TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Scott Luttmer of Hagerman Idaho brought home his first series championship in the ASA Pro Trucks. Luttmer came into the final event at Magic Valley Speedway with a narrow fourteen-point lead over defending champion Jerry Rice. Rice out qualified Luttmer opening the door for Rice to gain more passing points than Luttmer in the main event. Both drivers found themselves in the same eight lap heat race, Luttmer had the advantage starting ahead of Rice. He held on and gained another two points making it a sixteen-point gap for the championship. Going into the main event Rice started in the twelfth starting position while Luttmer started sixth. With one point per position gained and two points for each finishing position Rice needed to beat Luttmer by five positions to take the point lead and championship. Rice used the style and grace he has all year to slowly pick his way to the front. Rice caught Luttmer and passed him on lap nineteen. By lap twenty-five he was in third fighting John Newhouse for the second position. Newhouse driving to gain daughter Hannah points in the series fought hard for the position the side-by-side action had fans on the edge of there seats. Rice got the pass done on lap thirty-three chopping another two points out of the gap in the championship battle. Looking back through the field Rice was now two points from winning the championship. Pole sitter Doug Dugger had broke away from the field and it looked like it might take a caution for Rice to catch him. Rice kept digging lap after lap. Dabree in turn one, it was high on the track would it bring the caution needed, no, ASA Pro Truck officials said it’s out of the racing groove let it finish. Rice kept charging closer every lap, lap forty-three he is on the bumper. He gives him the bumper he has the pass. Rice takes over the lead with five laps to go. While Rice was charging after Dugger Luttmer was setting his pace capturing two positions gaining the point lead by ONE points over Rice and Capturing his first Championship in the ASA Pro Truck Series. “Man I knew it was going to be close we unloaded and we were junk, the crew worked really hard to make it good for the main. This one is for you Ryan” Luttmer exclaimed. Ryan, former crew chief and son is in Guatemala on a mission.
The efforts by Doug Dugger didn’t go un-noticed as he lost the fight with Rice he was able to hold onto that second place finish and propel into a third place finish in the final point standings. John Newhouse finished third and Helping Hannah move into the fourth position in the final standings. Johnny Pierre finished the race in fifth “This feels good after the struggle we’ve had. It’s good to go into the off season with a top five finish” said Pierre in post race inspection. Alan Larson rounded off the top five in points after a sixth place finish in the main event.
Official 2012 standing are listed below. Be sure to visit our website at www.asa-pro-trucks.com and our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AsaProTrucks
Official ASA Pro Truck 2012 Point Standings
Scott Luttmer 311
Jerry Rice 310
Doug Dugger 253
Hannah Newhouse 251
Alan Larson 245
Drew Reitsma 241
Johnny Pierre 208
Dan Doan 165
Jeff Pohlman 128
Sam Harris 124
John Wong 113
Kent Jensen 107
Bo Sharp 69
Hubbard Shane 60
Cutler Ed 56
Larson Kevan 37
Kendall Kendall 38
Reeves Steve 18
Lathem Bobby 17
Hillock Jeff 11
Fleishman Dave 9
Radmall Chad 7
Wong Tanner 5
Phelps Cecil 2
