “Magic Man” led all 30 laps in his PPM Maxim to beat Harli White, Johnson, Rick Ziehl and Bacon.

Mike Bonneau of Phoenix, Ariz. captured Saturday night’s “Freedom Tour” finale at Dodge City (Kans.) Raceway Park, leading the final seven laps after passing Ziehl on lap 24. Charles Davis Jr. took the runner-up spot ahead of White, Ziehl and Burks.