SPEED TRUCKS RETURN TO MESA MARIN RACEWAY WITH TIGHT POINTS BATTLE

Source: Mechanix Wear Speed Truck Challenge Public Relatio
Date: 07/25/2003

UPLAND, California -- The Mechanix Wear Speed Truck Challenge returns to Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, California on Saturday, July 26th.

Race number 10 in a 16 race schedule for 2003 season will see the Speed Truck Challenge at Mesa Marin Raceway this coming Saturday night for 99 laps of super competitive, door handle to door handle, very fast truck racing on the high banked half mile oval known for its launch of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The Speed Trucks get around this half mile oval in just over 20 seconds, one of the fastest of the truck divisions racing at Mesa Marin in 2003 providing a truckload of excitement.

Speed Truck Challenge points leader Lee Hatch in the #91 BHRM, Liquid Eyewear, RBS Graphics, Parker Pumper Ford Ranger has a 24 point lead over 2nd place John Burritt in the #21 SBC SMART Yellow Pages, SMART Pages.com, PLC Automation, Greg Remund Drywall Chevy S-10 out of Reno, Nevada. The battle between Hatch and Burritt has been awesome this year with the two drivers swapping the points lead back and forth. Burritt took the lead from Hatch at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on June 7th only to see Hatch take it back at Irwindale Speedway on June 14th. June 21st saw Burritt taking the checkers with Hatch in 2nd place again at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and a flat tire on lap 40 of a 50 lap race at Cajon Speedway saw Burritt back in the winners circle. But at Mesa Marin Raceway last April, Burritt and Hatch both found themselves behind the victorious Corona, California youngster Andrew Lewis in the #04 Chevy S-10 Speed Truck sponsored by Rio Bravo Resort, Western Reinforcing and Rich's Motorsports.

3rd place Donny Goodwin in the #33 Chevy S-10 from San Clemente, California sponsored by Goodwin Construction / Goodwin Trucking and Scientific Drilling is 2 points ahead of 4th place Dan Digiacomo out of Laguna Niguel, California in his #31 Dodge Dakota sponsored by Russo's Pet Experience and Rich's Motorsports. The points battle between 3rd and 4th has been as hot as 1st and 2nd. At Cajon Speedway the #31 and #33 Speed Trucks got together for less than a casual meeting between turns one and two.

A mere 10 points separates 5th and 6th place points positions between the 2003 Speed Truck Challenge "Rookie of the Year" points leader Robert Kroeker out of Norco in the #58 Chevy S-10, Valvoline, Merritt Pool Construction Speed Truck and Riverside's #2 Bobby Sayers in the Lucas Oil Products S-10 with KP Gaming Supplies, Allessi Communications and Riverside Carb and Electric on board. Here again another tight points battle between 5th and 6th places just like 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

Three time Champion in the Tri State Mini Stock Cars series, 16 year old Alan Sanchez from Jamul, California in the #20 Lozano/Decuir Motorsports Dodge Dakota is tied with Legend Cars Semi Pro National Champion, 16 year old Andrew Lewis in the Rio Bravo Resort, Western Reinforcement, Rich's Motorsports #04 Chevy S-10 from Corona, California in the 8th position. Andrew has two wins this year both at ½ mile tracks of Mesa Marin and Irwindale Speedway. 7th place points holder by only 38 points over the "16 year olds" is Jeff Rocheleau from Bullhead City, Arizona in the #13 ICI Deluxe Chevy S-10 Speed Truck with seven Top 10 finishes this year.

Scott Rueschenberg from Mesa, Arizona rounds out the Top 10 in Championship points. The #15 Desert Mountain Medical, Wright Medical Supply Dodge Dakota is only 38 points behind the "16 year olds" tied for 8th.

What an exciting points battle for the Speed Truck Challenge Championship and the prestigious "golden ring."

2003 CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS "TOP 20"   ROOKIE OF THE YEAR   "TOP 10"
1. Lee Hatch            #91          1.  Robert Kroeker       #58
2. John Burritt         #21          2.  Kevin Fedderson      #50
3. Donny Goodwin        #33          3.  Alan Sanchez         #20
4. Dan Digiacomo        #31          4.  Lee Keach            #03
5. Robert Kroeker       #58          5.  Keith Cummins        #29
6. Bobby Sayers         # 2          6.  John Spilotro        #18
7. Jeff Rocheleau       #13          7T. Robert Russell       #23
8T. Andrew Lewis        #04          7T. Terry Young          #82
8T. Alan Sanchez        #20          7T. Rod Slack            #88
10. Scott Rueschenberg  #15         10T. Rick Rogas           # 1
11. Troy Decuir         #10         10T. Brandon Arciero      #32
12. Jimmy Perry         #26
13. Kevin Fedderson     #50
14. Lee Keach           #03
15. Richard Franz       # 7
16. Colin Dickinson     #67
17. Gary Bryant         #94
18. John Spilotro       #18
19. Doug Ingraham       #97
20. Kenny Smith         #43

The Speed Truck Challenge travels the Southwest competing at Madera Speedway, Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway, Tucson Raceway Park, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Mesa Marin Raceway, Cajon Speedway, Orange Show Speedway, Irwindale Speedway and has raced numerous events at Phoenix International Raceway, Willow Springs International Raceway, Tustin Thunder, San Diego Grand Prix and the Tecate Grand Prix since its inception in 1997. The Speed Trucks are full tube chassis, 108 inch wheelbase, 330 horsepower Vortec V-8's, coupled to a 2 speed direct drive transmission, aluminum quick change rear end, 8 inch Hoosier racing slicks, fueled by 76 Racing Gasoline and are capable of speeds of 150 MPH. The Speed Trucks sport exact replica fiberglass bodies in Chevy S-10, GMC Sonoma, Ford Ranger, Dodge Dakota, Toyota Tacoma and coming soon Nissan Frontier bodies. Check 'em out at www.speedtruck.com or call 909-949-4780.

Saturday night's adventure at Mesa Marin Raceway with the Mechanix Wear Speed Truck Challenge will also have the Cal Spas SuperMoto USA series, Chevron/Texaco High School Racing Series, Auto Club 911 Race for Youth series and the West Coast Pro Trucks. The action gets under way when the spectator gates open at 5:00 PM, qualifying by all divisions at 6:00 PM, and racing at 7:30 PM. Tickets are easy to get through the track's website at www.mesamarinraceway.com by phone 661-366-5711, or in person at the on-site track box office. General Admission for Adults is $10.00 and Children 6 to 12 only $5.00.

See Also .:

• Mesa Marin Raceway Track Page

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