The Copper on Dirt Finale Tonight!

Kevin Montgomery TUCSON, Ariz. (February 19th, 2011) – Albuquerque’s Johnny Herrera emerged from a spirited duel with 2009 series champion Shane Stewart to snare his first Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National win of the year in Friday night’s 25-lap Copper on Dirt preliminary feature event at USA Raceway.

Herrera and Stewart exchanged sliders, and some slight contact, over the middle third of the race before the New Mexico shoe asserted his presence for the $60,000 series championship by slipping away in the final circuits for his third career ASCS National win aboard the Wesmar-powered Champion Oil No. 45x Maxim.

Jeff Swindell shuffled Stewart back to third, with Jack Dover quietly racing from 18th to the fourth and final lock-in position to Saturday’s Copper on Dirt championship finale.

Kyle Larson dominated the 20-Lap Midget feature in his maiden voyage aboard the Keith Kunz Toyota powered Bullet staying ahead of a fierce battle for the runner up spot. RJ Johnson used lapped traffic to slide past Steve Buckwalter and secured his spot on the podium with Buckwalter settling for the show position.

Nick Bartels held off Clay Daly and Steve Drake making for an all California top three finish. Bartels made his way from the tenth starting position and was the victor of a heated late race battle with Daly.

Lonnie Parker Jr. was the top finishing Total Seal Late Model Series representative earning the final locked-in position for Saturday’s finale.

Holly Jones became the first USRA Western Modified winner as she narrowly held off her father Royal Jones in the 25-Lap Modified feature marking her first USA Raceway win. Royal was followed to the line by Phoenix racer Ricky Thornton Jr. who drove from the twelve starting spot to earn the final spot on the podium with Christy Georges finishing fourth and locking her into the Saturday night finale.

Full results can be found at http://www.usaraceway.net/results/