Cody Morris, Tulsa, Oklahoma (6-4-2012) - In their sixth season of competition under the ASCS banner, the wingless sprint car stars of the ASCS Canyon Region enter un-chartered waters this coming weekend as a pair of border tracks receive their inaugural dosage of the thrilling non winged ASCS Canyon Region (Terry Shaw photo / TKA Photography).
The Canyon competitors will mark a first of many statistical varieties Friday night at El Paso Speedway Park. Friday night’s weekend opener will feature the first ASCS event at the El Paso, Texas semi-banked 3/8 mile oval. It will also mark the inaugural wingless ASCS Canyon Region venture into the Lone Star State.
The Canyon combatants then shift 70 miles northwest for their first ever race at Las Cruces, New Mexico’s Southern New Mexico Speedway. Having hosted several Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour events in the past few seasons, Saturday night’s ASCS Canyon Region event will showcase the first ASCS Regional event at the semi-banked 5/16th mile oval in Las Cruces.
Saturday night’s go at Southern New Mexico Speedway will feature just the third ASCS Canyon Region visit to The Land of Enchantment, following a 2009 visit to the now demolished Hollywood Hills Speedway and a 2010 showing at Aztec Speedway.
The weekend of action along the Interstate 10 corridor in El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, New Mexico will mark the only events for the Canyon Region outside of their home state of Arizona.
With three victories in the first four events of the 2012 campaign, two-time ASCS Canyon champ and Buckeye, Arizona native Charles Davis Jr. has suffered in luck as of late and what was once a 110+ point lead in the early Canyon standings now sits at a much less comfortable 43.
Combined with Davis’ poor luck, the consistency of Phoenix, Arizona’s R.J. Johnson has him within striking distance approximately one-third of the way into a 2012 season featuring 24 events.
Peoria, Arizona’s Dalten Gabbard enters the I-10 battle third in ASCS Canyon points. Gabbard was riding a high from his first career ASCS Canyon Region victory in his hometown, but Gabbard lost a lot of momentum as he was one of the 8 drivers that popped a tire on the rubbered up surface of Arizona Speedway this past Saturday.
Popular radio host Bruce St. James sits fourth in ASCS Canyon points, with Las Cruces, New Mexico’s Rick Ziehl fifth in the early ASCS Canyon point standings.
A Las Cruces, New Mexico native and reigning consecutive five time ASCS Southwest Region kind, Ziehl is salivating at the non winged Canyon Region’s first venture into his backyard. Ziehl looks to capitalize on the home court advantage and run the ASCS Canyon winner’s list to seven, as six different competitors have taken wins in the opening 8 rounds of ASCS Canyon Region action.
Both evening’s of ASCS Canyon Region action begin at 730pm.
The Southern New Mexico Speedway is located 11 miles west of Las Cruces, New Mexico at the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. Take Interstate 10 to exit 132 at the Las Cruces International Airport, take a left over Interstate 10 before making a right hand turn to the west on the S. Frontage Road. Make the final turn south on South Fairgrounds Road.
For more information regarding Southern New Mexico Speedway, please visit www.snmspeedway.com
The El Paso Speedway Park is located 6.5 miles east of Loop 375 on Montana Avenue. Take a left on KRAG (note the Phillips 66 gas station) and head north until you reach the first paved right hand turn (Tangerine Avenue), make a final right and head east to El Paso Speedway Park
For more information regarding El Paso Speedway Park, please visit www.epspeedwaypark.com
2012 ASCS Canyon Region Feature Winners: Charles Davis Jr. 3, Dalten Gabbard 1, Josh Pelkey 1, Ronnie Clark 1, Jeremy Sherman 1, Colby Copeland 1
2012 ASCS Canyon Region point standings (top 15):
1. Charles Davis Jr. 1,021; 2. R.J. Johnson 978; 3. Dalten Gabbard 932; 4. Bruce St. James 909; 5. Rick Ziehl 866; 6. Brian Hosford 865; 7. Justin Quinn 818; 8. Chris Bonneau 807; 9. Ryan Linder 806; 10. Bob Ream Jr. 794; 10. Andy Reinbold 794; 12. Mike Bonneau 755; 13. Josh Pelkey 743; 14. Mike Martin 684; 15. Mike Colegrove 667