WEST COAST, SOUTHWEST SPRINTS RESUME APRIL 23; JOHNSON WINS AT ARIZONA SPEEDWAY; TULARE WEATHERED OUT
USAC’s West Coast and Southwest Sprint Car Series resume April 23. The West Coast Sprints return to the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway after inclement weather forced cancellation of last Saturday’s races at the Tulare (Calif.) oval. The Southwest Sprint Cars visit Cocopah Speedway in Yuma, Ariz.
One Johnson stands atop his respective series standings while the other is second entering the April 23 races. D.J. is the West Coast leader, just one point ahead of Brody Roa, while R.J., no relation, trails Stevie Sussex by 10 points in the latest Southwest points.
R.J. Johnson won his 30th career USAC Southwest Sprint race in Saturday night’s 4th Annual “Spring Fling” main event at Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek. He passed Mike Martin on lap 17 and led the rest of the way to beat Charles Davis Jr., Martin, Bruce St. James and Chris Bonneau. Sussex finished sixth Saturday.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS: April 9, 2016 – Queen Creek, Arizona – Arizona Speedway – “4th Annual Spring Fling”
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Nick Aiuto (#27 Aiuto), 2. Tom Ogle (#48 Ogle), 3. Bruce St. James (#7K St. James), 4. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 5. Asa Kesterson (#18 Kesterson), 6. Michael Curtis (#11c Turner/Wheeler), 7. Josh Pelkey (#12 Allen). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins), 2. Charles Davis, Jr. (#50 Massey), 3. Matt Rossi (#02 Rossi), 4. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood), 5. Brian Hosford (#22B Weber), 6. Matt Lundy (#98 Lundy), 7. Kyle Shipley (#99 Shipley). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 2. R.J. Johnson (#77M Michael), 3. Stevie Sussex (#21AZ Burkhart), 4. Chris Bonneau (#78 Bonneau), 5. Dennis Gile (#13 Gile), 6. Landon Cling (#54 Strait), 7. Dustin Burkhart (#14AZ Burkhart/White). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. R.J. Johnson, 2. Charles Davis, Jr., 3. Mike Martin, 4. Bruce St. James, 5. Chris Bonneau, 6. Stevie Sussex, 7. Shon Deskins, 8. Josh Pelkey, 9. Tye Mihocko, 10. Tom Ogle, 11. Andy Reinbold, 12. Landon Cling, 13. Dennis Gile, 14. Brian Hosford, 15. Matt Rossi, 16. Kyle Shipley, 17. Michael Curtis, 18. Dustin Burkhart, 19. Nick Aiuto, 20. Matt Lundy, 21. Asa Kesterson. NT
**Lundy flipped on lap 3 of the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-16 Martin, Laps 17-30 Johnson
HARD CHARGER: Josh Pelkey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEXT USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR EVENTS:
DATE: Saturday April 23, 2016
SERIES: USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series
TRACK: Thunderbowl Raceway (Tulare, California) – 1/3-mile, dirt oval
EVENT: "J.D. Heiskell & Company Appreciation Day" featuring the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars, Western RaceSaver Sprints & "Legends of Kearney Bowl" Vintage Cars
STARTING TIMES: Ticket Trailer Opens 1:30pm. Pit Booth Opens: 2pm. Gate Opens 4pm. Hot Laps 5pm. Qualifying: 6pm. Racing Starts: 7pm.
