CANYON’S “SALUTE TO INDY” PLAYS HOST TO TWO NIGHTS OF USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT ACTION
This weekend’s “Salute to Indy” at Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Ariz. pits series stars Stevie Sussex, R.J. Johnson and Charles Davis, Jr. and the rest of the USAC Southwest Sprint Car contingent against each other on back-to-back nights Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 28.
Only 30 points separate point leader Sussex and runner-up Johnson entering this weekend’s duel while Davis lurks just 50 markers out of the lead in third.
Sussex won at Canyon March 26 while Johnson was third and Davis seventh. Johnson leads in terms of all-time Canyon USAC victories with 14. Davis has five and Sussex four.
Mike Martin, Matt Rossi and Josh Pelkey, who rank fourth, fifth and sixth in the current standings respectively, each have a pair of Canyon victories on their resume.
Johnson is seeking a record fourth consecutive series title, while the other five with previous Canyon wins are all seeking their first series championship.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEXT USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR EVENT:
DATE: Saturday, May 28 & Sunday, May 29, 2016
SERIES: USAC Southwest Sprint Car Championship
TRACK: Canyon Speedway Park (Peoria, Arizona) – 1/3-Mile, Dirt Oval
EVENT: 5th Annual “Salute to Indy” featuring the USAC Southwest Sprint Cars, NAPA Non-Wing Sprint Cars, IMCA Hobby Stocks vs. Renegades, Western Modlites and Mini Sprints
STARTING TIMES: Spectator Gates: 5:00pm; Racing: 7:00pm
TICKETS: Adult – $16.00; Military – $13.00; Students (13-18) – $13.00; Children (7-12) – $6; 6 and Under – Free; Seniors – $13.00; VIP – $20.00; Pit Pass – $35.00.
TRACK ADDRESS: 9777 W. Carefree Hwy, Peoria, AZ 85345
TRACK PHONE: (602) 258-7223
TRACK WEBSITE: http://canyonspeedwaypark.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALL-TIME USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS AT THUNDERBOWL RACEWAY:
(Prior to 5/14/2016 event)
1. (10) Ryan Bernal
2. (5) Bud Kaeding
3. (3) Richard Vander Weerd
4. (2) D.J. Johnson, Kyle Larson & Craig Stidham
7. (1) Dean Alexander, Danny Faria, Jr., Dennis Howell, Austin Liggett, Matt Mitchell, Peter Murphy & Jace Vander Weerd
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10):
1. (404) D.J. Johnson (Stockton, CA)
2. (396) Brody Roa (Garden Grove, CA)
3. (359) Trey Marcham (Oklahoma City, OK)
4. (356) Jace Vander Weerd (Visalia, CA)
5. (344) Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, CA)
6. (314) Austin Liggett (Tracy, CA)
7. (286) Max Adams (Loomis, CA)
8. (278) Tristan Guardino (Fremont, CA)
9. (249) Ryan Timmons (Pleasant Hill, CA)
10. (237) Jeff Sibley (Oakdale, CA)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10):
1. (386) Stevie Sussex (Phoenix, AZ)
2. (356) R.J. Johnson (Tempe, AZ)
3. (336) Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ)
4. (294) Mike Martin (Yuma, AZ)
5. (279) Matt Rossi (Peoria, AZ)
6. (258) Josh Pelkey (Peoria, AZ)
7. (247) Nick Aiuto (Gilbert, AZ)
8. (238) Dennis Gile (Chandler, AZ)
9. (216) Chris Bonneau (Peoria, AZ)
10. (196) Tye Mihocko (Peoria, 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
WINNER: D.J. Johnson
May 14: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway
WINNER: Austin Liggett
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
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
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. (2) D.J. Johnson (Thunderbowl Raceway on Mar. 12 & Thunderbowl Raceway on Apr. 23)
2. (1) Bryan Clauson (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Mar. 4)
(1) Austin Liggett (Thunderbowl Raceway on May 14)
(1) Troy Rutherford (Bakersfield Speedway on Mar. 19)
(1) Richard Vander Weerd (Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds on Apr. 2)
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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR STATISTICS FEATURE WINS:
1. (3) Stevie Sussex (Canyon Speedway Park on Mar. 26, Cocopah Speedway on Apr. 23 & Arizona Speedway on May 7)
2. (1) Bryan Clauson (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Mar. 4)
(1) R.J. Johnson (Arizona Speedway on Apr. 9)
2016 USAC SOUTHWEST 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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, D.J. Johnson, Cory Kruseman, Kyle Larson, Austin Liggett, Matt Mitchell, Davey Pombo & Danny Sheridan
17. [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, 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. [7 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. [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
