Source: BMcCloud
Date: 02/09/2008

UPLAND, California -- It is no wonder that new drivers, both young and old are flocking to the ASA Speed Truck Challenge series based out of Upland, California. Now in its 12th racing season, president and director of the series, Jay Rutherford, is definitely proud of what he created in 1997. “We’ve been working diligently for a long time,” said Rutherford. “Drivers and teams across the country are now realizing that we are the real deal.”

Rutherford, who penciled out his vision for the “true driver’s series” on a napkin a dozen years ago with friend, Kenny Hendrick, knew that drivers would love the opportunity to race in a professional series on an even playing field that would not reward “fat wallets.” In fact, the series has taken a primary role as being the premier series of the ASA (American Speed Association) in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA president, Dennis Huth says, “Jay and his team have continually worked on their racing program to now being recognized nationally as a series that produces driving champions. I am proud to say that the ASA Speed Truck Challenge represents all the positive aspects of racing that I have tried to infuse into all our ASA sanctioned series.”

Because of the excellent parity between trucks on the track, it truly has put winning the championship all about the driver behind the wheel. In 2007, the ASA Speed Truck Challenge Champion, Victor Pfluger, only 16, won the series in the very last race of the season with only two points separating him from two-time Challenge champion, Darren Young, age 43. “This is exactly what my officials and I have been working for over the years and I believe we have done it, remarked Rutherford. “With only three races left in the 2007 season, we had ten trucks that mathematically could have won the championship. It just came down to a great team effort and super driving ability that put the Pfluger team on top for the season.” To prove the point, over the entire season of fourteen races on eight different tracks, qualifying times were only separated by less than 9/10 of a second on the oval tracks.

The phones started ringing early at the ASA Speed Truck Challenge corporate offices at the end of 2007. New interested drivers were pursuing all the details in how to join this exciting West Coast series. With the fact that there are 70 race teams associated with the series, there are always a number of quality used trucks for sale. With the economy down at present as well, a normal price of $40,000 for a race-ready truck has seen used prices drop to lows of around $18,000, which has also stimulated the Speed Truck interest compared to the still high prices of Late Model equipment. “The great thing is that any one of these trucks that have sold over the last two months could win the championship,” said Rutherford. “They are all well built and can be updated quickly and cost effectively by our own shop at Circle Track Fabrication to ready-to-race condition.”

New drivers are coming from close by in California to as far away as Washington and North Carolina to run in the ASA Speed Truck Challenge. Not only does the series offer competitive equipment costs, multiple tracks on which to race including a road courses, quality/family atmosphere in which to run; but most importantly, in 2008 – the series will again be nationally televised.

New drivers for 2008 include: Kyle Tatman, Tucson, AZ; Hunter Colodny, Reno, NV; Louie Pagano, Camarillo, CA; Taylor Miinch, El Cajon, CA; Eric Sloan, Alta Loma, CA; Jeremiah Wagner, Las Vegas, NV; Joey Licata, Valencia, CA; Karl Forman, Las Vegas, NV; Kevin Smith, Placentia, CA; Jimmy Neal, Dana Point, CA; Branden Underwood, Henderson, NV; Taylor Jocelyn, Laguna Hills, CA; Beau Hutchison, Santa Clara; Scott Hutchison, Upland, CA; Donny St. Ours, Upland, CA; Lou Gamache, Yucaipa, CA; Race Liberante, Quartz Hills, CA; Ken Olson, Yakima, WA; Nathan Armstrong, Yakima, WA and Billy Wease, Charlotte, NC.

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