EL PASO, LAS CRUCES, TULAROSA HOST SOUTHWEST SPRINTS

R.J. Johnson of Phoenix, Ariz. resumes his pursuit of the 2014 USAC Southwest Sprint Car championship this weekend in three races in Texas and New Mexico.

Friday night’s race is at El Paso (Tex.) Speedway Park, while Saturday’s race is at Southern New Mexico Raceway in Las Cruces. Tularosa (N.M.) Speedway hosts Sunday night’s event.

The three-night tour follows a four-race “non-points” tour in America’s heartland which included a victory at Lawton, Okla. by Johnson.

Johnson, who holds a 44-point lead over Charles Davis Jr. in the latest Southwest standings, won last year’s El Paso race. Las Cruces native Rick Ziehl was the 2013 winner at his home track, while Tularosa will host its first USAC race since a Tim West victory in 2002.