UPLAND, California -- Since the inception of the ASA Speed Truck Challenge (ASA STC) in 1997, President Jay Rutherford has repeated a mantra to his drivers and spotters that continues yet today – “If you give respect – you will gain respect.” This Golden Rule of driving has served the series well and the application of this motto has never been more apparent than so far in the 2008 season. In the season opener at Havasu 95 Speedway, and after a re-start, a field of 16 Speed Trucks went 64 laps of the 1/4-mile 100-lap main event before the first yellow caution was produced. At Tucson Raceway Park, just two weeks later, a field of 18 Speed Trucks went 98 laps green on the 3/8-mile 100-lap feature race without one single caution. And not to be outdone, this week it was certainly no surprise again that a 16 Speed Truck field went the entire ½-mile 50-lap event “green to checker.”
When asked about how often he sees this happen, Rutherford responded, “It has happened many times over the last 11-years, but it really seems that there is a different atmosphere in the series, in the pits and on the track this season. Every driver and their spotter know the passing rules and are taking every precaution to avoid others and drive fast, yet defensively. (Jason Black set a new track record at Havasu 95 Speedway) Some fans may call it boring; we call it extremely great racing and could not be more proud of our drivers.” Given the fact that this year’s ASA STC field is made up of many two and three year drivers and the largest group of rookies ever assembled for this challenging 13-race at 8 different track schedule; it is even more of a testament to their talent and watchful eyes on the track.
Rutherford and his head tech Official, Jeff Austine, give tremendous credit also to the parity that they have created out on the track. Qualifying times continue to be less than 7/10 of a second between 1st and last place times at the last 3 races, which indicate that truly every driver has the truck to win a race. Says Austine, “This season, we have already had three different winners in three races. With our careful scrutiny to the ASA STC rule book in pre-race and post-race technical inspections, all our teams know exactly where the boundaries lie and they stick to it. We are extremely proud of the colossal effort that each team puts in to make their own trucks as fast as they can be, yet legal under an extremely tough set of rules,” concluded Austine.
The Saturday night Toyota -TRD Irwindale 50 race was slightly abbreviated due to a full card of races at Toyota Irwindale Speedway, but there was still plenty of heat in this shortened show-down for these Speed Truck hopefuls. With many lead changes throughout the fast and exciting race, it was finally veteran Todd McLauchlan from Santee, CA in his #38 Chevy Colorado, sponsored by Institutional Cabinet & Millwork, ULTRA Boats and Airgas, that clinched his very first win behind the wheel of a Speed Truck. Todd is certainly no stranger to the winning circle however as he has 20-years worth of victories at Cajon Speedway.
“It was a rush to win here tonight,” said an excited McLauchlan in Winner’s Circle. “I had a blast running here at this very fast and forgiving track of Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. My truck has just been on rails this season and I can’t wait to climb back in it for our next race at the I-10 Speedway in three weeks,” he concluded. The McLauchlan team has put on quite a show this season so far with a fourth-place, second-place and now a win, in 2008 under the watchful eye of a trusted spotter - his wife Lisa. McLauchlan now leads the championship point’s standings over second year driver Jason Black.
“The season has also gotten off to a great start with advertising partners like Toyota Racing Development (TRD), who had a special trailer display at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale and gave all the fans an inside look at the brilliantly new designed Toyota Tundra truck and all the incredible aftermarket racing parts that are being made for the Toyota line of vehicles. Thanks so much for their involvement in the Toyota-TRD Irwindale 50,” said National Marketing Director, Bill McCloud.
For more information on Toyota Racing Development, go to www.trdusa.com. For more information on the ASA Speed Truck Challenge go to www.speedtruck.com or call Bill McCloud, National Marketing Director at 866-873-7615.
