Ron Swangler Photo

Nathan High Stages the ABC Sprinter shortly before he would win his second Main Event win in a row at Canyon Speedway

The Arizona Sprints Once again Keep the Fans on their Feet at Canyon Speedway

One objective of everyone that rolls out to the track, fans and racers alike is to have fun doing what they love. The teams busy in the pits pouring over their entries with every determination to make this race the best one yet. Young ones sit in the stands and wait for their favorites to roll out onto the dirt oval and line up to take the green. When it finally drops, all of the anticipation turns into a rush of excitement that is hard for even the oldest to describe. It’s a feeling that keeps us coming back, week after week.

This past Saturday night Canyon Speedway once again hosted the Arizona Sprints. The night was cooler than it had been for previous shows, giving the fans and racers the perfect weather for a great night of racing. The weather coupled with some determination on the part of Canyon Speedway’s staff in turn, made the 3/8 mile clay oval once again ripe for excitement with good side by side open wheel racing.

The Heat races would make testimony that it could be anyone’s night. With RJ Johnson  taking the first heat over young Brendan Higgins, with Bernie Smith fresh out of a recent retirement to win the trophy dash bringing up the show position. Heat two would see Chuck Buckman in the Lowell Carsten entry beating out the ABC Car driven by Nathan High. Not too far behind was Dalton Gabbard another young newcomer to ASCA Sprint Car Competition. Heat three would be rated triple xxx for excitement as Zack Sawyers prevailed over top contender Bruce StJames. Brian Hosford crossed the finish line third. With these results the feature could belong to anyone of the entries making up the 17 car field.

Brendan Higgins would start on the pole with the other youngster Zack Sawyer along side. Brian Hossford with buckman to the outside of him, the next row inside would be winner of the last week’s Main Event Nathan High. Just to make the start interesting, RJ Johnson would share the third row. The trophy Dash winner Bernie Smith behind Nathan, and Nick Aiuto rounded out the fourth row.

The field formed up and readied for the green. There was plenty of moisture left on the Canyon clay to set the stage for action. It wouldn’t be long until the crowd got to see what they came for! The field entered the first turn four wide as the Arizona Sprinters fought for position! Caution came out with only one full lap completed, just building the anticipation even more. Higgins would hold on to the lead, with Buckman in persuit as they would start single file on the back stretch. RJ Johnson would experience mechanical problems with the 77 car. Sawyer would take the second spot, and Buckman would yield the third spot to Nathan high. Meanwhile Sawyers would overtake Higgins for the lead. High and Higgins would spend the next few laps battling for the second spot, while sawyers built up a half lap lead. Cars were switching spots all over the field. At one time there were three or four battles going on. The fans kept busy as they tried to track the action. Bernie Smith would bring out the yellow on the eleventh lap. High tries the bottom just after the cone for the pass for second and couldn’t make it stick. Buckman would make contact with Sussex ending his night early. At the green Higgins would master the first lap reeling in Sawyer, with High close behind working the low side. Every second was packed with action. St James went to work on High just after the yellow as they both came up to sawyers who was simultaneously taking the lead from Higgins. High gets by Sawyers for the second spot and closed in on Higgins for the lead. High worked the track with the skill of a surgeon as he patiently held back for the opportunity to take the lead. That opportunity would lend itself three laps from the finish as High would sneak by Higgins with Bruce St James making the pass for the second spot. Zack Sawyers would take the third spot. Sussex would hang on for fourth, and rounding out the top five, Brendan Higgins making more position changes in the last 5 laps than I can count.

ASCA Results Canyon Raceway October 3, 2009

Heat 1

1. 77m RJ Johnson

2. 36   Brendan Higgins

3. 97   Bernie Smith

4. 27N Nick Auito

5. 3    Denny McVay

6. 1X  Matt Lundy

Heat 2

1. 61  Chuck Buckman

2. 12  Nathan High

3. 77  Dalton Gabbard

4. 5X  Jody Wirth

5. 62  Stevie Sussex

6.  4   Steve Sussex

Heat 3

1. XXX Zack Sawyers

2. 7K   Bruce St. James

3. 7A   Brian Hosford

4. 93   Justin Quinn

5. 2     Mike Colegrove

Main Event

1.  12    Nathan High

2.  7K    Bruce St. James

3.  XXX  Zack Sawyers

4.  62    Stevie Sussex

5.  36    Brendan Higgins

6.  27A  Nick Auito

7.  2      Mike Colegrove

8.  7A    Brian Hosgrove

9.  93    Justin Quinn

10. 77   Dalton Gabbard

11. 97   Bernie Smith

12. 61   Chuck Buckman

13.  4    Steve Sussex

14. 5X   Jody Wirth

15. 1X   Matt Lundy

16. 77M RJ Johnson

17.   3   Denny McVay

A special thanks goes to Bill Shaver for sponsoring $50 to Trophy Dash winner two races in a row and

Mike at Beaver Stripes for sponsoring the Trophy Dash and Main Event trophies. A recap will follow sometime today.

This press release brought to you by