SOUTHWEST SPRINTS OUT IN THE WEST TEXAS TOWN OF EL PASO ON FRIDAY; THEN OFF TO LAS CRUCES ON SATURDAY
Two tracks located about 35 miles apart host USAC’s Southwest Sprint Car Series this weekend as R.J. Johnson continues his drive toward a fourth consecutive championship.
Western Tech Speedway Park in El Paso, Texas is the site of Friday night’s “Last Lap at The Park” race, while Saturday night’s 2nd Annual “Joe Herrera Memorial” race is at Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M. Both races are co-sanctioned by NMMRA.
USAC’s Texas Sprint car history dates back to A.J. Foyt’s 1959 victory at Houston, while New Mexico USAC Sprint racing dates back to only 2000 when Jeff Gardner won in Albuquerque.
Stevie Sussex, currently fifth in the Southwest standings, swept both races last year. Johnson and Mike Martin are also former winners at both tracks. Johnson, a two-time winner at both venues, swept both races in 2014. New Mexico’s Rick Ziehl is a five-time New Mexico winner, twice at Las Cruces.
Johnson’s point lead over Charles Davis Jr. stands at a comfortable 107 points, with 168 available this weekend.
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NEXT USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR EVENT:
DATE: Friday, September 2, 2016
SERIES: USAC Southwest Sprint Car Championship
TRACK: Western Tech Speedway (El Paso, Texas) – 3/8-mile dirt oval
EVENT: USAC Southwest Sprint Car Championship vs. NMMRA, USRA Modifieds, Street Stocks, X-Mods, 305 Winged Sprint Cars, Super Trucks, Southwest Late Models, Casa Nissan Legends Cars and Claimers
STARTING TIMES: Gates open at 5:30, Racing starts at 7:45.
TICKETS: General Admission: Adults-$15, Kids 10 & Under-FREE! Family Pack-$30 (2 Adults + 4 Children under 16). Pit Passes-$35.
TRACK ADDRESS: Catclaw Dr, El Paso, TX 79938
TRACK PHONE: (800) 658-9650
TRACK WEBSITE: http://epspeedwaypark.com/
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NEXT USAC WESTERN SPRINT CAR EVENT:
DATE: Saturday, September 3, 2016
SERIES: USAC Southwest Sprint Car Championship
TRACK: Southern New Mexico Speedway (Las Cruces, New Mexico) – 5/16-mile dirt oval
EVENT: USAC Southwest Sprint Car Championship vs. NMMRA, USRA Modifieds, Street Stocks, Mini-Sprints and Claimers.
STARTING TIMES: Gates open at 5:00, Racing starts at 7:45.
TICKETS: General Admission-$15, Kids 10 & Under-FREE! Family Pack-$30 (2 Adults + 4 Children under 16). Pit Passes-$35.
TRACK ADDRESS: 10263 Robert Larson Blvd, Las Cruces, NM 88007
TRACK PHONE: (575) 524-7913
TRACK WEBSITE: http://snmspeedway.com/
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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. (903) R.J. Johnson (Tempe, AZ)
2. (796) Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ)
3. (740) Mike Martin (Yuma, AZ)
4. (726) Matt Rossi (Peoria, AZ)
5. (640) Stevie Sussex (Phoenix, AZ)
6. (639) Nick Aiuto (Gilbert, AZ)
7. (614) Tye Mihocko (Peoria, AZ)
8. (546) Dennis Gile (Chandler, AZ)
9. (533) Andy Reinbold (Chandler, AZ)
10. (500) Josh Pelkey (Peoria, 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 - ### 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.
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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. (6) 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)
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. [35 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