TICKETS: TBA
TRACK ADDRESS: 6080 Leonard Noel Dr., Tulare, CA 93274
TRACK PHONE: (559) 688-0909
TRACK WEBSITE: http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DATE: Saturday April 23, 2016
SERIES: USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series
TRACK: Cocopah Speedway (Yuma, Arizona) – 3/8-mile, semi-banked clay oval
EVENT:USAC Southwest Sprint Cars, IMCA Hobby Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Stock Cars & IMCA Modifieds
STARTING TIMES: TBA
TICKETS: TBA
TRACK ADDRESS: 3450 W County 15th St, Somerton, AZ 85350
TRACK PHONE: (928) 344-1563
TRACK WEBSITE: http://www.cocopahspeedway.com/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS AT THUNDERBOWL RACEWAY
(As of 4/11/2016)
1. (10) Ryan Bernal
2. (5) Bud Kaeding
3. (3) Richard Vander Weerd
4. (2) Kyle Larson & Craig Stidham
6. (1) Dean Alexander, Danny Faria, Jr., Dennis Howell, D.J. Johnson, Matt Mitchell, Peter Murphy and Jace Vander Weerd
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS AT COCOPAH SPEEDWAY
(As of 4/11/2016)
4/11/2015: R.J. Johnson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10)
1. (264) D.J. Johnson (Stockton, CA)
2. (263) Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA)
3. (260) Jace Vander Weerd (Visalia, CA)
4. (219) Trey Marcham (Oklahoma City, OK)
5. (216) Troy Rutherford (Ojai, CA)
6. (203) Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, CA)
7. (185) Max Adams (Loomis, CA)
8. (173) Tristan Guardino (Fremont, CA)
9. (169) Austin Liggett (Tracy, CA)
10. (147) Jeff Sibley (Oakdale, CA)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10)
1. (226) Stevie Sussex (Phoenix, AZ)
2. (216) R.J. Johnson (Tempe, AZ)
3. (195) Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ)
4. (159) Mike Martin (Yuma, AZ)
5. (153) Josh Pelkey (Peoria, AZ)
6. (140) Nick Aiuto (Gilbert, AZ)
7. (134) Matt Rossi (Peoria, AZ)
8. (128) Bruce St. James (Phoenix, AZ)
9. (125) Tye Mihocko (Peoria, AZ)
10. (115) Tom Ogle (Surprise, AZ)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
May 14: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway
Jun. 18: Santa Maria, CA - Santa Maria Raceway
Jun. 25: Hanford, CA - Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds
Jul. 22: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway
Jul. 23: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway
Aug. 6: Santa Maria, CA - Santa Maria Raceway
Aug. 12: Watsonville, CA - Ocean Speedway
Aug. 13: Hanford, CA - Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
Apr 30: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway Park
May 7: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway
May 28: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway Park
May 29: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway Park
Jun 11: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway
Jul 2: Queen Creek, AZ - Arizona Speedway
Jul 30: Peoria, AZ - Canyon Speedway Park
Aug 17: Lawton, OK - (SE) Lawton Speedway
Aug 18: Sapulpa, OK - (SE) Creek County Speedway
Aug 19: Wichita, KS - (SE) 81 Speedway
Aug 20: Dodge City, KS - (SE) Dodge City Raceway Park
Sep 2: El Paso, TX - ### El Paso Speedway Park
Sep 3: Las Cruces, NM - ### Southern New Mexico Speedway
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR STATISTICS
FEATURE WINS:
1. (1) Bryan Clauson (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 4)
(1) D.J. Johnson (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 12)
(1) Troy Rutherford (Bakersfield Speedway on March 19)
(1) Richard Vander Weerd (Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds on April 2)
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)
FEATURE LAPS LED:
1. (30) D.J. Johnson
2. (29) Troy Rutherford
3. (28) Jace Vander Weerd
4. (21) Bryan Clauson
5. (4) Stevie Sussex
6. (3) Brody Roa & Richard Vander Weerd
8. (2) Brady Bacon
TOP-FIVE FEATURE FINISHES:
1. (3) D.J. Johnson & Brody Roa
3. (2) Jace Vander Weerd & Richard Vander Weerd
5. (1) Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Josh Hodges, Landon Hurst, Austin Liggett, Trey Marcham, Troy Rutherford, Kyle Smith & Stevie Sussex
TOP-TEN FEATURE FINISHES:
1. (4) D.J. Johnson
2. (3) Trey Marcham, Brody Roa & Jace Vander Weerd
5. (2) Max Adams, Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Tristan Guardino, Troy Rutherford, Jeff Sibley, Ryan Timmons & Richard Vander Weerd
13. (1) Dave Darland, Charles Davis, Jr., Geoff Ensign, Ronnie Gardner, Josh Hodges, Landon Hurst, R.J. Johnson, Austin Liggett, Cody Majors, Kyle Smith and Stevie Sussex
WOODLAND AUTO DISPLAY FAST QUALIFYING TIMES:
1. (1) Brody Roa & Jace Vander Weerd
HEAT RACE WINS (presented by Extreme Mufflers, DJ Safety and Brown & Miller Racing Solutions):
1. (2) Bryan Clauson
2. (1) Max Adams, Nick Aiuto, Dave Darland, Charles Davis, Jr., Geoff Ensign, Danny Faria, Jr., Tristan Guardino, D.J. Johnson, Ricky Kirkbride, Austin Liggett and Troy Rutherford
SEMI WINS:
1. (1) Jason Grady and Jace Vander Weerd
FEATURE STARTS:
1. (4) Max Adams, D.J. Johnson, Trey Marcham, Brody Roa, Troy Rutherford & Jace Vander Weerd
7. (3) Kevin Barnes, Danny Faria, Jr., Tristan Guardino, Austin Liggett, Jeff Sibley, Ryan Timmons and Richard Vander Weerd
14. (2) Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Steve Hix, Ricky Kirkbride, Cody Majors, Mike Martin, Shannon McQueen, Kyle Smith and Geoffrey Strole
23. (1) Nick Aiuto, Corey Ballard, Luke Boles, Trent Carter, Dave Darland, Charles Davis, Jr., Cory Elliott, Geoff Ensign, Ronnie Gardner, Dennis Gile, Jason Grady, Johnathon Henry, James Herrera, Josh Hodges, Landon Hurst, R.J. Johnson, Tye Mihocko, Josh Pelkey, Jim Richardson, Matt Rossi, Casey Shuman, Colton Slack, Stevie Sussex and Johnny White
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR STATISTICS
FEATURE WINS:
1. (1) Bryan Clauson (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 4)
(1) R.J. Johnson (Arizona Speedway on April 9)
(1) Stevie Sussex (Canyon Speedway Park on March 26)
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)
FEATURE LAPS LED:
1. (21) Bryan Clauson
2. (19) Stevie Sussex
3. (16) Mike Martin
4. (14) R.J. Johnson
5. (13) Charles Davis, Jr.
