“SUMMER SLAM” AT CANYON SATURDAY;

JOHNSON, ZIEHL TOP SOUTHWEST FEATURES

The “Summer Slam” invades Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Ariz. Saturday and R.J. Johnson enjoys a comfortable 88-point lead over Charles Davis Jr. in the latest USAC Southwest Sprint series standings.

Johnson, who already has five victories at Canyon, nearly pulled off a back-to-back “double” last weekend, winning at El Paso, Texas Friday and finishing second Saturday at Las Cruces, N.M.

Johnson, of Phoenix, Ariz., and his Michaels entry led all but the first two laps of Friday night’s 30-lap USAC Southwest Sprint race at El Paso (Texas) Speedway Park for his eighth win of the year. Davis finished second ahead of Kyle McCutcheon, Mike Martin and Andy Reinbold. McCutcheon led the first two laps.

Rick Ziehl won Saturday night’s 30-lap race at his home track – Southern New Mexico Speedway – passing Johnson on the last lap! Ziehl, USAC’s 2003 Southwest Champion, piloted the Lucas Oil/Bay Hayes Motorsports Maxim/Wesmar to the win over Johnson, Davis, Reinbold and Josh Hodges. Johnson led 25 of the 30 laps.