WINTER CHALLENGE HEADS TO TUCSON FOR FRIDAY/SATURDAY EVENTS By Lance Jennings PHOENIX, AZ – JANUARY 29, 2015… Tomorrow night, the “4th Annual E&K Winter Challenge” featuring the USAC SouthWest and West Coast Sprint Cars will shift to USA Raceway in Tucson. Opening with a Friday night $2,000-to-win feature, the mini-series champion will crowned after Saturday’s $4,000-to-win finale. Also showcasing IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, X-Mods, and Dwarf Cars on both nights, Friday’s show will start at 7:00pm, while the Saturday’s event will begin at $5:00pm For more event and ticket information, visit www.raceusaraceway.com. Thanks to E&K Construction of Phoenix, the “Winter Challenge” is offering a $5,000 bonus with $2,000 going to the point champion as $1,000, $750, $500, and $250 will go to second through fifth. The lowest point driver that started all five main events will earn the $500 “Most Valuable Racer” award. USAC SouthWest Series rules apply and the purse information is at the bottom of this release. After three rounds, “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland of Lincoln, Indiana holds a ten point lead. Racing Mike Martin’s #16B Ultimate Offroad / Sherwin-Williams Maxim, Darland recorded a third and two second place finishes at Canyon Speedway Park. Last year’s Winter Challenge Champion also has one heat race win, one high point driver award, and 25 feature laps led to his credit. The veteran driver is tied for the most wins in the “Winter Challenge” and will be looking to add a USA Raceway win to his resume. Broken Arrow, Oklahoma’s Brady Bacon ranks second in the Winter Challenge point chase. Piloting Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Bacon won the opening night feature and claimed two fourth place finishes. The defending USAC National Champion also has one heat race victory and 26 feature laps led in the mini-series. Bacon has two career Winter Challenge main event wins and will have his sights on a nice payday in Tucson. Phoenix’s R.J. Johnson sits third in the mini-series point standings. Driving Bobby Martin’s #51 Weiler Farms / Pecon Builders Maxim, Johnson has earned a second, third, and fifth place finish in the Winter Challenge. The two-time USAC SouthWest Champion also has one heat race win at Canyon Speedway Park. Johnson will be looking to move up the point chase by sweeping the main events at USA Raceway. “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr. of Buckeye is currently fourth in the Winter Challenge. Racing the Massey Motorsports’ #50 RSS Industries / MP Environmental RSS, Davis has scored a fourth, fifth, and third place runs in the mini-series. The five-time Arizona Champion will be one of the favorites to watch at Tucson’s 3/8-mile clay oval. Hollister, California’s Ryan Bernal sits fifth in the point chase. Piloting the Mike Phulps owned #56 Tri-L Mandarin Ranch / Core Power ART, Bernal crashed on opening night, scoring twelfth. The 2-time USAC Western Classic Champion has rebounded, scoring the last two feature wins, including one of the closest finishes in USAC history. Ryan will be looking to carry his momentum to victory circle at Tucson. Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Dalten Gabbard, “The Magic Man” Mike Martin, Stevie Sussex, “The Real Deal” Rick Ziehl, David Dykes, Matt Lundy, Dennis Gile, Shon Deskins, and more. USA Raceway is located at 4300 E. Los Reales Road in Tucson, Arizona. To get to the track, take Interstate 10 to exit 265. Drive 2.5 miles south on S. Alvernon Way, the 0.5 miles east on Los Reales Road. Advance tickets are on sale now and more event information can be found at www.raceusaraceway.com or calling (602) 258-7223 (RACE). ----------------------------------------------- WINTER CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS: 2012-Tracy Hines, 2013-Bryan Clauson, 2014-Dave Darland. WINTER CHALLENGE MAIN EVENT WINS: 3-Bryan Clauson, 3- Dave Darland, 3-Tracy Hines, 2-Brady Bacon, 2-Ryan Bernal, 2-Charles Davis Jr., 1-Colby Copeland, 1-R.J. Johnson, 1-Jon Stanbrough, 1-Richard Vander Weerd. WINTER CHALLENGE POINT STANDINGS: 1. Dave Darland-197; 2. Brady Bacon-187; 3. R.J. Johnson-186; 4. Charles Davis Jr.-176; 5. Ryan Bernal-174; 6. Dalten Gabbard-152; 7. Mike Martin-149; 8. Stevie Sussex-139; 9. Rick Ziehl-121; 10. David Dykes-106; 11. Matt Lundy-79; 12. Dennis Gile-62; 13. Shon Deskins-57; 14. Dustin Cormany-42; 15. Andy Reinbold-41; 16. Josh Pelkey-40; 17. Jonas Reynolds-37; 18. Mark Morin-30. JANUARY 30 PURSE: 1-$2,000; 2-$1,000; 3-$800; 4-$600; 5-$500; 6-$400; 7-$375; 8-$350; 9-$325; 10-$300; 11-$280; 12-$260; 13-$245; 14-$230; 15-$215; 16-$210; 17-$205; 18-$205; 19-$200; 20-$200. JANUARY 31 PURSE: 1-$4,000; 2-$2,000; 3-$800; 4-$1,200; 5-$700; 6-$600; 7-$575; 8-$550; 9-$525; 10-$500; 11-$480; 12-$460; 13-$445; 14-$430; 15-$420; 16-$410; 17-$405; 18-$400; 19-$400; 20-$400. 2015 WINTER CHALLENGE SCHEDULE: DATE - TRACK - LOCATION January 30: USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ ($2,000-to-Win) January 31: USA Raceway - Tucson, AZ ($4,000-to-Win) ----------------------------------------------- This schedule is subject to change.