Source: ASA Media Relations
Date: 07/05/2007

TUCSON, Arizona -- You’ve heard it on hundreds of racing occasions. You’ve may have even been lucky to see it happen many times in person. It was one of those nights for Darren Young in the #18 United Nissan at the newly repaired Tucson Raceway Park. Young had the experience to pull off one of the closest and most exciting finishes in the 2007 season to-date.

Everyone knew that despite the 9:45 p.m. starting time, the temperatures off and on the track would be absolutely grueling. With temperatures reaching 112 degrees during the day and asphalt track temps at 150, it was no wonder that all the ASA Speed Truck Challenge drivers were pounding the water all day in anticipation of a 100-mile head-to-head race on this extremely fast 3/8-mile track.

The fast qualifier was Scott Franchimone in the #01 Arrowlane Colorado at 16.640, winning him five extra championship points. “My truck was just set-up perfectly,” said Franchimone after the opening qualifying run. “I’m looking forward to the race tonight.”

Unfortunately, Franchimone rolled a six on the positioning inverting dice, which put him in the sixth position starting the race and Andy Allen in the #22 RJ Allen, Inc., Colorado on the pole. Franchimone finished in a respectable seventh spot after the truck loosened up. Darren Young, two-time ASA STC champion, was also pushed back to the fifth starting position, despite an excellent qualifying time of 16.676. For 98 of the 100-lap event, Andy Allen and Rick Chavez, #84 RG Trucking Dakota and Darren Young #18 United Nissan battled. Allen, who had started the race with a brand new engine and on the pole, certainly didn’t seem to be relinquishing the lead throughout the race, despite 3 yellow flag restarts. It was only until the final two laps that after a final restart, Allen lost the lead to Young and Chavez. It was on these laps that the two seasoned drivers showed off their 4th of July “fireworks” driving skills, which brought the Tucson Raceway Park crowd to their feet as Young “burned em down” on the start/finish line at the same time the fireworks lit the sky.

On the final lap, Young used his inside position on Chavez to rub a bit coming into the 3rd turn. It was just enough to drop Chavez back to second, releasing Young to cross the finish to win his 3rd ASA STC race in a row. With the win, Young pushed himself up only one point behind first place championship points-holder, Victor Pfluger in the #80 Parker Farms Dakota, who also had a great night behind the wheel, finishing in third.

“It was one of my best wins,” said Young. “I knew that if my tires held out, I would have a chance to push the leaders toward the end. I give credit once again to my great team that had me set-up just the way that I needed to be on this very fast and hot track,” Young concluded. An obviously frustrated Chavez said after the race, “It was fun racing head to head with Andy and Darren. They are super drivers but I guess I didn’t have enough tonight and my truck was way loose!”

ASA Speed Truck Challenge moves next to the rough and tumble track at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, California on July 14th. “It’s one of the hardest tracks around to gain position,” said Jay Rutherford, ASA STC president. “The season is going to prove to be a real shootout between some very hungry drivers.” “And with a new enforcement perspective on the 2007 Rules Book expect a very exciting night of racing.” Rutherford concluded.

For more information about ASA Speed Truck Challenge and how your company could benefit from its national television exposure on the Outdoor Channel, contact Bill McCloud, National Marketing Director at 866-873-7615 or bill@speedtruck.com.

See Also .:

News Index | E-mail to a Friend