LAKE HAVASU, Arizona — Joey Licata Jr. wrapped up his 2009 ASA Speed Truck Challenge season on Saturday (October 24) with a pair of visits to the Havasu 95 Speedway podium. The Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle development driver scored the win in the Trophy Dash race, before finishing a close second in the Feature race.
Licata Jr., as has become customary, wasted little time getting up to speed in Round Nine at Havasu 95 Speedway, turning the fastest times in the opening practice sessions. When single-truck qualifying got underway on the ¼-mile oval, it initially appeared the talented 18 year-old would start from the pole position. However, when the final truck took the checkered flag, Licata Jr.’s time of 15.97 had come two one hundredths of a second short.
While disappointed to have not garnered the pole position, the former multiple IKF Grand National karting champion put that out of his mind when he lined-up for Trophy Dash race. Getting a good jump at the waving of the green flag, Licata Jr. ran alongside the polesitter for the opening two laps, before eventually finding a way past. Once in the lead, he never relinquished the top spot, steering the No. 71 United Nissan/G2 Graphic Service/Impact Racing/Chevy Colorado into victory lane.
Licata Jr. had little time to celebrate however, as it was soon time to get the 100-lap Feature race underway. Starting in the always challenging outside front-row position, the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle driver again got a good launch when the race commenced, vaulting into the lead before the completion of the opening lap. Licata Jr. proceeded to attack the oval early on, establishing an impressive 10 car length lead by lap 30. Entering the second half the season-finale, Licata Jr. elected to slow the race pace in an effort to conserve his tires. Unfortunately it soon became apparent that the track was getting increasingly slicker, resulting in the No. 72 becoming looser with each passing lap.
While Licata Jr. was still able to show good speed, passing all the way up to fourth place, he was unable to defend the lead. Falling back to second, the Van Nuys, Calif., driver had one last opportunity to regain the lead via a late race full-course caution, but it was not be, as he was unable to make a move stick. When the checkered flag waved at the end of the 100-lap affair, Licata Jr. had finished a well deserved second, ending the year on the podium.
“We are very happy with Joey’s racing season results this year,” commented head of driver development Ron Sutton. “He is a true talent and we think we can develop him all the way to a NASCAR career. We need some funding help for him next year … and provided we can get some financial support, we plan to run him a full season in NASCAR Modifieds.”
For direct contact, please email Joey Licata Jr. at jlicata@socal.rr.com
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About Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle:
Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle is an established talent scout and development program, providing long term, comprehensive racing and career development for up and coming drivers focused on NASCAR careers. RSWC drivers are raced, coached, groomed, trained and molded, within a professional racing environment, into what top pro teams look for when hiring drivers. Drivers involved in the program race in a variety of cars, including USAC Junior Ford Focus Midgets, USAC Ford Focus Midgets, USAC Midgets, USAC Sprint cars, Skip Barber Race Series, SCCA Club Racing Formula Ford and F2000, NASCAR Grand American Modifieds, NASCAR Late Model Stock Cars and NASCAR Grand National cars.
