R.J. JOHNSON WINS CANYON SPEEDWAY PARK’S “STEVE STROUD MEMORIAL”
By Lance Jennings
FEBRUARY 5, 2018... Fresh off his fifth consecutive Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Car championship, R.J. Johnson (Laveen, Arizona) continued his winning ways last Saturday night. Racing past Stevie Sussex on the fourth lap, Johnson led the rest of the way to claim the “2nd Annual Steve Stroud Memorial” at Canyon Speedway Park. Sussex, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., Michael Curtis, and “The Bull” Tye Mihocko rounded out the top-five drivers.
Piloting Bobby Martin’s #51 Martin Family Auto Museum / Pecon Builders Sherman, Johnson opened the season by finishing second in his heat race to Davis and ranking fifth in passing points. Starting on the outside of the front row, R.J. added the “Steve Stroud Memorial” to his resume and scored his series leading fifty-second feature. The second generation driver left Canyon with a two-point lead over the competition.
After starting third and leading the first three laps, Stevie Sussex (Tempe, Arizona) had to settle for second at Canyon Speedway Park. Racing John Grau’s #34 Western Premier Hauling / KSE Custom Drywall Maxim, Sussex placed third in his heat race and was fourth in passing points. Last season’s USAC National Sprint Car Rookie of the Year heads to Las Vegas ranked third in the point chase.
“Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (Buckeye, Arizona) had a solid night in the season opener with a third place finish after starting fifth. Driving the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis won the second 8-lap heat race and placed second in the night’s passing points. The five-time Arizona sprint car champion left the “Stroud Memorial” ranked second in the standings.
Michael Curtis (Cottonwood, Arizona) scored fourth at the “Steve Stroud Memorial.” Piloting Kevin Turner & Greg Wheeler’s #11C DAR Racing / JT Engineering Maxim, Curtis ran fourth in his 8-lap heat race and placed sixth in the program’s passing points. Michael left the Peoria 1/3-mile oval ranked fourth in the series point standings.
“The Bull” Tye Mihocko (Peoria, Arizona) raced from seventh to fifth in front of his hometown fans. Driving the family owned #5 Property Solutions by Dave Wilson / Futuristic Designs Spike, Mihocko took fourth in his heat race and placed seventh in passing points. The young driver left the “Steve Stroud Memorial” ranked sixth in championship points.
Dennis Gile (Phoenix, Arizona) earned the night’s hard charger award with an eighth place run at the “Steve Stroud Memorial” after starting fourteenth. Racing Gene Gile’s #13 Quarterback Academy / Bobby Q Ellis, Gile scored eight in his heat race and placed fourteenth in passing points. Dennis heads to Las Vegas sitting ninth in the chase for the championship.
“The Magic Man” Mike Martin (Yuma, Arizona) earned the night’s Beaver Stripes Passing Master Award over the sixteen car field. Piloting his #16 Sherwin-Williams / Ultimate Offroad Maxim, Martin won the season’s first 8-lap heat race and finished ninth at the checkered flags. The former Hall of Fame Classic winner left Canyon Speedway Park ranked seventh in the point chase.
After a break in the schedule, the Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars will travel to The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on February 28th and March 1st. Co-sanctioned with the USAC West Coast Sprints, the non-point “Outlaw Showdown” will pay $3,000-to-win each night and also features the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and IMCA Modifieds. For more event information, visit the track’s website at www.lvms.com/dirt or call 702.644.4444.
The Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series thanks AMSOIL, Hoosier Tire, and Beaver Stripes for their support. For more information on the series, visit www.southwestsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook.
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SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES RACE RESULTS: February 3, 2018 – Peoria, Arizona – Canyon Speedway Park – “2nd Annual Steve Stroud Memorial”
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 2. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen), 3. Johnny Shelton (#9 Shelton), 4. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler), 5. Landon Cling (#54 Cling), 6. Larry Kesterson (#F2 Kesterson), 7. Wayne Siddle (#7 Siddle), 8. Dennis Gile (#13 Gile). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Davis), 2. R.J. Johnson (#51 Martin), 3. Stevie Sussex (#34 Grau), 4. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 5. Matt Lundy (#98 Lundy), 6. Colton Maroney (#66 Maroney), 7. Mason Keefer (#7K Keefer), 8. Tyler Adams (#9G Adams). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions) 1. R.J. Johnson (2nd), 2. Stevie Sussex (3rd), 3. Charles Davis Jr. (5th), 4. Michael Curtis (1st), 5. Tye Mihocko (7th), 6. Josh Pelkey (4th), 7. Landon Cling (11th), 8. Dennis Gile (14th), 9. Mike Martin (6th), 10. Matt Lundy (10th), 11. Colton Maroney (12th), 12. Johnny Shelton (8th), 13. Tyler Adams (15th), 14. Larry Kesterson (9th), 15. Mason Keefer (16th), 16. Wayne Siddle (13th). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-3 Sussex, Laps 4-30 Johnson.
HARD CHARGER: Dennis Gile (14th to 8th)
BEAVER STRIPES TOP QUALIFIER: Mike Martin
SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1-R.J. Johnson-79, 2-Charles Davis Jr.-77, 3-Stevie Sussex-76, 4-Michael Curtis-67, 5-Josh Pelkey-66, 6-Tye Mihocko-63, 7-Mike Martin-60, 8-Landon Cling-56, 9-Dennis Gile-50, 10-Matt Lundy-47.
2018 SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
February 28: *The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Las Vegas, NV (FVP Outlaw Showdown / $3,000-to-win / Non-Points)
March 1: *The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Las Vegas, NV (FVP Outlaw Showdown / $3,000-to-win / Non-Points)
March 17: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ
March 24: Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, AZ
March 31: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Easter Eggstravaganza)
April 14: Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, AZ (Cotton Classic)
April 28: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ
May 19: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ
May 26: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Salute to Indy)
May 27: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Salute to Indy)
June 9: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ
August 15: I-30 Speedway – Little Rock, AR (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 16: Creek County Speedway – Sapulpa, OK (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 17: 81 Speedway – Wichita, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
August 18: 81 Speedway – Wichita, KS (Freedom Tour / $2,500-to-Win / Non-Points)
September 1: Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, AZ (Hank Arnold Memorial)
September 2: Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, AZ (Hank Arnold Memorial)
September 8: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Lealand McSpadden Tribute)
September 21: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Sands Chevrolet Southwest Championships)
September 22: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Sands Chevrolet Southwest Championships)
October 20: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Race For The Cure)
October 27: Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, AZ (Howl-O-Ween Bash)
November 2: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
November 3: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)
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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC West Coast Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.