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Press Release, Canyon Speedway Park Peoria, AZ. By D.Gabbard, Februaury 1, 2010 – The First IMCA sanctioned race of 2010 is in the records. After Mother Nature spread her wrath on the desert, the Canyon team worked on rescheduling the event. The CSP Winter Challenge opener fielded forty-five IMCA modified teams this past weekend. Round two added another driver on Sunday bringing the total entries to forty-six. States represented included Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Iowa, Idaho, California, New Mexico, North Dakota, Nebraska and Canada.

California’s Paul Stone and his number 66 team took home the top spot. Arizona hot foot from Mesa 4tw Tim Ward peddled his way into the second spot. Rounding out the top five was North Dakota 7-Marlyn Seidler in third, then 2009 national champion 95-Dylan Smith from Nebraska and New Mexico stand out 87-JJ Harpole.

On Sunday the IMCA national champion 95-Dylan Smith wheeled his way from sixteenth to first. Again the 7-team of Seidler had a solid finish in the second spot and leads the Winter Challenge points going into next weekends round three and four contest. Iowa’s 21-Phil Penney bounced back to bag the third spot after his team experienced a disappointing day Saturday. Arizona hard charger 44-Jason Noll of El Mirage started twentieth in the feature event to finish fourth. Canyon’s 2007 modified champion 09-Jay Foster of Phoenix finished fifth.

The Modified Winter Challenge Series will continue next Saturday February 6th and Sunday February 7th. Check out www.canyonspeedwaypark.com for more info

January 30, 2010 – Canyon Speedway Park (Peoria, AZ) – Winton, CA driver Paul Stone drove to victory in the 1st IMCA sanctioned Modified event of the year, winning the 30 lap, $1,000 to win feature at Canyon Speedway Park on Saturday night. The opening event of the 8 race Winter Challenge was held after a one week postponement and now will take place over four consecutive weekends. Each event pays $1,000 to win for the IMCA Modifieds.

The feature started with Stone on the outside front row with pole sitter, Shawn Zelenka. On the initial green flag, Stone set the car in turn one and nearly got sideways in front of the field but was able to get it back under control, and continue on. Before the first lap could be completed, Jay Parvin spun and was collided into by Mark Stewart, which brought the racing to a halt. A complete restart was ordered by track officials but Zelenka headed to the pits, losing his number 1 starting spot.

On the second attempt to get the race under way, Jay Foster spun in turn 1 after the green waved, again bringing out a caution with zero laps officially completed. The third attempt was the charm, as the action got under way. New pole-starting Matt Higgins, from New Mexico, grabbed the lead on the first lap but Stone was able to get back around him on lap 2 and claim the lead. With drivers from 9 states and Canada represented, a talented field comprised the 25 car field. Texas driver Chris Dawson claimed the 3rd spot, while North Dakota driver Marlyn Siedler ran 4th.

Local racer, young Tim Ward, ran 5th early on in the feature. Ward found a groove to make passes, as the bottom groove in turn 1 & 2 had gotten rough, so he moved it up high in those corners and charged by Siedler into 4th within a few laps. Two laps later, Ward again moved forward, getting by Dawson and claimed the 3rd position. Most drivers had found the fast groove, running middle of the track in turns 1 & 2, while staying glued to the bottom in 3 & 4. Dawson was able to get back around Ward a lap before the caution flag flew. Randy Brown spun, bringing out the yellow flag and was able to continue.

With a Delaware style restart, where the leader is alone on the front row and the cars doubled up behind, Stone held his lead on the waving of the green. Siedler quickly jumped into 2nd. A couple of laps later, Siedler was trying to get around Stone for the lead on the outside and took the lead a lap later. Dawson was forced way down low in turn 2 and lost ground as he clipped the muddy infield. JJ Harpole had moved into 4th, getting by Ward who had dropped to 5th. Lap 8 saw another caution flag fly as Terry Belcher Jr. hit an infield tractor tire, spun and stopped on the track. After track crews towed Belcher to the pits, Siedler lined up in front of Stone, Dawson, Harpole and Ward.

