12TH ANNUAL "HALL OF FAME CLASSIC" AT CANYON BEGINS FRIDAY
This Friday and Saturday, the cars and stars of the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will return to Peoria, Arizona's Canyon Speedway Park. Co-sanctioned with the USAC National Sprints, the 12th Annual ParkerStore "Hall of Fame Classic" will feature an incredible roster of talent from California, Arizona, New Mexico, and the Midwest. The popular Challenge Cup Sprint Cars will join the showcase and the spectator gates will open at 5:00pm with racing set begin at 7:00pm.
Heading into Friday's event, Temecula's Mike Spencer has a lock on his fifth straight championship. Holding a commanding 332 point advantage, the pilot of Ron Chaffin's #50 Madera Produce / Grubstake Mini Storage Maxim was second at the October 6th "Fair Race" at Perris. To date, Spencer has eight feature wins, eleven Sander Engineering / Rod End Supply Fast Time Awards, five heat race victories, one Keizer Wheels / Ringers Gloves Hard Charger Award, eighteen top-5 finishes, and 164 feature laps led. Mike will be looking for his first "Copper State" victory at Canyon Speedway Park.
Nic Faas of Huntington Beach is currently second in the point chase. Driving Mark Alexander's #4 Scott Sales Company / Competition Suspension Inc. Spike, the 1-lap track record holder at Canyon claimed his second victory of the year on October 6th. In 2012, Faas has three Sander Engineering / Rod End Supply Fast Time Awards, five heat race victories, two Ringers Gloves / Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Awards, eleven top-5 finishes, and 43 feature laps led to his credit. Nic will be among the favorites to watch at the "Hall of Fame Classic."
Sitting third in the point standings is Buena Park's Brody Roa. Piloting the BR Performance #91R HD Industries / Burris Racing Spike, the former Wagsdash Champion ran eighth at Perris after starting sixteenth. Roa won at Yuma on June 2nd and has two heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Diversified Machine Inc. Semi-Main win, one Keizer Wheels / Ringers Gloves Hard Charger Award, six top-five finishes, and 47 feature laps led on the year. Brody will have his sights on adding the "Hall of Fame Classic" to his resume.
Ryan Bernal of Hollister is fourth in the championship points. Driving Keith Ford's #73 King Racing Products / A&A Precision Machine Spike, the Santa Maria track champion was twelfth on October 6th after a flip ended his night. To date, Bernal has two feature wins, three heat race victories, one Ringers Gloves / Keizer Wheels Hard Charger Award, eight top-5 finishes, and 94 feature laps led. Ryan will be looking to claim victory at Canyon Speedway Park.
Yorba Linda's "The Ripper" Rip Williams sits fifth in USAC/CRA point chase. Piloting Jack Jory's #3 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, the 2004 Champion scored eleventh at the Perris "Fair Race." In 2012, "The Ripper" has one Sander Engineering / Rod End Supply Fast Time Award, two heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Diversified Machine Inc. Semi-Main win, five top-5 finishes, and 13 feature laps led. Williams has been running strong and will be a threat to win at Canyon.
Among the other top USAC/CRA contenders expected to be in action are Austin Williams of Yorba Linda, Ventura's "The Kruser" Cory Kruseman, and Yorba Linda's "Cadillac" Cody Williams. Dave Darland will lead the challenge from USAC National drivers including last year's Hall of Fame Classic winner Bryan Clauson, Jon Stanbrough, "The Demon" Damion Gardner, Tracy Hines, Chris Windom, Robert Ballou, Casey Shuman, and Bobby East. "Chargin" Charles Davis Jr., R.J. Johnson, Mike Martin, "The Shermanator" Jeremy Sherman, Stevie Sussex, and more will represent Arizona and New Mexico's "The Real Deal" Rick Ziehl will be on hand. CSP is offering a bonus of $250 on Friday and $500 on Saturday to the highest finishing 360 and an open practice will be held Thursday at CSP from 6-9pm. Entry forms and race information can be found at www.usacracing.com/assets/files/rules/2012/October26.pdf.
This year, "The Tempe Tornado" Lealand McSpadden will serve as Grand Marshall as the "Hall of Fame Classic" will induct Billy Boat, "The Gasman" Richard Griffin, Mark Passerelli, Bob Gibson, and "Hoot" Gibson to the Arizona Motorsports Hall of Fame. Canyon Speedway Park is located at 9777 West Carefree Highway in Peoria, Arizona. To get to the track, take Lake Pleasant Parkway, then 1.3 miles West on Carefree Highway. Advance tickets are on sale now and more event information can be found at Canyon Speedway Park or calling (602) 258-7223 (RACE
Lealand has had a place in Cholla for many years.
