Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (May 29, 2009) - The Western World Championships have undergone all variety of transformations over the years.  From non-wing to winged and back again and under all variety of sanctioning bodies.
 
With the recent closure of Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, AZ, the 42nd edition of the Western World Championships will shift to Tucson's USA Raceway.  And, that's not all that's changing, as this year's Western World will feature the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters as well as the wingless warriors of the Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region.
 
Both the winged and wingless forces will tackle USA Raceway's 3/8-mile clay oval for three nights on November 19, 20 and 21, with more than $85,000 in "A" Feature money alone distributed over the course of the blockbuster event.  A $10,000 share awaits the winner of the Lucas Oil ASCS season-ender on November 21, with the Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region conqueror on November 21 pocketing $3,000.
 
The Lucas Oil ASCS portion of the Western World will also award ASCS Southwest Regional points.
 
The event replaces the previously announced Sprint Bandits TNT double for November 13-14 due to scheduling conflicts that have arisen since the April 14 announcement.
 
"This will showcase what is quickly becoming the nation's premier winged Sprint Car series in the Lucas Oil ASCS as well as give the ASCS Canyon Region a signature event," USA Raceway co-promoter Kevin Montgomery commented.
 
The three-night stand will mark the first time for both the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters and the Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region to appear on the same card.
 
"Give this event a couple of years to grow and the Western World will once again be one of the premier events in the country, if not THE premier event," commented ASCS founder and President Emmett Hahn.
 
The Western World will be the 2009 championship points finale for the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters, which will distribute $250,000 among its top 15 in final points including $60,000 to the champion.  Also the season finale for the ASCS Southwest Region, It will mark the first appearance for the Lucas Oil ASCS National series in Arizona.
 
Bringing the best in wingless Sprint Car racing to Arizona, the Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region will crown its champion over the weekend as well.
 
Tennessee's Kevin Swindell became the 25th different winner of the Western World by topping the 2008 edition of the event last November, adding his name to a prestigious list of past winners that includes his father Sammy Swindell, who won the event in both 1980 and 1989.
 
Steve Kinser has claimed the most Western World titles with seven triumphs including wingless wins in 1982 and 1983 followed by winged wins in 1985, 1987, 1990, 1992 and 1996.
 
Ron Shuman is next on the list with five Western World triumphs, all of the wingless variety, with other drivers posting multiple Western World wins including Lealand McSpadden (3), Bud Kaeding (2), Mark Kinser (2), Jan Opperman (2) and Sammy Swindell (2).
 
The Western World has been run as a winged event on a dozen previous occasions, most recently in 1999.
 
Past Western World Championship Winners (Wing / Non-Wing)
2008 - Kevin Swindell (nw)
2007 - Jerry Coons, Jr. (nw)
2006 - Josh Wise (nw)
2005 - Dave Darland (nw)
2004 - Bud Kaeding (nw)
2003 - Tony Elliott (nw)
2002 - Bud Kaeding (nw)
2001 - Jeremy Sherman (nw)
2000 - Jay Drake (nw)
1999 - Donny Schatz (w)
1998 - Tyler Walker (w)
1997 - Mark Kinser (w)
1996 - Steve Kinser (w)
1995 - Lealand McSpadden (nw)
1994 - Ron Shuman (nw)
1993 - Lealand McSpadden (nw)
1992 - Steve Kinser (w)
1991 - Danny Lasoski (w)
1990 - Steve Kinser (w)
1989 - Sammy Swindell (w)
1988 - Mark Kinser (w)
1987 - Steve Kinser (w)
1986 - Bobby Davis, Jr. (w)
1985 - Steve Kinser (w)
1984 - Ron Shuman (nw)
1983 - Steve Kinser (nw)
1982 - Steve Kinser (nw)
1981 - Ron Shuman (nw)
1980 - Jeff Swindell (nw)
1979 - Tim Green (nw)
1978 - Lealand McSpadden (nw)
1977 - Ron Shuman (nw)
1976 - Bubby Jones (nw)
1975 - Ron Shuman (nw)
1974 - Rick Ferkel (nw)
1973 - Earl Wagner (nw)
1972 - Jan Opperman (nw)
1971 - Jan Opperman (nw)
1970 - Jerry McClung (nw)
1969 - Bob Huebner (nw)
1968 - Bob Cleberg (nw)
 
The American Sprint Car Series, in its 18th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing events, brings the best of Sprint Car racing to nearly 100 different tracks throughout 25 states and Canada in 2009.  Anchored by the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of a dozen different Regions throughout the nation.
 
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.