Western World Format Revealed!

Lonnie Wheatley, PEORIA, Ariz. (November 6, 2013) – Few events, if any, are richer in open wheel racing history than the Western World Championships.

In just one week, more history will be inked into the ledgers as the 46th Annual Sands Chevrolet Western World Championships presented by the Racers Advantage Store takes place atop the 1/3-mile Canyon Speedway Park clay oval near Phoenix.

Following an open practice on Wednesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the Honda USAC National Midgets and the USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will battle it out over the next three nights for Western World honors on Thursday through Saturday, November 14-16.

Both the Midget and non-wing Sprint Car Western World champs will pocket $7,500 with a $5,000 bonus courtesy of E&K Construction bringing the potential total take to $20,000 if one driver can top both portions of the event.

Added to the Western World lineup for the first time, the USAC National Midgets will run a “Smackdown” style format while the Sprint Cars will battle it out through a format similar to previous years.

In short, the format for each will be as follows:

Honda USAC National Midgets:

All entries will race each night with Thursday and Friday preliminary events following standard USAC format including qualifying, heat races and features. Separate qualifying, heat and feature points will be tabulated to determine Saturday night Western World Championship lineups.

The top eight in combined points from Thursday and Friday action will be locked into Saturday’s main event. Those eight will engage in a Revenge Draw during Saturday’s opening ceremonies to determine the Dash lineup. The Dash finish will determine the alignment of the front four rows of the main event.

The balance of the field will be aligned in Qualifying races straight up by points, with finishes determining the balance of the night’s “A” and “B” Main lineups.

USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast Sprint Cars:

The Sprint Car field will be split with approximately half the entries competing on Thursday and the remaining half competing on Friday to set the stage for Saturday’s Western World Championships finale.

On each preliminary night (Thursday and Friday), pill draw will determine heat race lineups with heat race finishing/passing points then determining qualifying race lineups with finishing/passing points once again in effect. The top 16 in combined finishing/passing points from heats and qualifiers each night advance to the “A” Main with the balance to the “B” Main.

The top four from each preliminary night (Thursday and Friday) “A” Main event will lock into Saturday’s finale. Those eight will engage in a Revenge Draw during Saturday’s opening ceremonies to determine the Dash lineup. The Dash finish will determine the alignment of the front four rows of the main event.

The balance of the field will be lined straight up according to preliminary night point totals in twin “B” Mains (as well as a “C” Main if necessary) to set the balance of the “A” Main starting lineup.


Three-day advanced tickets are available for just $65 with VIP Suite tickets for all three days available for $95 and All Access Passes for $110.

Single day tickets are $20 for both Thursday and Friday and $25 for Saturday’s Western World Championships finale.

Detailed Western World Championships ticket information and pricing is available at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/ti...championships/.

Tickets may be ordered by calling the track at 602-258-RACE (7223).

Hotel Information can be found at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/fan-info/lodging/ or by calling the Holiday Inn Express at 623-853-1313.

To keep up on all the latest news and happenings, sign up for Canyon Speedway E-News. The track update registration can be found at the top of the www.canyonspeedwaypark.com home page.

The entire 2013 Canyon Schedule can be previewed online at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/schedule/.

Discounted CSP season passes are also available by calling the track office at 602-258-7223. Season ticket packages can be viewed at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/ti...season-passes/.

Canyon Speedway Park is located in north Peoria, AZ, off Lake Pleasant Parkway, then 1.3 miles west on Carefree Highway. For more information, contact the track at 602-258-RACE (7223) or check online at www.canyonspeedwaypark.com.

Really enjoyed this event years ago at Manzy . It's great that this three day show has continued over the years. It's three days of excitement work and fun for the season finally, wish I could be there. But i'll have a good representative there , i'm told.

This is based on practice Wednesday. I will try to update later in the week.

USAC Southwest vs. USAC West Coast Sprint Cars
(NOTE: colors are either from observation at practice or what they have been in the recent past)
Thursday Qualifiers:
2 Matthew Rossi (Glendale, AZ)
2 Joshua Shipley (Peoria, AZ)
4g(red,white) – Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tucson, AZ)
5(orange) - Dalten Gabbard (Peoria, AZ)
5v(red) - Bradley Terrell (Sebastopol, CA)
6(black) - Ronnie Clark (Tucson, AZ)
7k Bruce St. James (Phoenix, AZ)
8(orange?) - Bob Ream, Jr. (Glendale, AZ)
9(yellow, black) - Ryan Linder (Phoenix, AZ)
9P(white, black) – Parker Price-Miller (Kokomo, IN)
11 Joe Ramaker (Boise, ID)
12(red, yellow) - Josh Grady (Floravista, NM)
18 (white) - Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX)
26 Connor Kassik (Hanford, CA)
29(black) - Mike Bonneau (Phoenix, AZ)
48(white) - Thomas Ogle (Phoenix, AZ)
50(orange) - Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ)
53(black, yellow) - Tom Lee (Prescott, AZ)
57x(black w/green #) - James Aragon (Glendale, AZ)
68(white, black) - Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA)
73(black) - Dave Darland (Lincoln, IN)
74(white) - Colby Copeland (Glendale, AZ)
77m R.J. Johnson (Phoenix, AZ)
88(white) - Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, CA)
99(black,white) - Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK)
Joe Ramaker was driving the red #98 in practice Wednesday. Unknown if this is in addition to or in place of the #11 listed above.

