pictures by Terry Shaw TKA Photography  www.tkaphotography.com

R.J. Johnson Racks Up ASCS Canyon Region Win at Manzanita
 

Lonnie Wheatley, PHOENIX, Ariz. (April 26, 2008) – R.J. Johnson brought a quick halt to the Charles Davis, Jr., win streak by capturing his first Discount Tire Co. American Sprint Car Series Canyon Region feature win in Saturday night's 30-lap main event atop Manzanita Speedway's 1/3-mile clay oval.

Johnson raced past Davis for the lead in the latter stages aboard Bobby Martin's ProFlyer-powered Arizona Race Mart/Weiler Farms No. 15 Maxim to become the series fourth different winner through the opening six events of the 2008 season.

Gunning for a third consecutive triumph, Davis led much of the way after starting sixth, only to surrender the point in the closing laps to 21-year-old Johnson.

Davis settled for second, with front row outside starter Nathan High taking the show position. Current series points leader and defending champion Jeremy Sherman advanced from ninth to fourth, with Mike Martin rounding out the top five.

Jeff Henry was sixth, with 13th-starter Josh Pelkey, Jay Ervine, 15th-starter Mike Leslie and 21st-starter Bobby Taylor completing the top ten.

Johnson, Andrew Reinbold and Martin won the heat races, with Justin Fisher topping the "B" Main. High won the Trophy Dash.

Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region from Manzanita Speedway:

Trophy Dash: 1. 77-Jeremy Sherman, 2. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 3. 12-Nathan High, 4. 19-Andrew Reinbold.

Heat One: 1. 15-R.J. Johnson, 2. 2-Mike Colegrove, 3. 62-Jeff Henry, 4. 12-Nathan High, 5. 8-Bob Ream, Jr., 6. 22-Mike Rux, Jr., 7. xxx-Zach Sawyers, 8. 27n-Nick Aiuto, 9. 74-Derek Williams.

Heat Two: 1. 19-Andrew Reinbold, 2. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 3. 77-Jeremy Sherman, 4. 34-Josh Pelkey, 5. 76-Mike Leslie, 6. 11-Seainn Hendricsen, 7. 48-Thomas Ogle, 8. 5x-Jody Wirth, 9. 96-Carson Ditsch.

Heat Three: 1. 16-Mike Martin, 2. 44-Jeremy Reagles, 3. 78m-Bryan Swinehart, 4. 21-Jay Ervine, 5. 20s-Derek Sell, 6. 7-Steve Tellas, 7. 61-Justin Fisher, 8. 26az-Bobby Taylor, 9. 28-Stevie Sussex.

"B" Feature: 1. 61-Justin Fisher, 2. 48-Thomas Ogle, 3. 27n-Nick Aiuto, 4. 11-Seainn Hendricsen, 5. 26az-Bobby Taylor, 6. 5x-Jody Wirth, 7. xxx-Zach Sawyers, 8. 74-Derek Williams, 9. 22-Mike Rux, Jr., 10. 28-Stevie Sussex, 11. 96-Carson Ditsch.

“A” Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15-R.J. Johnson, 2. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 3. 12-Nathan High, 4. 77-Jeremy Sherman, 5. 16-Mike Martin, 6. 62-Jeff Henry, 7. 34-Josh Pelkey, 8. 21-Jay Ervine, 9. 76-Mike Leslie, 10. 26az-Bobby Taylor, 11. 78m-Bryan Swinehart, 12. 61-Justin Fisher, 13. 5x-Jody Wirth, 14. 20s-Derek Sell, 15. xxx-Zach Sawyers, 16. 7-Steve Tellas, 17. 27n-Nick Aiuto, 18. 74-Derek Williams, 19. 19-Andrew Reinbold, 20. 48-Thomas Ogle, 21. 8-Bob Ream, Jr., 22. 44-Jeremy Reagles, 23. 11-Seainn Hendricsen, 24. 2-Mike Colegrove.

Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Jeremy Sherman 872, 2. Charles Davis, Jr. 838, 3. Nathan High 830, 4. R.J. Johnson 796, 5. Mike Martin 792, 6. Josh Pelkey 790, 7. Jeremy Reagles 786, 8. Thomas Ogle 766, 9. Mike Leslie 734, 10. (tie) Andrew Reinbold and Justin Fisher 711.