A Tucson native, Payne returned home in the winter months to collect a $15k payday and become the 2009 Wes Hurst Memorial Modified Champion as well as a runner up finisher at the January Bill Cheesbourg Memorial Wild West Shootout finale where he pocketed $5k for his efforts.

Whitwell, who won the 2009 Friday prelim of the first edition of the classic, will be teammates with Payne for the season ending double header.  Whitwell will try to wrap up another USA Modified Championship this weekend and then set his sights on the Carl Trimmer Classic.

The 2^nd Annual Carl Trimmer Classic kicks off Friday October 15th as we honor one of Tucson’s greatest racers.  Trimmer currently ranks in the top 5 in Barnett Harley Davidson Modified points standings at USA Raceway and is a force to reckon with on a weekly basis. 
 
A storied career that has lasted more than fifty years and has no signs of concluding anytime soon, finds Trimmer still hard at the wheel and more determined than ever.  Trimmer has racked up more than 700 feature wins and 34 championships including many NASCAR titles as well as the inaugural championships at the famed Corona Speedway and USA Raceway.
 
“Carl Trimmer is an amazing person on top of being a great racer” commented Benji Lyons.  “He has the passion, drive and determination of a 25 year old and is a great inspiration to me and anyone that comes to the track.”
 
The 2^nd Annual Carl Trimmer Classic will feature the stars of the Super Late Models from all over the Southwest.  Several drivers from California, New Mexico and Colorado will make their way south to take on Arizona’s best.
 
The UniFirst Super Stocks will be in action along with Factory Stocks, X-Mods and Hornets as each division will crown champions on the Saturday night finale. All divisions will compete in two separate events starting with Friday night action and concluding with Saturday’s Carl Trimmer conclusion.

There will be an opportunity for race fans to get a preview of the Carl Trimmer Classic racers at an open practice slated for October 14^th.  The festivities will kick off at 6:00pm with grandstand admission free for all those who want a sneak preview.

To keep up on all the latest news and happenings please sign up for USA Raceway E-News.  The track update registration can be found at the top of the home page www.usaraceway.net

The 2010 USA Raceway Schedule can be previewed online at www.usaraceway.net/schedule.php

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 265, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales.  For more information please, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at www.usaraceway.net

While more than 30 events grace the 2010 schedule one would think it may be hard to top the 2009 season! With great optimism promoters of USA Raceway created a 2010 schedule that may do just that! With the cooperation of neighboring tracks, the level of competition will be at an all time high making for extreme excitement race fans will not want to miss.

The 4th Annual “Copper on Dirt” will lead the way to an exciting 2010 championship season that kicks off with ASCS Non Wing Sprint Cars Presented by Discount Tire on March 13th. The championship season opener will kick off the 2010 points battle for the Super Stocks, Factory Stocks, and X-Mods and will be followed up by the ASCS Southwest Wing Sprint Cars on March 20th and Barnett Harley Davidson Ump West Modifieds on March 27th, giving all divisions an early start on the championship season.

“We had a great 2009 season and we are looking forward to a great 2010,” commented Benji Lyons. “We are always looking for ways to improve the fan experience and we have some great new things coming for this year.”

There will be an opportunity for race fans to get a preview of the 2010 racers at an open practice slated for March 12th. The festivities will kick off at 6:00pm with grandstand admission free for all those who want a sneak preview. The 21st Annual Dwarf Car.com Nationals will take place a week prior to the season opener for race fans that want to get a head start on the season.

The 2010 USA Raceway Schedule can be previewed online at www.usaraceway.net/schedule.php

Discounted season passes are available by calling the USA Raceway office at 520-574-8515. 2010 Season Ticket Packages can be viewed on line at

http://www.usaraceway.net/schedule.php

Saturday’s card also serves as one final tune up for the ASCS Southwest forces before taking on the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters at the 42nd Annual KRONIK Energy Western World Championships presented by Old Tucson Studios on November 19-21.

After a couple of weeks of Texas competition, Peoria’s Gregg carries a slim 10-point lead into Saturday’s action as he tries to close in on the ASCS Southwest title. Gregg, who topped the series most recent feature event on September 19, is just ten points ahead of Ziehl, with John Gaston, Mike Martin and Joshua Hodges all within striking distance as well.

Ziehl, the defending ASCS Southwest champion, carries an 18 point edge in the Discount Tire Co. ASCS Regional Challenge into the event. Saturday’s card, the eighth and final leg of the DTC Challenge, will crown the champion of the series that included both winged Southwest Region events and wingless Canyon Region events.

Dropping in on the Southwest contingent on Saturday night will be Albuquerque’s Johnny Herrera, who has topped 16 consecutive ASCS Regional winged events throughout Arizona and New Mexico dating back to 2005.