Friday Qualifiers:
3X(black) – Jimmy Crawford (Ventura, CA)
5(white, red) - Tye Mihocko (Peoria, AZ)
5x Jody Wirth (Queen Creek, AZ)
7m(yellow) - Mike Spencer (Temecula, CA)
10(white) - Jace Vander Weerd (Visalia, CA)
11c(white, black) - Michael Curtis (Cottonwood, AZ)
12(orange) - Josh Pelkey (Peoria, AZ)
16(black, white) - Mike Martin (Yuma, AZ)
18 Dustin Cormany (Phoenix, AZ)
19(blue) - Andrew Reinbold (Gilbert, AZ)
20(white, red, blue TSR Chevrolet) - Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, IN)
20s Jon Stanbrough (Avon, IN)
21X(black, silver) - Tracy Hines (Wilkinson, IN)
28 Mark Morin (Surprise, AZ)
32b Brian Hosford (Gilbert, AZ)
41w Rick Ziehl (Las Cruces, NM)
45(red, blue) - Jason Grady (Floravista, NM)
55(white) - Tony Everhart (El Cajon, CA)
57X(black w/orange #) – Stevie Sussex
60(white, black) - Michael Harms (Scottsdale, AZ)
74x(black, white, red) - Chad Boespflug (Hanford, CA)
77(pink, blue) - Casey Shuman (Rattlesnake Bend, AZ) – Jack Hockett’s car
93(white, black, orange) - Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK)
97(white) - Kevin Thomas, Jr. (Cullman, AL)
98(blue) - Matt Lundy (Phoenix, AZ)

Other cars at practice Wednesday:
13(maroon)
17(blue) – Mike Colgrove
99(red) – Johnny Shelton

Colors from practice and what I have seen this year, just like the sprints. I will try to update this later this week. Any additions/corrections appreciated.

Honda USAC National Midgets:

0 Johnny Murdock (Kaufman, TX)
1az(red) - Stevie Sussex (Phoenix, AZ)
3(black) - Chris Windom (Canton, IL) (the RFMS car)
4(red) - Bobby East (Brownsburg, IN)
05 Jake Swanson (Anaheim, CA)
5d(white, red) - Zach Daum (Pocahontas, IL)
7 Shannon McQueen (Bakersfield, CA)
7a(black, red) - Dalton Armstrong (New Castle, IN)
7c(black, red) - Caleb Armstrong (New Castle, IN)
9P(black,white, blue) - Parker Price-Miller (Kokomo, IN)
10(red) - Brad Kuhn (Avon, IN)
11a Andrew Felker (Carl Junction, MO)
12JR(orange) - Josh Pelkey (Peoria, AZ)
15 David Prickett (Fresno, CA)
24(has 2, 1 yellow, 1 black) - Tracy Hines (Wilkinson, IN)
35 Scott Pierovich (Alamo, CA)
37 Trey Marcham (Oklahoma City, OK)
39(white, black) - Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, IN)
39 Kyle Edwards (Fountain Valley, CA)
51(yellow, orange) - R.J. Johnson (Phoenix, AZ)
55(silver, black, red, just like his sprint) –Nick Drake (Mooresville, NC)
55 Tony Everhart (El Cajon, CA)
55(black) - Taylor Ferns (Shelby Twp, MI)
56P(blue) - Darren Hagen (Riverside, CA)
57(red, black) – Mike Spencer (CA)
67(black, red) - Tanner Thorson (Minden, NV)
67K (black, red) - Rico Abreu (Rutherford, CA)
68 Ronnie Gardner (Norco, CA)
71(black, red) - Christopher Bell (Norman, OK)
73 Dave Darland (Lincoln, IN)
91a Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX)
91T Tyler Thomas (Collinsville, OK)
99 Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK)
Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, CA)

So.....everyone listed practiced last night? Or is there a separate list of those who did practice?

looks like Friday night is loaded , sure wish I could be there. Hope someone is shooting a video of this entire event. Is Jackslash out there ?

The lists are made of the entry lists plus others who weren't entered but showed up at practice. For the most part, those with colors listed practiced, but a few with colors listed are cars I have seen either lately or throughout the year. I don't plan to put up a separate list of those who practiced last night. Four lists is two too many. Sorry.