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| Press Release |
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WILKINS LEADS FIELD TO MANZY'S SALUTE TO INDY |
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Arizona's open wheel drivers are already looking forward to the
Arizona Race Mart/Sunoco "Salute to Indy" at Manzanita
Speedway on May 25th. The non winged Sprint Cars will be
running their first extra lap race of the year as the feature race
is slated for 50 laps on Manzy's one third mile track instead of the
usual 25. With both Sunoco Race Fuels and Arizona Race Mart, a
distributor of a wide race of racing parts and accessories, adding
to the purse which totals over $10,000 with a $1200 first place
paycheck, a field of 25-30 Sprint cars are expected. The
Arizona Midget Racing Association, featuring a couple of high school
freshman battling a field of veterans, are also on the card.
Bob Ream, Jr. led the final 25 laps in last year's race but the 1998 champion fell on hard times in the second half of the 2001 season and has yet to get to Manzanita's winner circle this year. His best effortyear on the half mile track on April 20th when he finished a car length behind the winner, Charles Davis, Jr.. Ream has failed to finish the last two events and hopes to use the "Salute to Indy" to get back to the top of the chase for the championship. Eric Wilkins, despite missing one race and failing to finish in the last outing, holds the points lead at press time after scoring four wins and two seconds second in his seven starts. Marty Miller, the 2000 driving champion has finished all seven races in the top ten and finally got his first win since winning the 2000 "Salute to Indy" when he edged Chuck Buckman on May 4th. Josh Pelkey, the 1997 driving champion and five time champion Ricky Johnson also figure to be near the front when the checkered flag falls on the fifty lap feature. R.J. Johnson, a freshman at Cesar Chavez is the new points leader and Greenway high frosh Justin Fisher ranks fourth in the Midget standing's and Johnson, who recently turned 15, has already scored a win this year. Steve Sussex, Jr. the 2000 driving champion won last year's Midget portion of the "Salute to Indy". The Memorial Weekend also features International Motor Contest Association Dirt Modifieds and Dwarf Cars on May 24th and then close out on May 26th with a Factory Stock/Bomber doubleheader. The Bombers will line up Indy style with eleven rows, three abreast for a 33 lap main event. |
