[Kevin Montgomery]

ASCS Southwest Opener at USA Raceway on Saturday

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (March 15, 2010) – Arizona race fans had the opportunity to watch the wingless ASCS Canyon Region ranks open up the 2010 season at Tucson's USA Raceway this past weekend.

Now, just seven nights later, they'll get to witness the winged forces of the ASCS Southwest Region for the first time in 2010 as the series lifts the lid on its season at USA Raceway this Saturday night.

And, the driver gunning for a three-peat will be Rick Ziehl of Las Cruces, NM, after capturing the ASCS Southwest crown in both 2008 and 2009.

Ziehl will be hoping for better winged luck this weekend than he experienced on Saturday night in the wingless ASCS Canyon Region opener, when his night was cut short by engine problems in heat race action.

After a pair of DNF's to start the 2008 season, Ziehl reeled off eleven top-five feature finishes in a row to take the title by a narrow 22-point margin over Shawn Sander. The 2009 season featured another fierce championship points battle, with Ziehl earning the crown by just seven points over Ben Gregg.

Ziehl has captured one feature win over each of the past two seasons en route to the title.

While Gregg fell a little more than a handful of points shy of Ziehl last year, National Rookie of the Year Joshua Hodges (gone Lucas Oil National this year), John Gaston and Ronnie Clark were in the mix all the way as well, with Charles Davis, Jr., John Van Horn, Mike Martin, Jessica Van Dyke and Joshua Williams filling out the balance of the top ten.

Joining the sprint cars on the March 20th card will be a full field of SCRA Factory Stocks, Dwarf Cars and Hornets. General admission tickets will go on sale at 4pm and racing will begin promptly at 6:45pm.

Season and Suite Access Passes will allow race fans to get all the action at an unheard of low cost. Season Passes are on sale for only $249 and $199 for Seniors, Students and Military thus dropping admission prices to under $9 per event. Suite Access Passes will allow race fans the opportunity to enjoy the races from USA Raceway's VIP Suite. Enjoy the races in luxury! Suite Access Passes are now on sale for only $399

The 2010 USA Raceway Schedule can be previewed online at www.usaraceway.net/schedule.php

Discounted season passes are available by calling the USA Raceway office at 520-574-8515. 2010 Season Ticket Packages can be viewed on line at www.usaraceway.net/tickets.php

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 265, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales. For more information please, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at www.usaraceway.net