LVMS HOSTS NEXT WEST COAST SPRINT – MARCH 7;
CLAUSON TAKES 3, JOHNSON 1 IN “WINTER CHALLENGE”
 
USAC National Drivers Champion Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. emerged as the winner of the “Winter Challenge” at Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Ariz. this past week. Driving the Mike Martin Ultimate Offroad/Naquin Precision Earth Moving Maxim, he scored Wednesday, Friday and Saturday feature wins at the 3/8-mile dirt oval.
 
R.J. Johnson of Phoenix, Ariz. kept Clauson from recording a “clean sweep” with his Saturday win in the Bobby Martin Weiler Farms/Pecon Builders Maxim.
 
The USAC West Coast and Southwest Sprint Cars now gear up for another “special event” March 7 in the “Sin City Showdown” at the Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway Dirt Track.
 
Clauson passed Bruce St. James on the 11th lap of Wednesday night’s 30-lapper and led the final 20 laps to beat Jeremy Sherman, St. James, Richard Vander Weerd and Mike Martin. On Friday, Clauson passed Jon Stanbrough on lap 12 and led the final 19 laps to beat Stanbrough, Robert Ballou, Ryan Bernal and Charles Davis Jr.
 
Saturday’s day-night “doubleheader” was created by the previous weekend’s triple rainout. Johnson paced all 30 laps of Saturday’s daytime event to beat Stanbrough, Bernal, Davis and Josh Pelkey.
 
Clauson led all 30 laps of Saturday night’s 30-lapper, leading Sherman, Davis, Colby Copeland and Stanbrough to the checkered flag.
 
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Final 2013 “Winter Challenge” Points
1-Bryan Clauson-232, 2-Jon Stanbrough-226, 3-Charles Davis Jr.-215, 4-Jeremy Sherman-186, 5-Richard Vander Weerd-180.