UPLAND, California -- September 13, 2007…With two races left in what is being called the most exciting and closest Championship Points race in the 11-year history of the ASA Speed Truck Challenge, Bear Rzesnowiecky already has something to brag about at just age 15. Exciting doesn’t begin to explain the driving style of Rzesnowiecky, in the jet-black #3 United Nissan / Quaker State, Chevy S-10. “Bear is quite an aggressive young driver,” said Jay Rutherford, president of ASA Speed Truck Challenge, who has certainly seen his share of drivers come and go. “The real exciting thing about Bear is that he will take what he has learned this year and become a first-class driver in the professional ranks. He has an incredible future in front of him,” Rutherford continued.
Rzesnowiecky started the 2007 season in a very discouraging 10th place finish at Lucas I-10 Speedway, but after some regrouping mentally and as a team, the hard-driving teen showed an impressive 3rd place finish at Orange Show Speedway just one week later. “Once I got comfortable with my truck and the way most of my competitors were driving,” says Bear, “then I knew what I needed to do. My hard-working United Nissan crew and my teammate, two-time ASA Speed Truck Challenge Champion, Darren Young, encouraged me to drive hard the way I had learned in Legends and to keep my nose clean out there.” And whatever they did worked as Rzesnowiecky charged past the leaders from a fifth position start to his first ever 1st place win in a Speed Truck at Havasu 95 Speedway on April 7th. “It was a night that I’ll never forget,” the humbled rookie exclaimed.
Although past Legend’s champ Rzesnowiecky’s initial goal in his first season, behind the much heavier and increased powered Speed Truck, was to drive hard for his team and keep from crashing throughout the myriad of snarls within the season; it became apparent half-way through the season that he was going to be a strong challenger in the Rookie of the Year point’s race. Giving hard chase on Bear’s heels throughout the season was another excellent rookie driver of Austin Murphy in the #07 Rox Pro / Frasier Masonry / Lucas Oil / S-10. Murphy will finish a relatively close 2nd in the rookie chase, finishing 3rd in two season races and in the top five, four times and will be an excellent contender in the ASA STC series in 2008. For a complete 2007 Rookie point’s standings go to www.speedtruck.com.
Despite never setting fastest qualifying time in 2007, Rzesnowiecky has known how to drive in the pack and stay at the front, race after race. In the last eight races since his win at Havasu 95 Speedway, he has placed in the top five, an amazing five times and has banked a nice purse so far for his team. Considering he was racing along side seasoned drivers such as Darren Young #18, Victor Pfluger #80, Andy Allen #22, Jim Putman #12 and Randel King #35 (2006 Rookie of the Year); Rzesnowiecky has put on quite remarkable performance in 2007.
Series Director Rutherford explained, “Although we give them the award of “Rookie of the Year” in January after fourteen season races, because our series competes at six different ¼ to ½ - mile oval tracks and two challenging 1.5 to 2.5 mile road courses, by about the fourth or fifth race, they are certainly no rookie. With that many different race track experiences under their belt so quickly, they could jump on any track with seasoned drivers and do well. That’s what makes the ASA Speed Truck Challenge series so unique.”
All of the officials for ASA STC have watched and shared in Rzesnowiecky growth behind the wheel this season. He is a smart, talented young teen and was certainly the one to watch from the beginning; proving him to proudly be named as the 2007 “Rookie of the Year.” Congratulations to Bear Rzesnowiecky – You earned it!
You can watch “Bear” on the Outdoor Channel and his quest to “Rookie of the Year” staring in November.