PENDLETON, Indiana- It's unanimous. The drivers in the ASA Speed Truck Challenge are elated about the recent affiliation with the American Speed Association.
"The credibility the national mark ASA has for the Speed Truck Challenge is huge (and should) help all of us with our career advancements," stated Robert Kroeker, 2003 Speed Truck Challenge Rookie of the Year. "ASA has certainly followed their slogan of 'We Build Champions' with the likes of Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson to name a few. ASA has secured a very solid series in the Speed Truck Challenge and the series more than deserves national recognition and expansion as we have proven our series is above all others in the Southwest."
"Jay Rutherford has done an excellent job with the series," said Dennis Huth, ASA Member Track Program national director. "This is the natural evolution for the Speed Truck Challenge to help it reach the next level. Both parties come out as winners in the arrangement and the growth opportunity for this series is unlimited."
"The Speed Truck Challenge has continually shown us strong development in the series from increased purse structures, to increased driver points fund to sponsorship marketing, television broadcasts and stronger racing venues like Mesa Marin Raceway," stated Lee Hatch, the 2003 Speed Truck Challenge Champion. "Now with ASA on board, the possibilities are endless."
The partnership began April 12 and immediately the drivers began seeing benefits such as a vastly improved participant accident insurance policy, national exposure, marketing, and possible opportunities for additional series, contingency, television and individual team sponsorship.
"From what I understand about the new ASA insurance for the competitors and crew members, this alone makes the ASA Speed Truck Challenge another notch above other racing series," said Kroeker.
The ASA Speed Truck Challenge uses a full-tube chassis with a 330-horsepower sealed V-8 spec engine. They have a two-speed direct drive transmission with a clutch pedal dump valve coupled to an aluminum quick-change rear end. The trucks sport exact replica fiberglass bodies of the Chevrolet S-10, GMC Sonoma, Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma and the Nissan Frontier will be available for competition shortly. Speeds can reach up to 150-mph at some of the larger tracks. Additional information on the series and trucks can be found at www.speedtruck.com.
The schedule includes the two "Driven to Rock" races at Mesa Marin Raceway (in Bakersfield, Calif.) and Madera (Calif.) Speedway where notable NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers Kevin Harvick, Sterling Marlin, Bill Elliott and a fourth, "mystery" driver are scheduled to compete. Other tracks on the 17-event schedule include the 3/8-mile bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway, Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway (Colorado River Fairgrounds in Blythe, Calif.) and ASA Member Track Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, Calif.
The American Speed Association is based in Pendleton, Ind., and has offered racing programs since 1968, including the ASA National Tour, ASA Late Model Series, several
regional series, and the ASA Member Track programs. For additional information, visit
asaracing.com.