Herrera won’t be the only weekend visitor, as Phoenix native Calvin Landis returns to Arizona for some racing action after another year of Knoxville competition.

Also, wingless shoe R.J. Johnson of Phoenix, AZ, is prepared to take on the winged forces for the first time, with modified ace R.C. Whitwell also trying out the winged open-wheelers on Saturday night.

Current ASCS Southwest points (Top Ten): 1. Ben Gregg (Peoria, AZ) 984, 2. Rick Ziehl (Las Cruces, NM) 974, 3. John Gaston (Peoria, AZ) 958, 4. Mike Martin (Yuma, AZ) 948, 5. Joshua Hodges (Tijeras, NM) 946, 6. Ronnie Clark (Tucson, AZ) 920, 7. Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ) 910, 8. John Van Horn (Tucson, AZ) 821, 9. Jessica Van Dyke (Tucson, AZ) 813, 10. Ron Kratz (Tucson, AZ) 746.

Current Discount Tire Co. ASCS Regional Challenge Points (Top Five through Seven of Eight Rounds): 1. Rick Ziehl 704, 2. Charles Davis, Jr. 686, 3. Ronnie Clark 664, 4. Mike Martin 650, 5. Joshua Hodges 638.

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.

The wing warriors will be joined by Factory Stocks, X-Mods and Hornets. General admission tickets will go on sale at 5pm for only $12, racing will begin promptly at 7pm.

Suite Access Passes which allow race fans the opportunity to enjoy the races from USA Raceway’s VIP Suite are also on sale for only $25.

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 268, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales. For more information please, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at www.usaraceway.net

The 42nd Annual KRONIK Energy Western World Championships Presented by Old Tucson Studios
Tucson, Arizona (October 2009) – KRONIK Energy brings the best of Energy drinks to USA Raceway and The 42nd Annual KRONIK Energy Western World Championships, Presented by Old Tucson Studios. KRONIK Energy, now the official energy drink of USA Raceway, energizes the already electrifying Western World Championships.

Top drivers from across the country will now have an extra incentive to win the already prestigious title and the over $100,000 in prize money. The winners of The 42nd Annual KRONIK Energy Western World Championships, Presented by Old Tucson Studios, will be handed a large bag of cash, a very nice trophy, the Western World title and most importantly a can of KRONIK Energy.

“We are ecstatic to be part of such a great event and to be the official energy drink of USA raceway” said James Gabriele, a spokesperson for Kronik Energy “and we are looking forward to bringing the best in energy drinks to a great event and a great race track”

Product information for KRONIK energy can be found at http://www.kronikenergy.com/

More than one hundred sprint cars will be expected to aim for the KRONIK Energy victory as they take part in what will be one of the biggest sprint car events in the country

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 $100,000 in “A” Feature money alone distributed over the course of the blockbuster event. A $15,000 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 $5,000.

Ticket pricing, seating charts and purchasing information can be found online at www.usaraceway.net/Uploads/WesternWorldTickets.pdf or by calling the USA Raceway office at 520-574-8515

Hotel Information can be found at www.usaraceway.net/lodging.php or by calling the Tucson Airport Courtyard by Marriott at 520-573-0000

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 268, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales. For more information please, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at http://www.usaraceway.net

The 18th Annual American Sprint Car Series Awards Banquet, Presented by Brodix, will follow directly on the heels of USA Raceway’s 42nd Annual KRONIK Energy Western World Championships presented by Old Tucson Studios.

Open to all racers, teams and fans, tickets are available for just $20 and may be obtained by calling USA Raceway at 520-574-8515. Tickets must be ordered by Tuesday, November 17.

More information regarding Old Tucson Studios is available at www.oldtucson.com

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).

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 – Sammy 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)

Tucson, Arizona (October 13th, 2009) – The battle of Modified supremacy goes full tilt this weekend as the Arizona boys gear up to defend their home track against the New Mexico bandits. The competition heats up this weekend as the UMP West Modifieds wage battle on the USA Raceway battle field.

RC Whitwell leads the charge with fellow Tucson resident Robert Adams close by and ready to take aim against New Mexico’s Stormy Scott and Jimmy Ray. Scott and Ray packed a one two punch with brother Johnny Scott making an all New Mexico podium at their last Tucson outing.

The New Mexico crew is expected to come loaded with a few other friends looking to repeat. However, Chad Ayres stepped up as a contender with a dominating performance to kick off October and will join forces with a large cast ready to take on anyone.

The Ump West Modifieds will be joined by Super Stocks, Factory Stocks, AMA Modlites Arizona Late Models and Hornets. General admission tickets will go on sale at 5pm for only $10, racing will begin promptly at 7pm.

Suite Access Passes which allow race fans the opportunity to enjoy the races from USA Raceway’s VIP Suite are also on sale for only $20.

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 268, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales. For more information please, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at www.usaraceway.net