MECHANIX WEAR SPEED TRUCK CHALLENGE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR BATTLE HEATS UP

Source: Speed Truck Public Relations
Date: 04/18/2003

UPLAND, California -- April 18th, 2003….The 2003 “Rookie of the Year” points battle heats up as the contenders head to Mesa Marin Raceway on April 26th for race number 3 of the 18 race season in the Speed Truck Challenge. Rookie points are awarded in two categories with 6 points each and 12 points overall for each race. 3 points for the best “qualifying” 2 points for second best, and 1 point for third best and points of 3, 2, 1 for the best “finishing” Rookie for each race.

San Diego based “Rookie of the Year” points leader Kevin Fedderson in the US Mortgage Marketing / Garrett Custom Trailers #50 Dodge Dakota Speed Truck is quite pleased with his rookie contention after scoring 3 points as the best “finishing” Rookie at Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway on March 8th and 2 points for second best “qualifier” and 2 points for second best “finisher” at Tucson Raceway Park on April 12th. Kevin sits atop the board with a total of 7 Rookie points going into Mesa Marin Raceway on April 26 and also holds 9th place in the series Championship points. Not bad for a 17 year old Saint Augustins high school student in his first attempt at racing.

Pro Stadium Truck racer Robert Kroeker in the #58 Speed Truck hailing from Corona, California in his Valvoline / Auto Body USA / Merritt Pool Construction Chevy S-10 is tied for second place in the “Rookie of the Year” points battle. Kroeker was the second fastest “qualifying” Rookie at Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway and the roll of the dice placed Kroeker on his first ever “pole position” for the start of the 99 lap race. He raced the series “top dogs” holding the lead for several laps until an accident with slower traffic took Kroeker off the track with a damaged truck and prevented the award of “finishing” points for the night. Tucson Raceway Park saw the #58 Valvoline Speed Truck capturing 3 more points as the fastest “qualifying” Rookie yet a flat tire and broken throttle cable prevented more than 1 “finishing” point being added to his current total of 6 Rookie points. 11th place in the series Championship points hold Kroeker’s name on it.

Alan Sanchez, 16 year old Mini StockCar Champion from Jamul, California is tied for Rookie points also at 6, with 3 points for best “finishing” and 1 point for best “qualifying” at Tucson Raceway Park. Alan’s 10th place finish at TRP is his best ever in the Speed Truck Challenge. Adding to his second place tie with Kroeker, Sanchez earned 2 points as second best “finishing” Rookie at I-10 Speedway. Alan drives the #20 International Promotions / Mother’s Polish & Wax / Decuir-Lozano Motorsports Dodge Dakota and has set his goal as winning the 2003 “Rookie of the Year” Championship in the Speed Truck Challenge. Alan is also tied in the series Championship points in the 7th position.

Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway saw a new face for the first race of the season with the Speed Truck Challenge as Mentone, California Rookie Keith Cummins in the #29 Merritt Pool Construction Dodge Dakota was rolled out of the trailer on March 8th. Crew Chief for the #29 Speed Truck Tom Merritt (aka: GO TO) belted his son-in-law into the cockpit of the #29 machine and the Rookie field watched as Cummins laid down the best “qualifying” position of the Rookie field for the season opener. The 3 points for best “qualifier” were gone and the rest of the Rookie field wanted to know where Merritt has been hiding his protégé. Keith holds 3rd place in the “Rookie of the Year” standings.

Other notables are Brandon Arciero and Terry Young from Chino Hills, California and Las Vegas, Nevada, respectively, tied in the 5th position. Brandon will sit out the April 26th race at Mesa Marin Raceway however, Terry Young’s #82 State Line Towing / Williams Racing Dodge Dakota Speed Truck plans to move up the ladder in Rookie points. Young is no Rookie to truck racing as he holds wins and top 5 finishes at Irwindale Speedway in the former American Race Truck series.

The “Rookie of the Year” points battle is hot, the Speed Truck Challenge racing action is even hotter. With 26 Speed Trucks currently entered for Mesa Marin Raceway on April 26th the racing action will be awesome. Come out and cheer for your favorite “Rookie of the Year” contender and Speed Truck driver. Spectator gates open at 5:00 PM and racing action begins at 7:30 PM. General Admission for Adults is $10.00 and Children 6 to 12 only $5.00.

The Mechanix Wear Speed Truck Challenge travels the Southwest competing its truck racing series at Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway, Tucson Raceway Park, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Mesa Marin Raceway, Cajon Speedway, Irwindale Speedway and Madera Speedway. The Speed Truck Challenge has also raced numerous events at Phoenix International Raceway, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Tustin Thunder, Orange Show Speedway, Willow Springs International Raceway and the San Diego Grand Prix since its inception in 1997. The Speed Trucks are full tube chassis, 108 inch wheelbase, 330 horsepower 350 CI V-8’s, coupled to a 2 speed direct drive transmission with clutch pedal dump valve, aluminum quick change rear end, 8 inch Hoosier racing slicks, fueled by 100 octane 76 race gas and are capable of speeds of 140 MPH at Phoenix International Raceway. The Speed Trucks sport exact replica fiberglass bodies in Chevy S-10, Ford Ranger, Dodge Dakota, GMC Sonoma, Toyota Tacoma and coming soon, Nissan Frontier styles for 2003. Check ‘em out at www.speedtruck.com.

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