Neither a quick change of travel plans nor new sets of tires proved to be obstacles for Just Past U Racing drivers Scott Rueschenberg and Ron Norman last weekend, as the two ran door-to-door ahead of the field in Tucson.
Rueschenberg picked up a first-place finish with teammate Ron Norman a close second in the first 50-lap main of the Super Late Model Opening Day Twin 50 race at Tucson Raceway Park on March 27. Rueschenberg won the second as well, running side-by-side for 25 laps with Dustin Jones.
“It was a great race,” said Norman, who started in pole position Saturday. “I got a good starting position and led for 30-35 laps. Toward the end, a caution comes out. Scott was able to get up next to me and we pretty much ran door to door until the last lap, then they called the caution which stopped the race. He passed me on the last lap, good and clean.
“We like it because he can race me up to my fenders and nudge me around the track, and I can do the same.”
Rueschenberg was planning to run the SRL race at All-American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. last weekend until Tucson Raceway Park owner Mark Ebert called to see if Rueschenberg and Norman would be willing to stay home for the weekend to help put together a stronger field in Tucson.
“I said, ‘Alright, as long as we can get a car count and you can get commitments from other guys, we’ll cancel attending the SRL race at All-American Speedway in Roseville to come out and support Tucson Raceway Park,’” Rueschenberg said.
The move proved successful as the duo continued their sustained success at the raceway. Norman, a Tucson resident, ran a new car similar to the one being run by Rueschenberg, with a straight-rail Hamke chassis.
“We built this car in four or five weeks after we just got back from South Africa (to race in the Phakisa Freestate 500) and raced it there in Tucson,” Norman said. “We went out there with no practice. We finished it Friday night and worked as hard as we could. I was really happy with it.”
The drivers ran on new Goodyear tires — as opposed to the Hoosier tires they had been racing on the past three years — that were about three inches larger than they’re used to, and with a harder compound, which led to much looser conditions and some trouble on corners. But Rueschenberg tested his car the previous weekend, and was able to give Norman a summary of the differences.
“I went out and tested it last Sunday and came back and gave Ron some information on it,” Rueschenberg said. “The time I took to go down and test I think helped both of us on our set-ups.”
Both drivers agreed that a combination of well-prepared equipment and their familiarity with Tucson Raceway Park is what has contributed to their continued success there.
“In typical Tucson Raceway fashion, the quality of racing last weekend was great,” Norman said, “because once again, we were running door to door, lap to lap which made for really exciting racing for myself, all my team members and the fans.”
Up next for the JPU Racing drivers is the USLMA 101-Lap Super Late Model race in Tucson on April 24.
“We’ll definitely be ready for the USLMA race,” Rueschenberg said. “Last time the touring divisions came in, Ron ran second and I ran fourth but we were fighting for the lead. It could have been any one of us in the top four that night.
“We’re looking forward to that race, big time. We’ll have a chance to test another time or two and defend our home turf against the USLMA top runners like, Bruce Yackey, Jenny White, Darren Robertson and Jim Sikes Jr.”
Fans can visit the team’s Web site www.jpuracing.com for more information including upcoming race dates.