When the race resumed, Dawson tried to slide by Siedler for the lead but Siedler used a cross-over move to regain the lead. Ward pressured Stone for 3rd and took over the spot on lap 10, as action heated up throughout the pack. Within a couple of laps, Ward was challenging Dawson for second. He again used the high groove and surged into 2nd spot as the race neared the half way point. When Reeve Staley spun, the caution flag flew yet again, bunching up the field on lap 13.

As the green waved to resume racing action, Dawson broke on the front straight and forced the entire field behind him to take evasive action. All cars managed to avoid him but he remained stalled, bringing out another caution. Dawson was towed to the pits and the action was ready to resume. When the green flew, Ward ran 2nd ahead of Stone and Harpole. On the 14th lap, Stone charged past Ward to take the 2nd spot away. Soon Stone began to close on leader Seidler and would put pressure on him for the lead. A few laps later, the pressure seemed to get to Seidler as he nearly spun his car in turn 1, allowing Stone and several others to get by. Stone was again in the lead and stretched it out over Ward by 5 car lengths.

Charging from his 15th starting spot was 2009 IMCA National Champion, Dylan Smith. Smith had made it just outside the top 5 and was continuing his march towards the front. Around lap 20, Smith moved past Harpole into 3rd and set his sights on Ward in 2nd. Closing in on Ward and trying to pressure him, Smith would nearly spin himself out on lap 25, allowing Harpole to get by and retake the 3rd spot. Up front, Stone was nearing lapped traffic. Perhaps the lappers would slow him just enough to allow Ward to challenge him for the lead. Just before Stone caught the back markers, the caution flag flew on lap 27 as DJ Wood had spun.

The setup a 3 lap sprint to the finish but a single file restart would be in order, as track rules dictate when under 5 laps remain. Stone would have a chance at a clean getaway from Ward and the rest. When the final green flew, Ward tried to make a move to get under Stone but Stone pulled away. Siedler used the late race caution to mount a charge back towards the front, as he got by Harpole and Smith late to run 3rd. When the checkers flew it was Stone holding off Ward, while Siedler won the battle for 3rd over Smith and Harpole.

During the post race interview, Stone said “I didn’t think we had the car tonight. I turn 40 (years old) next month and I got beat by some young guys at the end of last year. I didn’t feel like getting beat tonight.” Stone showed his experience, and talent, and beat those young guys on Saturday night.

Unofficially crossing the finish line in 6th was George Fronsman, followed by Guy Norton, Anthony Madrid, Jason Noll and Higgins.

The races at Canyon Speedway Park can be heard on a live webcast of racing events all season long. Check out www.CanyonSpeedwayPark.com and click “Webcast” on the navigation menu to hear the action. 602-258-7223(RACE)

Due to the weather, CSP has been forced to cancel the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd. The schedule has been updated to compensate for this issue.

Kevin Montgomery Tucson, AZ (January 27th, 2010) – Bryan Clauson will triple his chances for a victory at USA Raceway’s 4th Annual Copper on Dirt as he enters the event with a seat for all three divisions. While he is among many drivers planning to do triple duty, Clauson is arguably the guy to beat in 2010.

Notably one of the hottest open wheel drivers in the country going into 2010, Clausen will look to resume his success of 2009 and likely gain distance from a field of some of the best open wheel racers in the country. Twenty year old Clauson has the accomplishments of a seasoned veteran after racking up an incredible year filled with more than 20 victories in Sprint Car and Midget competition including the Belleville Midget Nationals, USAC Indiana Midget Week Champion, The Night Before the Brickyard, The Turkey Night Grand Prix and the Glenn Howard Memorial to name a few.

The 2009 National Midget Driver of The Year will come to Tucson driving the familiar Corey Tucker owned Parker Stone Company/Esslinger Midget entry that has been a stable of success. Clauson will add to his arsenal by joining the stout RWB Sprint Car team fielded by Scott Benic and a very powerful Tony Stewart Silver Crown team. This will mark the first Copper on Dirt start for the Sprint car portion of the event and the first ever Silver Crown start for Clauson.

