USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINTS HEADLINE SATURDAY’S “RACE FOR THE CURE” AT CANYON SPEEDWAY PARK

By Lance Jennings

OCTOBER 18, 2017... This Saturday, October 21st, the popular Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars will make their seventh and final appearance of the year at Canyon Speedway Park. Promoted by Doug Gabbard, the “Race For The Cure” at the Peoria, Arizona oval will also feature IMCA Stock Cars, Dwarf Cars, and the Power 600 Non-Wing Micro Sprints. The spectator gates will open at 5:00pm and racing is scheduled for 7:00pm. For more event information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or call (602) 258-7223 (RACE). 

Since January 26, 2013, Canyon Speedway Park has hosted fifty-six USAC SouthWest Sprint Car events. R.J. Johnson leads all drivers with seventeen Canyon victories followed by Bryan Clauson (8), “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (6), Ryan Bernal (4), “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland (4), and Stevie Sussex (4). A complete series win list at Canyon Speedway Park is at the end of this release.

Entering the twenty-first point race, R.J. Johnson (Laveen, Arizona) leads the chase for the championship with a 106-point advantage. Driving Bobby Martin’s #51 Martin Family Auto Museum / Pecon Builders Sherman, Johnson won the September 30th “Hall of Fame Classic” at Canyon. To date, the four-time champion has seven feature wins, ten heat race victories, four Beaver Stripes Passing Master Awards, one semi-main win, three hard charger awards, eighteen top-10 finishes, and 188 feature laps led. R.J. leads all drivers with fifty-one USAC SouthWest wins and will be looking to add the “Race For The Cure” to his resume.

“Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (Buckeye, Arizona) is second in the USAC SouthWest point standings. Racing the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / Rod End Supply RSS, Davis won the September 29th “Hall of Fame Classic” preliminary before taking fourth in the finale. At press time, the five-time Arizona champion has six feature wins, eight heat race victories, six Beaver Stripes Passing Master Awards, seventeen top-10 finishes, and 121 feature laps led in the campaign. “Chargin” Charles has twenty series wins and will have his sights on the victory at Canyon Speedway Park.

Shon Deskins (Waddell, Arizona) ranks third in the championship point chase. Piloting Bill Richards’ #7 Just Racin’ LLC / Spike Chassis entry, Deskins ran fifth in the “Hall of Fame Classic.” As this writing goes to press, the newly crowned NMMRA Sprint Car Champion has one heat race victory, one Beaver Stripes Passing Master Award, two hard charger awards, seventeen top-10 finishes, and 26 feature laps led on the year. Shon will be looking to earn his second career USAC SouthWest feature win this Saturday night.

“The Bull” Tye Mihocko (Peoria, Arizona) is fourth in the USAC SouthWest point chase. Driving the family owned #5 Property Solutions by Dave Wilson / Futuristic Designs Spike, Mihocko placed eleventh in the September 30th main event. To date, the young driver has five heat race victories, two Beaver Stripes Passing Master Awards, one semi-main win, one hard charger award, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 19 feature laps led to his credit. “The Bull” will have his sights on making the “Race For The Cure” his first career series win.

Nick Aiuto (Maricopa, Arizona) sits fifth in the championship standings. Racing his #27 Hughey & Phillips / Bob Bondurant Driving School Eagle, Aiuto charged from sixteenth to ninth in the “Hall of Fame Classic.” At press time, Nick has three heat race victories, one Beaver Stripes Passing Master Award, two hard charger awards, and ten top-10 finishes on the season. The veteran driver will be looking to score his first USAC SouthWest triumph at the “Race For The Cure.”

Among the other drivers expected to be in action are “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Chris Bonneau, Michael Curtis, Matt Lundy, Stevie Sussex, Andy Reinbold, Jeff Lowery, Brent Yarnal, Landon Cling, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, Cody Sickles, and more.

Canyon Speedway Park is located at 9777 West Carefree Highway in Peoria, Arizona. To get to the track, take Lake Pleasant Parkway, then 1.3 miles west on Carefree Highway. General Admission Adult tickets are $20, Senior tickets (60 and over) are $15, Active Military (with ID) tickets are $15, and Kids tickets (11 and under) are FREE. Advance tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling 602.258.RACE (7223).  For more event information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com.

For more information on the Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series, visit www.southwestsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook. 

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SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS: 2013-R.J. Johnson, 2014-R.J. Johnson, 2015-R.J. Johnson, 2016-R.J. Johnson.

2017 SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS: 7-R.J. Johnson, 6-Charles Davis Jr., 2-Ryan Bernal, 2-Stevie Sussex, 1-Dave Darland, 1-Blake Hahn, 1-Matt Rossi.

PEORIA SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS: 17-R.J. Johnson, 8-Bryan Clauson, 6-Charles Davis Jr., 4-Ryan Bernal, 4-Dave Darland, 4-Stevie Sussex, 3-Matt Rossi, 2-Brady Bacon, 2-Josh Hodges, 2-Josh Pelkey, 1-Colby Copeland, 1-Mike Martin, 1-Mike Spencer, 1-Richard Vander Weerd.

SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. R.J. Johnson-1193, 2. Charles Davis Jr.-1077, 3. Shon Deskins-922, 4. Tye Mihocko-830, 5. Nick Aiuto-802, 6. Mike Martin-764, 7. Chris Bonneau-734, 8. Michael Curtis-690, 9. Matt Lundy-605, 10. Stevie Sussex-593, 11. Andy Reinbold-561, 12. Jeff Lowery-541, 13. Brent Yarnal-507, 14. Landon Cling-500, 15. Bruce St. James-470, 16. Cody Sickles-463, 17. Jake Swanson-288, 18. Matt Rossi-264, 19. Brian Hosford-191, 20. Dave Darland-169.

2017 SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE

DATE – TRACK – LOCATION

October 21: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Race For The Cure)

October 28: Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, AZ

November 3: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)

November 4: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)

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This schedule is subject to change.