USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINTS HEADLINE QUEEN CREEK’S "CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE NIGHT"
After a successful “Border Tour” with the NMMRA, the popular USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars will return to Queen Creek’s Arizona Speedway this Saturday, September 17th. Promoted by Jonah Trussel and located within ET Motopark, the “Central Arizona College Night” will also feature the San Tan Ford IMCA Modifieds, ModLites, and Bombers. The Front Gates will open at 5:00pm and Racing at the fast 3/8-mile oval will start at 7:00pm. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
Since April 13, 2013, twenty-one USAC SouthWest Sprint Car races have been held at the Queen Creek facility. Three-time and defending series champion R.J. Johnson leads all drivers with thirteen wins followed by “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (5), “The Magic Man” Mike Martin (1), Josh Pelkey (1), and Stevie Sussex (1). This season, Johnson has three wins at Arizona Speedway and Sussex claimed the May 7th victory.
After winning both nights of the “Border Tour” at El Paso and Las Cruces, R.J. Johnson (Tempe, Arizona) has a 107-point lead over the competition. Racing Bill Michael’s #77M Kodiak Products / Beal’s Auto Body Sherman, Johnson has posted ten feature wins, eight heat race victories, six top-qualifier awards, twenty-two top-10 finishes, and 230 feature laps led. The second generation driver will be looking for his series leading 43rd feature win this Saturday night.
Veteran racer “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (Buckeye, Arizona) is second in the championship point chase. Driving the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis ran second at El Paso and scored third at Las Cruces. To date, the five-time Arizona champion has eleven heat race victories, three top-qualifier awards, one hard charger award, twenty-one top-10 finishes, and 39 feature laps led to his credit. “Chargin” Charles ranks second on the series win list with thirteen victories and will have his sights on his first triumph of 2016.
Matt Rossi (Glendale, Arizona) ranks third in the USAC SouthWest point chase. Piloting the family owned #02 Apache Scapes / IWR Spike, Rossi scored eighth at El Paso and ran second to Johnson at Las Cruces. As this writing goes to press, the former Western World 360 Champion has three heat race victories, one semi-main win, eleven top-10 finishes, and thirteen feature laps led in the campaign. This Saturday, Matt will be looking to earn his fourth career SouthWest victory at Queen Creek.
“The Magic Man” Mike Martin (Yuma, Arizona) sits fourth in the chase for the championship. Racing his #16 Sherwin-Williams / Boulevard Truck Maxim, Martin scored eleventh at El Paso and Las Cruces. To date, the former Hall of Fame Classic winner has six heat race victories, one top-qualifier award, two hard charger awards, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 39 feature laps led in the campaign. “The Magic Man” is tied with Josh Pelkey for fifth on the series win list and will have his sights on adding another Queen Creek trophy to his collection.
“The Bull” Tye Mihocko is fifth in the championship point standings. Driving the family owned #5 Property Solutions / Michael Most Trucking entry, Mihocko scored eighteenth at El Paso and finished sixth at Las Cruces. At press time, the young driver has recorded one top-qualifier award, one hard charger award and thirteen top-10 finishes on the season. This Saturday, Tye will be looking to breakthrough and claim his first career USAC SouthWest triumph.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Dennis Gile, Nick Aiuto, Chris Bonneau, Brian Hosford, Andy Reinbold, Landon Cling, Shon Deskins, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, Michael Curtis, Matt Lundy, Tom Ogle, and more.
Arizona Speedway is located at 47800 N. Ironwood Road in Queen Creek, just five miles south of Mesa. To get to the track, exit Ironwood Drive on US 60, then head four miles south. Adult Tickets are $15, Senior Tickets are $12, Kids Tickets (11 & under) are FREE. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
For more information on the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series, visit www.southwestsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook.
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USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS: 2013-R.J. Johnson, 2014-R.J. Johnson, 2015-R.J. Johnson.
2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS: 10-R.J. Johnson, 5- Stevie Sussex, 4-Bryan Clauson, 3-Josh Hodges.
QUEEN CREEK USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS: 13-R.J. Johnson, 5-Charles Davis Jr., 1-Mike Martin, 1-Josh Pelkey, 1-Stevie Sussex.
USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. R.J. Johnson-1059, 2. Charles Davis Jr.-952, 3. Matt Rossi-864, 4. Mike Martin-841, 5. Tye Mihocko-707, 6. Dennis Gile-672, 7. Stevie Sussex-640, 8. Nick Aiuto-639, 9. Chris Bonneau-551, 10. Brian Hosford-549, 11. Andy Reinbold-533, 12. Landon Cling-506, 13. Josh Pelkey-500, 14. Shon Deskins-420, 15. Bruce St. James-346, 16. Michael Curtis-345, 17. Dustin Burkhart-330, 18. Matt Lundy-269, 19. Tom Ogle-241, 20. Jonas Reynolds-190.
2016 USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE:
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
September 17: Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ
October 15: Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ
October 22: Canyon Speedway – Peoria, AZ (Hank Arnold Memorial)
October 29: Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, AZ
November 4: Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships / $2,000-to-Win)
November 5: Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, AZ (Western World Championships / $5,000-to-Win)
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This schedule is subject to change.
LANCE JENNINGS – USAC MEDIA