“I can’t wait for this event,” commented Clauson. “I am really excited to get down to Tucson and get the 2010 season under way.”

Tickets on Sale for The 4th Annual “Copper on Dirt”

Kevin Montgomery Tucson, AZ (January 19th, 2010) – Tickets are on sale for The 4th Annual “Copper on Dirt” featuring USAC Silver Crown, USAC National/CRA Sprint Cars and USAC National/Western States Midgets all taking part in a sensational racing spectacle at Tucson’s USA Raceway’s for two nights on February 19th and 20th marking USA Raceway as one of only two dirt track venues to host USAC’s Triple Crown all in one event.

As the 2010 racing season goes into to full swing, USAC championship hopefuls will make their way west to start the year off at one of the premier events of the season. More than a hundred of the nations top open wheel teams are anticipated to take part in the 4th Annual “Copper on Dirt” making this a must see event of 2010.

Ticket pricing, seating charts and purchasing information can be found online at http://www.usaraceway.net/Uploads/CopperOnDirtTicketForm.pdf or by calling the USA Raceway office at 520-574-8515

Hotel Information can be found at www.usaraceway.net/lodging.php or by calling the Tucson Airport Courtyard by Marriott at 520-573-0000

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 http://www.usaraceway.net

Dec 13, 2009 - The USAC Triple Crown Strives for Gold at The 4th Annual “Copper on Dirt”

Kevin Montgomery Tucson, AZ (December 11th, 2009) – Someone once said that visionaries create the future! In December 2006 at a local restaurant, Dennis Wood shared his idea of bringing the “Copper on Dirt” to Manzanita Speedway. He told a tale of bringing USAC Sprint Cars, Midgets and Silver Crown cars to Arizona and only had five weeks to make it happen. On February 9th 2007, Dennis Woods, successfully ran the first “Copper on Dirt” with more than 130 cars participating in the two day event.

The vision will be carried on as Arizona will host the 4th Annual “Copper on Dirt”. USAC Silver Crown, USAC National/CRA Sprint Cars and USAC National/Western States Midgets will all take part in a sensational racing spectacle at Tucson’s USA Raceway’s for two nights on February 19th and 20th marking USA Raceway as one of only two dirt track venues to host USAC’s Triple Crown all in one event.

“The Copper on Dirt is a great event and we are looking forward to having it at our facility,” commented Benji Lyons. “We are constantly looking at marquee events for USA Raceway and this was one that we have been after for a while. With the closure of Manzanita Speedway we felt the need to continue to carry the torch for premier racing events in Arizona and this is one of those events.”

Mississippi’s Ricky Stenhouse became the first and only driver to win multiple “Copper on Dirt” features in a single year. Stenhouse set the bar high at the inaugural “Copper on Dirt” by winning back to back races in the 40-lap sprint car feature and finishing off the night by capturing the 50-lap USAC Silver Crown Feature.

California native, Darren Hagen, is the only other driver to win in two divisions with a midget victory in 2008 and a sprint car win in 2009. Hagen will lead the USAC trio into Tucson as the defending “Copper on Dirt” Sprint Car Champion while Brad Sweet and Bud Kaeding will likely set out to defend the USAC Midget and Silver Crown titles respectively. Hagen also leads the “Copper on Dirt” stats with 8 of 9 feature starts (Did not participate in 2007 Silver Crown portion) and an average finish of 5th in 8 total events.

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 268, 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 http://www.usaraceway.net

Past Copper on Dirt Winners
2007 USAC Midgets - Cory Kruseman
2007 USAC Sprint Cars - Ricky Stenhouse
2007 USAC Silver Crown - Ricky Stenhouse
2008 USAC Midgets – Darren Hagen
2008 USAC Sprint Cars – Shane Cottle
2008 USAC Silver Crown – Jerry Coons Jr.
2009 USAC Midgets – Brad Sweet
2009 USAC Sprint Cars – Darren Hagen
2009 USAC Silver Crown – Bud Kaeding