The ASA Speed Truck Challenge moved its way to the Orange Show Fairgrounds for the eighth race of the 14 race series last weekend.
This would be Moses’ first race since his crash at Mesa Marin, which totaled his Speed Truck. Unfortunately, Moses did not have time or the funding to build a new truck in time for the Orange Show event. However, with support from teammate, Gabi DiCarlo, Moses would pilot the Great Clips entry for this race.
“I am very fortunate to be able to make this race, a lot of thanks to Gabi, and Great Clips for making this weekend possible.” Moses commented on the support.
The weekend started out very well, finding Moses with some of the fastest lap times in practice. This was shaping up to be another exciting weekend for the Moses Smith Racing team.
Unfortunately, due to time constraints, qualifying would be cancelled for the Speed Truck Challenge. Therefore, the starting order would come from the championship points. This would place Moses seventeenth on the grid. “I am a little disappointed that we did not get to qualify, I think we had a real good shot at the pole. But I am excited for the race, starting mid pack is always a challenge which I like!” Moses explained.
As the race started on the very tight ¼ mile track of the Orange Show Stadium, turn one turned into a parking lot with Trucks spun up high and down low. During this incident, Moses was rear ended from behind, and pushed into the truck ahead of him. Damage was visible to the front of the 76 Hasa Pool Products / Great Clips truck. At the time, the extent was unknown.
Once the race was restarted, racing was very clean. From his 17 th staring position Moses charged to the front, averaging one pass every five laps, which happens very quick on a 14 second lap. By the halfway point, Moses’ truck started to show the damage caused by the first lap incident, in way of overheating. “I started to feel the truck lose power as the water temp came up. During the yellows I could get the temp down, but under green it was hot”.
Minor contact with another truck, while passing into sixth place, aggravated the existing damage. This caused an even more severe overheating situation. Moses was forced to leave the track due to the motor constant hot temperature. “If it was my truck I would have kept running it, but I was appreciative of the opportunity to run the Great Clips truck, and I needed to bring it back in good condition. So we will get ready for Irwindale in two weeks and get them then”.
Moses’ next race will be next week at the ½ mile oval at the Irwindale Speedway in Los Angeles. Be sure to catch the first race (Irwindale Raceway) on the outdoor channel on Saturday 7/23/2005 at 8:00 p.m.
