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SouthWest
Tuesday, 6 September 2016

SOUTHWEST SPRINTS JUMP TO QUEEN CREEK SEPT. 17; R.J. JOHNSON SWEEPS BORDER TOUR

#77 R.J. Johnson swept both ends of last weekend's "Border Tour," winning in El Paso, Texas on Friday and in Las Cruces, New Mexicon on Saturday. #77 R.J. Johnson swept both ends of last weekend's "Border Tour," winning in El Paso, Texas on Friday and in Las Cruces, New Mexicon on Saturday.

SOUTHWEST SPRINTS JUMP TO QUEEN CREEK SEPT. 17; R.J. JOHNSON SWEEPS BORDER TOUR

R.J. Johnson’s USAC Southwest Sprint Car point lead blossomed to 107 points over Charles Davis, Jr. as a result of sweeping last weekend’s “Border Tour” series races in El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Johnson, the Phoenix, Ariz. driver who now has a record 37 series wins to his credit, won Friday’s “Last Lap at the Park” at Western Tech Speedway Park in El Paso, then grabbed Saturday’s 2nd “Joe Herrera Memorial” feature at Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces. Both races were co-sanctioned by NMMRA.

Wheeling the Kodiak Products/Beal’s Auto Body Sherman/Ford, Johnson passed Mike Martin on lap 13 and led the rest of the way at El Paso to beat Davis, Rick Ziehl, Chris Bonneau and Landon Cling.

On Saturday, continued his roll as he led all 30 laps to beat Matt Rossi, Davis, Dennis Gile and Matthew Cardenas.

Johnson has now won seven of the last eight Southwest Sprint races (including special events) and appears to be on his way to what would be a third consecutive series title. Six races remain on the calendar, including four at Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek where Johnson has won the last two events.

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NEXT USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR EVENT:

DATE: Saturday, September 17, 2016

SERIES: USAC Southwest Sprint Car Championship

TRACK: Arizona Speedway (Queen Creek, Arizona) – 1/3-mile, dirt oval

EVENT: “Central Arizona College Night” featuring the USAC Southwest Sprint Car Championship, Modifieds, Modlites and Bombers

STARTING TIMES: TBA

TICKETS: TBA

TRACK ADDRESS: 47346 N Ironwood Rd, San Tan Valley, AZ 85140

TRACK PHONE: (480) 926-6688

TRACK WEBSITE: http://arizonaspeedway.net/

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2016 FINAL USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10):

1.   (876) Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA)

2.   (807) Jace Vander Weerd (Visalia, CA)

3.   (794) D.J. Johnson (Stockton, CA)

4.   (704) Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, CA)

5.   (626) Max Adams (Loomis, CA)

6.   (622) Danny Faria, Jr. (Tipton, CA)

7.   (597) Austin Liggett (Tracy, CA)

8.   (590) Tristan Guardino (Fremont, CA)

9.   (551) Ryan Timmons (Pleasant Hill, CA)

10. (465) Cody Majors (Simi Valley, CA)

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2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10):

1.   (1059) R.J. Johnson (Tempe, AZ)

2.   (952) Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ)

4.   (864) Matt Rossi (Peoria, AZ)

3.   (841) Mike Martin (Yuma, AZ)

7.   (707) Tye Mihocko (Peoria, AZ)

8.   (672) Dennis Gile (Chandler, AZ)

5.   (640) Stevie Sussex (Phoenix, AZ)

6.   (639) Nick Aiuto (Gilbert, AZ)

9.   (551) Chris Bonneau (Peoria, AZ)

10. (549) Brian Hosford (Gilbert, AZ)

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2016 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & RESULTS:

Jan. 22: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway Park

WINNER: Bryan Clauson

Jan. 23: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway Park

WINNER: Bryan Clauson

Jan. 24: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway Park

WINNER: Josh Hodges

Jan. 29: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway Park

WINNER: Bryan Clauson

Jan. 30: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway Park

WINNER: Josh Hodges

Mar. 4: Las Vegas, NV - *** The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

