DAVIS LEADS USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINTS TO “LEALAND MCSPADDEN CLASSIC”
By Lance Jennings
SEPTEMBER 5, 2018… After running Casa Grande’s 2-day “Hank Arnold Memorial, the Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest Sprint Cars are back in action this Saturday, September 8th, at Arizona Speedway. Promoted by Jonah Trussel, the “3rd Annual Lealand McSpadden Classic” is the fifth of seven appearances at the fast 3/8-mile oval. The action packed card at the San Tan Valley oval will also feature Dwarf Cars, Pure Stocks, and Bombers. The Front Gates will open at 5:00pm and Racing is scheduled to start at 7:00pm. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
NOTICE TO RACERS: FRONT AXLE TETHERS ARE MANDATORY. The Schoenfeld 14272735-78 Muffler is MANDATORY for Sands Chevrolet USAC SouthWest competition at 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
Originally a winged 360 race, the “Lealand McSpadden Classic” honors the Arizona racing legend and National Sprint Car Hall of Fame driver. Starting his career at the famed Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, McSpadden raced Super Modifieds before graduating to the Arizona Racing Association (ARA) Sprint Cars. Known for his “on the gas” driving style, “The Tempe Tornado,” earned his first ARA win in 1972 and claimed the series championship in 1975. In 1977, the fan favorite won 25 main events at Manzanita racing sprint cars, midgets, sprint buggies, stocks, and super-modifieds. After being hired to run Gary Stanton’s “house car,” McSpadden raced across the country and was very fast and competitive. This brought him national attention and racing opportunities with the United States Auto Club (USAC) and the World of Outlaws, where he claimed a victory at California’s Ascot Park in 1978.
Throughout the years, “The Tempe Tornado” had a flexible work schedule that allowed him stay home and race as he chose. Whether it was a sprint car, midget, or silver crown car, it was not uncommon to see McSpadden race with the California Racing Association (CRA), Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC), USAC, World of Outlaws, United Sprint Association (USA), Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA), and various open competition shows. By the time he retired from racing in 1996, Lealand had won over 200 main events, most notably the Western World Championships (1978, 1993, 1995), Dirt Cup (1981, 1984), Copper World Classic (1988 Sprint Car), Chili Bowl Midget Nationals (1991), and the Hulman Hundred (1992). Along the way, “The Tempe Tornado” also won the 1992 CRA and 1995 SCRA Sprint Car Championships.
After winning both nights of the “Hank Arnold Memorial” at Casa Grande, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. (Buckeye, AZ) heads to Arizona Speedway with a stout 117-point lead. Driving his #50 RSS Industries / MP Environmental RSS, Davis is inching closer to his first series crown on the strength of seven feature wins, seven heat race victories, four Beaver Stripes Passing Master Awards, one hard charger award, fifteen top-10 finishes, and 222 feature laps led. The five-time Arizona Sprint Car Champion has 28 SouthWest wins and will be looking add the “Lealand McSpadden Classic” trophy to his collection.
“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 has one feature win, three heat race victories, three Beaver Stripes Passing Master Awards, two hard charger awards, eleven top-10 finishes, and six feature laps led in the campaign. “The Bull” won at San Tan Valley on April 28th and will have his sights on adding his name to the “McSpadden Classic” winner’s list.
“The Magic Man” Mike Martin (Yuma, AZ) is third in the USAC SouthWest point chase. Racing his #16 Naquin Precision Earth Moving / Ultimate Offroad Maxim, Martin has four heat race victories, one Beaver Stripes Passing Master Award, one hard charger award, twelve top-10 finishes, and 5 feature laps led to his credit. The 2004 SCRA Rookie of the Year has five series wins and will be looking to earn another victory at Arizona Speedway.
Michael Curtis (Cottonwood, AZ) sits fourth in the championship point standings. Driving Kevin Turner & Greg Wheeler’s #11C DAR Racing / JT Engineering Maxim, Curtis has one heat race victory, one Beaver Stripes Passing Master Award, one hard charger award, eleven top-10 finishes and 5 feature laps led on the season. The young driver will have his sights on earning his first sprint car win this Saturday night.
After running seventh in the “Arnold Memorial” finale, Matt Lundy (Phoenix, AZ) has climbed to fifth in the point chase. Racing his #98 Desert State Electric / Race Shack Triple X, Lundy has posted one heat race victory and eleven top-10 finishes in the campaign. The Challenge Cup / Napa sprint car veteran will be looking to score his first USAC victory at the “McSpadden Classic.”
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Chris Bonneau, Dennis Gile, Josh Pelkey, Andy Reinbold, Tyler Most, Zack Madrid, Colton Maroney, Sterling Cling, Mason Keefer, “The Real American” Matt Rossi, Brent Yarnal, Larry Kesterson, Rick Shuman, and more.
Arizona Speedway is located at 47800 N. Ironwood Road in San Tan Valley, just five minutes from Mesa, Arizona. To get to the track, exit Ironwood Drive on US 60, then head four miles south. Adult Tickets are $15, Senior Tickets are $12, Kids Tickets (11 & under) are FREE. For more event and ticket information, visit www.arizonaspeedway.net or call 480.926.6688.
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.
-----------------------------------------------
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.
LEALAND McSPADDEN CLASSIC WINNERS: 2016-Billy Chester, 2017-Jesse Baker.
SAN TAN VALLEY SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS: (Includes non-point shows) 18-R.J. Johnson, 7-Charles Davis Jr., 4-Stevie Sussex, 2-Brady Bacon, 2-Chris Windom, 1-Mike Martin, 1-Tye Mihocko, 1-Josh Pelkey.
2018 SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR WINS: (Includes non-point shows) 7-Charles Davis Jr., 4-R.J. Johnson, 1-Jeremy Campbell, 1-Dennis Gile, 1-Tye Mihocko, 1-Brody Roa.
SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1.Charles Davis Jr.-869, 2.Tye Mihocko-752, 3. Mike Martin-702, 4. Michael Curtis-648, 5. Matt Lundy-583, 6. Chris Bonneau-488, 7. R.J. Johnson-480, 8. Dennis Gile-440, 9. Josh Pelkey-436, 10. Andy Reinbold-397, 11. Tyler Most-373, 12. Zack Madrid-288, 13. Tyler Adams-200, 14. Sterling Cling-196, 15. Ronnie Clark-175, 16. Austin Kuehl-174, 17. Jake Swanson-172, 18. Colton Moroney-165, 19. Kyle Shipley-162, 20. Mason Keefer-156.
2018 SANDS CHEVROLET USAC SOUTHWEST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
September 8: Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, AZ (Lealand McSpadden Classic)
September 21: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Sands Chevrolet Southwest Championships)
September 22: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Sands Chevrolet Southwest Championships)
October 20: Canyon Speedway Park – Peoria, AZ (Race For The Cure)
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)
———————————————–
* = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC West Coast Sprints.
This schedule is subject to change.