HODGES TAKES “WINTER CHALLENGE” FINALE; CLAUSON THE CHAMP!
Peoria, AZ……..Josh Hodges of Tijeras, N.M. won Saturday night’s finale but Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. emerged as the 2016 “Winter Challenge” Champion at Canyon Speedway. Hodges won the 30-lap USAC Southwest/West Coast Sprint feature in his Jackson Compaction/Mesilla Valley Transportation Maxim/Ostrich after a race-long duel with Clauson, who finished second. R.J. Johnson, Charles Davis Jr. and Mike Martin rounded out the “top-five” at the checkered flag. Johnson and Davis took second and third in the final “Winter Challenge” standings. "This is awesome," said Hodges in victory lane. "It's hard to put into words. There's nobody better than Bryan, so it's great to be able to beat him." Hodges passed Stevie Sussex on lap two and led the rest of the way despite constant pressure from Clauson.
USAC SOUTHWEST/WEST COAST “Special Event” SPRINT CAR RACE RESULTS: January 30, 2016 – Peoria, Arizona – Canyon Speedway – “5th Winter Challenge” – “Arizona Speed Week”
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 2. R.J. Johnson (#51 Martin), 3. Matt Lundy (#98 Lundy), 4. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 5. Tony Everhart (#55 Everhart), 6. Bob Strait (#45 Strait), 7. Will Perkins (#50x Perkins), 8. Dillon Tanner (#11w Tanner). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Stevie Sussex (#21AZ Burkhart), 2. Josh Hodges (#74x Hodges), 3. Larry Gibson (#2x Gibson), 4. Kenny Perkins (#0K Perkins), 5. Landon Cling (#54 Strait), 6. Guy Weedman (#27x Weedman), 7. Matt McCarthy (#5x McCarthy). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Bryan Clauson (#16B Martin), 2. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood), 3. Shon Deskins (#20 Deskins), 4. Tye Mihocko (#5 Mihocko), 5. Tom Ogle (#48T Ogle), 6. Spencer Hill (#56 Hill), 7. Brian Hosford (#22B Weber). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Josh Hodges, 2. Bryan Clauson, 3. R.J. Johnson, 4. Charles Davis Jr., 5. Andy Reinbold, 6. Mike Martin, 7. Tom Ogle, 8. Shon Deskins, 9. Tye Mihocko, 10. Brian Hosford, 11. Kenny Perkins, 12. Landon Cling, 13. Matt Lundy, 14. Bob Strait, 15. Larry Gibson, 16. Guy Weedman, 17. Will Perkins, 18. Matt McCarthy, 19. Dillon Tanner, 20. Tony Everhart, 21. Stevie Sussex. NT
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**Hill flipped during the third heat.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1 Sussex, Laps 2-30 Hodges.
FINAL WINTER CHALLENGE POINTS: 1-Clauson-355, 2-Johnson-327, 3-Davis-314, 4-Hodges-313, 5-Hosford-230, 6-Martin-221, 7-Dennis Gile-198, 8-K.Perkins-198, 9-B.Strait-155, 10-Reinbold-152.
NEXT USAC SOUTHWEST/WEST COAST SPRINT CAR RACE: March 4 – Las Vegas, NV – The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway - 5th FVP “Sin City Showdown”/Grudge Series