By Lance Jennings
JANUARY 30, 2016… Starting fifth, Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, Indiana) stormed to Friday’s $2,000 “Winter Challenge” victory at Canyon Speedway. For Clauson, the USAC SouthWest / West Coast Sprint Car triumph marked his third “Arizona Speed Week” win in four events. Hard charger Stevie Sussex, top qualifier R.J. Johnson, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., and Josh Hodges followed the Indianapolis 500 veteran to the checkered flags.
Piloting Mike Martin’s #16B Cancer Treatment Centers of America Maxim, Bryan Clauson ran second to his car owner in the night’s third heat race. Ranked second in the passing points, Clauson made some early moves in the feature and raced past leader Brian Hosford (Gilbert, Arizona) on the fourth lap. The former USAC National Sprint Champion ran away from all challengers and claimed the 30-lap win. Heading into Saturday’s $4,000 “Winter Challenge” finale, Bryan has a commanding lead and is the favorite to add another chapter to his resume.
Stevie Sussex (Tempe, Arizona) earned the night’s “Hard Charger / Best Passing Job” honors with a second place run from eleventh. Racing Mike Burkhart’s #21AZ Stratis Construction RSS, Sussex ran fourth in his heat race and placed eleventh in passing points. Stevie will be one of the drivers in the mix to score Canyon Speedway’s $4,000 payday.
Racing from sixth, R.J. Johnson (Laveen, Arizona) came home third in the Friday night feature. The driver of Bobby Martin’s #51 Weiler Farms Sherman took second in his heat race and was the night’s top qualifier. The three-time USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Champion will be one of the favorites to watch at the “Winter Challenge” finale.
“Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (Buckeye, Arizona) scored fourth in the Canyon Speedway main event. Piloting the Massey Motorsports’ #50 Rod End Supply RSS, Davis claimed third in his heat race and ranked fourth in passing points. The five-time Arizona Sprint Car Champion will have his sights on claiming Saturday’s “home track” victory.
Josh Hodges (Tijeras, New Mexico) raced to fifth in the Friday night main event from eighth. Driving the family owned #74X Mesilla Valley Transportation Maxim, Hodges was third in his heat race and placed eighth in passing points. The young driver won last Sunday’s “Winter Challenge” race and will be looking to add another trophy to his collection.
Kenny Perkins (Oak Hills, California) drove to victory in the first 8-lap heat race. Racing the family owned #0K Sprint Car Driving Experience Victory, Perkins was third overall in passing points before scoring sixteenth in the main event. The second generation driver will have his sights on his first Arizona Sprint Car win.
Before leading the second and third laps of the feature, Brian Hosford won the night’s second heat race. Piloting Bernie Weber’s #22B Coffin & Trout Fine Jewelers Spike, Hosford was fifth in passing points, briefly held the lead, and finished eighth at the checkered flags. The veteran driver will be looking to upset the field and earn the $4,000 victory.
“The Magic Man” Mike Martin (Yuma, Arizona) held off his teammate Bryan Clauson to win the third 8-lap heat race. Driving his #16 Sherwin-Williams Maxim, Martin was sixth in passing points, led the opening lap, and finished sixth at the checkered flags. The former Hall of Fame Classic winner will have his sights on another triumph at Canyon Speedway.
On Saturday, January 30th, the USAC SouthWest and West Coast Sprint Cars will battle in the $4,000-to-win finale of the “Winter Challenge.” Promoted by Kevin Montgomery, racing at Canyon Speedway in Peoria, Arizona will start at 5:00pm. The IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars vs Pure Stocks, IMCA Hobby Stocks vs Renegades, and Dwarf Cars will share the spotlight. USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series rules apply and for more event and ticket information, visit www.canyonspeedwaypark.com or call (602) 258-7223 (RACE).
The USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series thanks Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Tire, Racers Advantage Store, and the Hose Advantage Store for their support. For more information on the group, visit www.southwestsprintcars.com, www.usacracing.com, or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SouthwestSprintCars).
———————————————–
USAC SOUTHWEST/WEST COAST “Special Event” SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS:
January 29, 2016 – Peoria, Arizona – Canyon Speedway – “5th Winter Challenge” – “Arizona Speed Week”
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
- Kenny Perkins (#0K Perkins), 2. R.J. Johnson (#51 Martin), 3. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 4. Bob Strait (#45 Strait), 5. Matt McCarthy (#5X McCarthy), 6. Landon Cling (#54 Strait). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
- Brian Hosford (#22B Weber), 2. Dennis Gile (#13 Gile), 3. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 4. Stevie Sussex (#21Z Burkhart), 5. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood), 6. Matt Lundy (#98 Lundy), 7. Will Perkins (#50X Perkins), NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps)
- Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 2. Bryan Clauson (#16B Martin), 3. Josh Hodges (#74X Hodges), 4. Larry Gibson (#2X Gibson), 5. Guy Weedman (#27X Weedman). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps – With Starting Positions)
- Bryan Clauson (5th), 2. Stevie Sussex (11th), 3. R.J. Johnson (6th), 4. Charles Davis Jr. (3rd), 5. Josh Hodges (8th), 6. Mike Martin (1st), 7. Andy Reinbold (13th), 8. Brian Hosford (2nd), 9. Tye Mihocko (9th), 10. Dennis Gile (7th), 11. Matt Lundy (17th), 12. Landon Cling (16th), 13. Bob Strait (10th), 14. Guy Weedman (14th), 15. Kenny Perkins (4th), 16. Will Perkins (18th), 17. Larry Gibson (12th), 18. Matt McCarthy (15th), 19. Tom Ogle (19th- #48 Ogle), 20. Kyle Danielson (20th – #17K Danielson). NT
—————————-
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1 Martin, Laps 2-3 Hosford, Laps 4-30 Clauson.
HARD CHARGER: Stevie Sussex (11th to 2nd)
WINTER CHALLENGE POINT STANDINGS:
- Bryan Clauson-284, 2. R.J. Johnson-261, 3. Charles Davis Jr.-252, 4. Josh Hodges-242, 5. Dennis Gile-198, 6. Brian Hosford-195, 7. Mike Martin-171, 8. Kenny Perkins-162, 9. Bob Strait-127, 10. Guy Weedman-114, 11. Tom Ogle-104, 12. Will Perkins-103, 13. Tanner Grau-98, 14. Andy Reinbold-97, 15. Michael Curtis-89, 16. Matt Lundy-88, 17. David Dykes-87, 18. Matt McCarthy-86, 19. Connor Strait-66, 20. Stevie Sussex-62, 21. Tye Michocko-61, 22. Shon Deskins-59, 23. Mason Keefer-52, 24. Landon Cling-32, 25. Larry Gibson-24, 26. Kyle Danielson-13
2016 WINTER CHALLENGE SCHEDULE:
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
January 30: Canyon Speedway – Peoria, AZ ($4,000-to-Win)