USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE HEATS UP AT CASA GRANDE

By Lance Jennings

OCTOBER 24, 2018… The championship battle for the Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars heads to Central Arizona Speedway this Saturday, October 27th. Promoted by Dave Ellis, the “Howl-O-Ween Bash” is the fifth and last appearance of the year for the USAC 360s at the Casa Grande oval. The action packed card will also feature IMCA Modifieds, Modlites, Pure Stocks, and Power 600 Micro Sprints. The spectator gates will open at 4:00pm with racing scheduled to begin at 6:00pm. In addition, the track will hold an open practice for all divisions on Friday from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. For more event and ticket information, visit www.centralarizonaspeedway.com or call 520.709.0718.

NOTICE TO RACERS: FRONT AXLE TETHERS ARE MANDATORY. The Schoenfeld 14272735-78 Muffler is MANDATORY for Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest competition at Central Arizona Speedway. Failure to comply will be disqualified from the events. . The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is the ONLY legal right rear tire and cockpit adjustable shocks are NOT allowed. The engine restrictor rules are 1-7/8” with open heads and 2-3/16” with ASCS cylinder heads. The weight rule is 1,475 lbs. with driver and the USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Rule Book can be found online at www.southwestsprintcars.com or www.usacracing.com. USAC MEMBERSHIPS can be purchased online at https://usacracing.redpodium.com/2018-usac-sprint-midget-sc

Located on the Pinal County Fairgrounds, Central Arizona Speedway has hosted thirteen USAC SouthWest Sprint Car events. “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. won the March 23, 2013 debut and leads the series with seven victories, including all four races of 2018. Five-time champion R.J. Johnson set the 1-lap qualifying track record of 15.058 on October 29, 2016 and the Casa Grande win list is at the end of this release.  

Entering the sixteenth point race, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (Buckeye, AZ) heads to Casa Grande with a stout 111-point lead. Driving his #50 RSS Industries / MP Environmental RSS, Davis scored eighth at last Saturday’s “Race For The Cure” at Canyon Speedway Park. To date, “Chargin” Charles has nine feature wins, ten heat race victories, five Beaver Stripes Passing Master Awards, two hard charger awards, nineteen top-10 finishes, and 252 feature laps led. The five-time Arizona Sprint Car Champion has 30 SouthWest wins and will be looking to add the “Howl-O-Ween Bash” to his resume. 

“The Bull” Tye Mihocko (Peoria, AZ) ranks second in the chase for the championship. Piloting the family owned #5 Hunt Realty by Dave Wilson / Mears Mechanical Spike, Mihocko earned his second win of the season at the “Race For The Cure.” At press time, the young driver has three heat race victories, four Beaver Stripes Passing Master Awards, four hard charger awards, fifteen top-10 finishes, and nine feature laps led in the campaign. “The Bull” will have his sights on gaining valuable points with the Saturday night victory. 

“The Magic Man” Mike Martin (Yuma, AZ) sits third in the USAC SouthWest point chase. Racing his #16 Naquin Precision Earth Moving / Ultimate Offroad Maxim, Martin ran second to Tye Mihocko at Canyon Speedway Park. To date, “The Magic Man” has one feature win, four heat race victories, one Beaver Stripes Passing Master Award, one hard charger award, sixteen top-10 finishes, and 51 feature laps led to his credit. With six career wins, the 2004 SCRA Rookie of the Year still has a shot at the championship and will be looking to add another trophy for his collection.

Michael Curtis (Cottonwood, AZ) sits fourth in the USAC SouthWest point chase. The pilot of Kevin Turner & Greg Wheeler’s #11C DAR Racing / JT Engineering Maxim skipped the “Race For The Cure” after flipping his mount at CSP on September 22nd. At press time, Michael has one heat race victory, one Beaver Stripes Passing Master Award, two hard charger awards, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 10 feature laps led on the year. Curtis is done for the season as his car owners regroup for next year’s schedule.  

Matt Lundy (Phoenix, AZ) is fifth in the USAC SouthWest point standings. The driver of the #98 Desert State Electric / Race Shack Triple X skipped last Saturday’s “Race For The Cure” at Canyon Speedway Park. As this writing goes to press, last season’s Rookie of the Year has two heat race victories and thirteen top-10 finishes to his credit. Lundy will be looking to claim his first series win at the “Howl-O-Ween Bash.”

Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Dennis Gile, Tyler Most, Sterling Cling, Zack Madrid, “The Radio Flyer” Bruce St. James, Austin Kuehl, Stevie Sussex, Jason McDougal, Logan Seavey, Kevin Thomas Jr., and more.

Central Arizona Speedway is located on the Pinal County Fairgrounds at 512 N. 11 Mile Corner Road in Casa Grande. To get to the track, take Exit 194 from Interstate 10, then head east five miles to 11 Mile Corner Road, then head south. Adult Tickets are $15, Senior/Military tickets are $12, and Kids (11 and under) are FREE. For more event and ticket information, visit www.centralarizonaspeedway.com or call 520.709.0718.

The Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Car Series thanks AMSOIL, Hoosier Tire, and Beaver Stripes for their support. For more information on the 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-R.J. Johnson.

CASA GRANDE SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS: (Includes non-point shows) 7-Charles Davis Jr., 3-R.J. Johnson, 1-Josh Pelkey, 1-Matt Rossi, 1-Kevin Thomas Jr.

2018 SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS: (Includes non-point shows) 9-Charles Davis Jr., 4-R.J. Johnson, 2-Tye Mihocko, 1-Jeremy Campbell, 1-Dennis Gile, 1-Mike Martin, 1-Brody Roa.

SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1-Charles Davis Jr.-1,168, 2-Tye Mihocko-1,057, 3-Mike Martin-1,014, 4-Michael Curtis-802, 5-Matt Lundy-691, 6-Chris Bonneau-666, 7-R.J. Johnson-558, 8-Tyler Most-558, 9-Andy Reinbold-546, 10-Dennis Gile-541.

2018 SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE

DATE – TRACK – LOCATION

October 27: Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, AZ (Howl-O-Ween Bash)

November 2: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Western World Championships)

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

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* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC West Coast Sprints.

This schedule is subject to change.