6. (3) Brody Roa
7. (2) Brady Bacon & Bruce St. James
TOP-FIVE FEATURE FINISHES:
1. (2) R.J. Johnson & Stevie Sussex
3. (1) Brady Bacon, Chris Bonneau, Bryan Clauson, Charles Davis, Jr., Josh Hodges, Mike Martin, Tom Ogle, Josh Pelkey, Brody Roa, Matt Rossi & Bruce St. James
TOP-TEN FEATURE FINISHES:
1. (3) Charles Davis, Jr., R.J. Johnson & Stevie Sussex
4. (2) Chris Bonneau, Mike Martin, Tom Ogle, Josh Pelkey & Bruce St. James
9. (1) Nick Aiuto, Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Dave Darland, Shon Deskins, Josh Hodges, D.J. Johnson, Trey Marcham, Tye Mihocko, Brody Roa & Matt Rossi
HEAT RACE WINS:
1. (2) Nick Aiuto, Charles Davis, Jr. & Mike Martin
4. (1) Bryan Clauson, Dave Darland, Shon Deskins & R.J. Johnson
SEMI WINS:
1. (1) Jason Grady and Jace Vander Weerd
FEATURE STARTS:
1. (3) Nick Aiuto, Charles Davis, Jr., Dennis Gile, R.J. Johnson, Mike Martin, Tye Mihocko, Josh Pelkey, Matt Rossi & Stevie Sussex
10. (2) Chris Bonneau, Dustin Burkhart, Landon Cling, Michael Curtis, Brian Hosford, Matt Lundy, Tom Ogle, Andy Reinbold, Kyle Shipley & Bruce St. James
20. (1) Max Adams, Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Dave Darland, Shon Deskins, Jason Grady, Tanner Grau, Josh Hodges, D.J. Johnson, Asa Kesterson, Trey Marcham, Brody Roa, Troy Rutherford, Casey Shuman, Colton Slack & Jace Vander Weerd
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALL-TIME USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR DRIVER FEATURE WINS
1. [23 wins] Ryan Bernal
2. [12 wins] Richard Vander Weerd
3. [10 wins] Bud Kaeding
4. [8 wins] Danny Faria, Jr.
5. [5 wins] Jace Vander Weerd
6. [4 wins] T.J. Smith & Craig Stidham
8. [3 wins] Troy Rutherford
9. [2 wins] Wes Gutierrez, Cory Kruseman, Kyle Larson, Matt Mitchell, Davey Pombo & Danny Sheridan
15. [1 win] Dean Alexander, Bryan Clauson, Nic Faas, Justin Grant, Tristan Guardino, Justyne Hamblin, Josh Hodges, Dennis Howell, D.J. Johnson, Ricky Kirkbride, C.J. Leary, Austin Liggett, Peter Murphy, Brody Roa, 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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALL-TIME USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR DRIVER FEATURE WINS
1. [30 wins] R.J. Johnson
2. [12 wins] Charles Davis, Jr.
3. [6 wins] Rick Ziehl
4. [5 wins] Josh Pelkey & Stevie Sussex
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. [3 Special Event Wins] Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Dave Darland & R.J. Johnson
6. [2 Special Event Wins] Ryan Bernal, Charles Davis, Jr., Josh Hodges, 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS
2003: Rick Ziehl; 2004: Beau Binder; 2013: R.J. Johnson; 2014: R.J. Johnson; 2015: R.J. Johnson