WINNER: Bryan Clauson

Mar. 11: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway

WINNER: Rained Out

Mar. 12: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway

WINNER: D.J. Johnson

Mar. 19: Bakersfield, CA - Bakersfield Speedway

WINNER: Troy Rutherford

Apr. 2: Hanford, CA - Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds

WINNER: Richard Vander Weerd

Apr. 9: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway

WINNER: Rained Out

Apr. 23: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway

WINNER: D.J. Johnson

May 14: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway

WINNER: Austin Liggett

Jun. 18: Santa Maria, CA - Santa Maria Raceway

WINNER: Brody Roa

Jun. 25: Hanford, CA - Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds

WINNER: Brody Roa

Jul. 22: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway

WINNER: Ryan Bernal

Jul. 23: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway

WINNER: Troy Rutherford

Aug. 6: Santa Maria, CA - Santa Maria Raceway

WINNER: Jace Vander Weerd

Aug. 12: Watsonville, CA - Ocean Speedway

WINNER: Jace Vander Weerd

Aug. 13: Hanford, CA - Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds

WINNER: Richard Vander Weerd

Nov. 23: Ventura, CA - (SE) Ventura Raceway

Nov. 24: Ventura, CA - (SE) Ventura Raceway

**Races noted with (SE) represent a non-points "special event."

**Races noted with *** represent a race with the USAC Southwest Sprints.

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2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & RESULTS:

Jan. 22: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway Park

WINNER: Bryan Clauson

Jan. 23: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway Park

WINNER: Bryan Clauson

Jan. 24: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway Park

WINNER: Josh Hodges

Jan. 29: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway Park

WINNER: Bryan Clauson

Jan. 30: Peoria, AZ - *** (SE) Canyon Speedway Park

WINNER: Josh Hodges

Mar 4: Las Vegas, NV - *** The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

WINNER: Bryan Clauson

Mar 26: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway Park

WINNER: Stevie Sussex

Apr 9: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway

WINNER: R.J. Johnson

Apr 23: Yuma, AZ - Cocopah Speedway

WINNER: Stevie Sussex

Apr 30: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway Park

WINNER: Rained Out

May 7: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway

WINNER: Stevie Sussex

May 28: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway Park

WINNER: R.J. Johnson

May 29: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway Park

WINNER: R.J. Johnson

Jun 4: El Paso, TX - Western Tech Speedway Park

WINNER: Stevie Sussex

Jun 5: Las Cruces, NM – Southern New Mexico Speedway

WINNER: Stevie Sussex

Jun 11: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway

WINNER: R.J. Johnson

Jul 2: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway

WINNER: R.J. Johnson

Jul 30: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway Park

WINNER: R.J. Johnson

Aug 17: Lawton, OK - (SE) Lawton Speedway

WINNER: R.J. Johnson

Aug 18: Sapulpa, OK - (SE) Creek County Speedway

WINNER: R.J. Johnson

Aug 19: Wichita, KS - (SE) 81 Speedway

WINNER: Rained Out

Aug 20: Dodge City, KS - (SE) Dodge City Raceway Park

WINNER: Josh Hodges

Sep 2: El Paso, TX - ### Western Tech Speedway Park

WINNER: R.J. Johnson

Sep 3: Las Cruces, NM - ### Southern New Mexico Speedway

WINNER: R.J. Johnson

Sep 17: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway

Oct 15: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway

Oct 22: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway Park

Oct 29: Casa Grande, AZ - Central Arizona Speedway

Nov 4: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway

Nov 5: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway

**Races noted with (SE) represent a non-points "special event."

**Races noted with *** represent a race with the USAC West Coast Sprints.

**Races noted with ### represent a "Border Tour" event co-sanctioned with the New Mexico Motor Racing Association Sprints.

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2016 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR STATISTICS FEATURE WINS:

1. (2) D.J. Johnson (Thunderbowl Raceway on Mar. 12 & Thunderbowl Raceway on Apr. 23)

    (2) Brody Roa (Santa Maria Raceway on June 18 & Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds on June 25)

    (2) Troy Rutherford (Bakersfield Speedway on Mar. 19 & Thunderbowl Raceway on Jul. 23)

    (2) Jace Vander Weerd (Santa Maria Raceway on Aug. 6 & Ocean Speedway on Aug. 12)

    (2) Richard Vander Weerd (Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds on Apr. 2 & Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds on Aug. 13)

6. (1) Ryan Bernal (Thunderbowl Raceway on Jul. 22)

    (1) Bryan Clauson (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Mar. 4)

    (1) Austin Liggett (Thunderbowl Raceway on May 14)

 

2016 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR NON-POINTS “SPECIAL EVENT” FEATURE WINS:

1. (3) Bryan Clauson (Canyon Speedway (SE) on Jan. 22, Canyon Speedway (SE) on Jan. 23 & Canyon Speedway (SE) on Jan. 29)

2. (2) Josh Hodges (Canyon Speedway (SE) on Jan. 24 & Canyon Speedway (SE) on Jan. 30)

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2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR STATISTICS FEATURE WINS:

1. (8) R.J. Johnson (Arizona Speedway on Apr. 9, Canyon Speedway Park on May 28, Canyon Speedway Park on May 29, Arizona Speedway on June 11, Arizona Speedway on July 2, Canyon Speedway Park on July 30, Western Tech Speedway Park on Sept. 2 & Southern New Mexico Speedway on Sept. 3)

2. (5) Stevie Sussex (Canyon Speedway Park on Mar. 26, Cocopah Speedway on Apr. 23, Arizona Speedway on May 7, Western Tech Speedway Park on June 4 & Southern New Mexico Speedway on June 5)

3. (1) Bryan Clauson (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Mar. 4)

 

2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR NON-POINTS “SPECIAL EVENT” FEATURE WINS:

1. (3) Bryan Clauson (Canyon Speedway Park (SE) on Jan. 22, Canyon Speedway Park (SE) on Jan. 23 & Canyon Speedway Park (SE) on Jan. 29)

2. (2) Josh Hodges (Canyon Speedway Park (SE) on Jan. 24 & Canyon Speedway Park (SE) on Jan. 30)

    (2) R.J. Johnson (Lawton Speedway (SE) on Aug. 17 & Creek County Speedway (SE) on Aug. 18)

4. (1) Josh Hodges (Dodge City Raceway Park (SE) on Aug. 20)

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ALL-TIME USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR DRIVER FEATURE WINS:

1. [24 wins] Ryan Bernal

2. [13 wins] Richard Vander Weerd

3. [10 wins] Bud Kaeding

4. [8 wins] Danny Faria, Jr.

5. [7 wins] Jace Vander Weerd

6. [4 wins] Troy Rutherford, T.J. Smith & Craig Stidham

9. [3 wins] Brody Roa

10. [2 wins] Wes Gutierrez, D.J. Johnson, Cory Kruseman, Kyle Larson, Austin Liggett, Matt Mitchell, Davey Pombo & Danny Sheridan

18. [1 win] Dean Alexander, Bryan Clauson, Nic Faas, Justin Grant, Tristan Guardino, Justyne Hamblin, Josh Hodges, Dennis Howell, Ricky Kirkbride, C.J. Leary, Peter Murphy, Stevie Sussex & Jake Swanson

 

ALL-TIME USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR “SPECIAL EVENT” FEATURE WINS:

1. [9 Special Event Wins] Bryan Clauson

2. [5 Special Event Wins] Ryan Bernal

3. [2 Special Event Wins] Brady Bacon, Dave Darland, Josh Hodges, R.J. Johnson, Mike Spencer & Richard Vander Weerd

9. [1 Special Event Win] Colby Copeland, Charles Davis, Jr., Bud Kaeding, Mike Martin, Peter Murphy, Matt Rossi & Terry Schank, Jr.

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ALL-TIME USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR DRIVER FEATURE WINS:

1. [37 wins] R.J. Johnson

2. [12 wins] Charles Davis, Jr.

3. [9 wins] Stevie Sussex

4. [6 wins] Rick Ziehl

5. [5 wins] Josh Pelkey

6. [4 wins] Mike Martin

7. [3 wins] Matt Rossi

8. [2 wins] Ryan Bernal, Bryan Clauson & Kent Rosevear

11. [1 win] Beau Binder, Shon Deskins, Justin Grant, Josh Hodges, Brandon Lane, Garry Lee Maier, Brody Roa, Mike Spencer & Rick Williams

 

ALL-TIME USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR “SPECIAL EVENT” FEATURE WINS:

1.   [8 Special Event Wins] Bryan Clauson

2.   [5 Special Event Wins] R.J. Johnson

3.   [3 Special Event Wins] Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Dave Darland & Josh Hodges

7.   [2 Special Event Wins] Ryan Bernal, Charles Davis, Jr., Mike Martin & Rick Ziehl

11. [1 Special Event Win] Beau Binder, Mike Bonneau, Ronnie Clark, Colby Copeland, Dean Freitas, Blake Hahn, Dennis Krob, C.J. Leary, Austin Liggett, Josh Pelkey, Danny Smith, Mike Spencer & Richard Vander Weerd

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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS:

2010: Craig Stidham; 2011: Richard Vander Weerd; 2012: Bud Kaeding; 2013: Danny Faria, Jr.; 2014: Matt Mitchell; 2015: Danny Faria, Jr., 2016: Brody Roa

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USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS:

2003: Rick Ziehl; 2004: Beau Binder; 2013: R.J. Johnson; 2014: R.J. Johnson; 2015: R.J. Johnson