Lonnie Wheatley, PEORIA, Ariz. (January 30, 2013) – Reigning USAC National Sprint Car champion Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, IN, kicked off the 2013 wingless Sprint Car season by winning Wednesday night’s 30-lap USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast main event as the Winter Challenge finally got under way atop the 1/3-mile Canyon Speedway Park clay oval.
After Mother Nature washed out the initial trio of scheduled events this past weekend, Clauson redrew the front row outside of the main event after winning his heat race and overtook early leader Bruce St. James on the 11th round en route to the $2,000 winner’s share aboard Mike Martin’s No. 16b machine, the same car that he drove to victory lane in last November’s Western World Championships.
While Clauson took victory honors in the Sprint Car ranks, Anthony Madrid parked it in victory lane in IMCA Modified action.
Clauson was chased to the stripe by multi-time Arizona champion Jeremy Sherman, who advanced from eighth, with pole starter St. James settling for the show position. Richard Vander Weerd raced from the 20th starting position to fourth at the finish, with Mike Martin rounding out the top five. Defending Arizona champion Charles Davis, Jr., advanced from deep in the field as well by racing from 17th to sixth.
The red flag flew 16 laps into the Sprint Car feature for an incident that forced Jace Vander Weerd and Michael Curtis pitside, with third-runner Robert Ballou flipping the Hockett Racing mount in turn one soon after.
In the IMCA Modified ranks, Madrid raced from the ninth starting position to win the 25-lap feature in front of William Gould with Tim Ward climbing from 15th to claim the show position. Jesse Sobbing, the 2012 IMCA Northern Sport Mod National champion was fourth, with 2012 track points runner-up Jason Noll rounding out the top five.
Winter Challenge action featuring the USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast Non-Wing Sprint Cars along with IMCA Modifieds continues on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. with a double dip to follow on Saturday with the first card at noon and then the $5,000-to-win finale at 7:00 p.m.
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Bryan Clauson (#16B Martin), 2. Andy Reinbold (#19 Underwood), 3. Bruce St. James (#7K St. James), 4. Stevie Sussex (#1AZ Sussex), 5. Michael Curtis (#11C Turner/Wheeler), 6. Charles Davis Jr. (#50 Massey), 7. Kevin Thomas Jr. (#21 Ellis). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Jeremy Sherman (#77M Michaels), 2. Josh Pelkey (#4JR Reagles), 3. Rick Ziehl (#20Z Ziehl), 4. Jace Vander Weerd (#88 Vander Weerd), 5. Colby Copeland (#74 Williams), 6. Jon Stanbrough (#20 Deskins), 7. Richard Vander Weerd (#10 Vander Weerd). NT
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Mike Martin (#16 Martin), 2. Bud Kaeding (#29 Bowman), 3. Tom Ogle (#48 Ogle), 4. Robert Ballou (#77 Hockett), 5. Lonnie Oliver (#11T Oliver), 6. Tom Lee (#53 Lee), 7. Brian Hosford (#32B Weber). NT
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Bryan Clauson, 2. Jeremy Sherman, 3. Bruce St. James, 4. Richard Vander Weerd, 5. Mike Martin, 6. Charles Davis Jr., 7. Colby Copeland, 8. Jon Stanbrough, 9. Andy Reinbold, 10. Bud Kaeding, 11. Tom Ogle, 12. Lonnie Oliver, 13. Tom Lee, 14. Rick Ziehl, 15. Stevie Sussex, 16. Robert Ballou, 17. Josh Pelkey, 18. Jace Vander Weerd, 19. Michael Curtis, 20. Mike Morin (#28 Morin), 21. Kevin Thomas Jr., 22. Brian Hosford. NT
Hosford flipped during the third heat. J. Vander Weerd, Curtis, and Ballou flipped during the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-10 St. James, Laps 11-30 Clauson.
NEXT USAC SOUTHWEST/WEST COAST “Special Event” SPRINT RACE: February 1 – Peoria, AZ – Canyon Speedway Park - “2013 Winter Challenge”
- Admin Account on Jan 31, 2013
- Article Date: 1/31/2013 by Lonnie Wheatley