Lonnie Wheatley, PEORIA, Ariz. (February 24, 2014) – The action will be intense atop the 1/3-mile Canyon Speedway Park clay oval this weekend as the Phoenix-area track hosts the 7th Annual Copper on Dirt on Friday and Saturday after an open practice session on Thursday night.
Four premier divisions will take to the racy oval on both nights including the non-wing USAC/CRA 410-ci Sprint Cars, USAC Western Midgets, West Coast vs. CDM Late Models and IMCA Modifieds.
Concord, CA, native Damion Gardner will kick off his defense of the USAC/CRA championship aboard the Alexander Racing No. 4 after finishing fourth in both nights of Copper on Dirt competition in 2013.
Gardner will be amongst a stellar field that also includes five-time series champion Mike Spencer, reigning Copper on Dirt champion R.J. Johnson, Dave Darland, Cory Kruseman, Charles Davis, Jr., and J.J. Yeley among others.
In the USAC Western Midgets, Norco, California’s Ronnie Gardner kicks off his title defense after racking up 13 overall feature wins en route to the 2013 crown. Gardner, no relation to Sprint shoe Damion, finished third in last year’s Copper on Dirt opener.
The event will also serve as the season opener for the West Coast Late Models that take on the CDM Late Model series. Steve Drake reigns as defending West Coast Late Model champion with Don Shaw and Garrett Alberson splitting Copper on Dirt honors last year.
In the IMCA Modified ranks, defending track champion Jason Noll topped last year’s Copper on Dirt opener before George Fronsman topped the finale. Noll topped the track’s Winter Challenge opener in January before Ricky Thornton, Jr., went on a tear by winning four features in a row only to have Jesse Sobbing to break the streak by topping the Winter Challenge finale.
After Thursday’s open practice session from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., racing action on both Friday and Saturday goes green at 7:00 p.m.
Two-day discounted tickets are available until Friday for just $40 for both nights of action. Tickets purchased on race day are $20 on Friday and $25 on Saturday. Detailed ticket information VIP Suite and All Access information is available at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/tickets/the-copper-classic/ or by calling the track office at 602-258-7223.
Hotel Information can be found at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/fan-info/lodging/ or by calling the Courtyard by Marriott at 623-580-8844.
To keep up on all the latest news and happenings, sign up for Canyon Speedway E-News. The track update registration can be found at the top of the www.canyonspeedwaypark.com home page.
The entire 2014 Canyon Schedule can be previewed online at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/schedule/.
Discounted CSP season passes are also available by calling the track office. Season ticket packages can be viewed at http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/tickets/season-passes/.
Canyon Speedway Park is located in north Peoria, AZ, off Lake Pleasant Parkway, then 1.3 miles west on Carefree Highway. For more information, contact the track at 602-258-RACE (7223) or check online at www.canyonspeedwaypark.com.
- Admin Account on Feb 24, 2014
- Article Date: 2/24/2014 by Lonnie Wheatley