[Kevin Montgomery]

R.J. Johnson Takes ASCS Canyon Region Opener at USA!

TUCSON, Ariz. (March 12, 2011) – R.J. Johnson of Phoenix, AZ, carried his late season 2010 momentum over to 2011 by winning Saturday night’s season-opening 30-lap Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region main event atop USA Raceway’s 3/8-mile clay oval.

A winner in five of the final nine ASCS Canyon Region events of 2010, fifth-starter Johnson took quick advantage of Rick Ziehl’s late misfortune to tally his ninth career Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region triumph and jump out to the early lead in the championship point’s chase.

While Johnson started three rows deep, three-time and reigning winged ASCS Southwest champion Ziehl gunned into the lead from the pole position and led much of the way in pursuit of his second career wingless Canyon Region score before a left front tire dismounted and disabled a brake line at the same time.

Johnson pounced into the lead and raced on to the checkered flag in front of 17th-starter Jeremy Sherman, with Ziehl holding on for the show position. Two-time and defending ASCS Canyon Region champion Charles Davis, Jr., was fourth, with Andrew Reinbold rallying from 16th to round out the top five.

Brandon Lane was sixth, with Matt Rossi, Thomas Ogle, Joshua Hodges and Justin Quinn completing the top ten.

Bob Ream, Jr., Ziehl, Josh Grady and Nathan High topped heat race action for the 28-car field, with two-time series champ Jeremy Sherman winning the “B” Main before charging to runner-up honors in the main event.

Ronnie Clark and 2010 ASCS Canyon Rookie of the Year Dalten Gabbard both got upside down in the main event.

Bucky Andrews was the class of a large field of USA Factory Stocks as he darted to the lead from the fourth starting position to hold off Coolidge’s Terry Churchwell. Andrews made quick work to expand his lead while Churchwell and Kalvin Catlin battled fiercely for the runner up spot. Churchwell eventually delegated Catlin to third but was no match for Andrews in the end.

Ricky McGuire opened the 2011 championship battle on a good note as he held off Sherman Barnett for his first X-Mod feature win of the year. After several cautions plagued the opening laps of the 20-Lap feature it was all McGuire for the final 18-Laps of green flag racing. While Barnett placed constant threats to McGuire’s lead it was the youngster outlasting the elder Modified veteran.

Matt Jackson used a late race pass of Josh Shipley to take the hardware home for the very first outing of the ASCS2 Cactus Region Micro Sprint feature. Shipley would be bumped back to the third spot allowing Ken Brewer to take the runner up position with Josh Center and Allen Saine rounding out the top five.

Full Results: http://www.usaraceway.net/results/

The Total Late Model Series returns to USA Raceway this Saturday night joined by the UniFirst Super Stocks, X-Mods, Dwarf Cars and Hornets. General admission tickets will go on sale for only $15 for Adults, $12 for Seniors, Students and Military and racing will begin promptly at 6:45pm.

The 2011 USA Raceway Schedule can be previewed online at http://www.usaraceway.net/schedule

Discounted season passes are available by calling the USA Raceway office at 520-574-8515. 2011 Season Ticket Packages can be viewed on line at www.usaraceway.net/tickets/season-tickets

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 $8 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

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