PFLUGER SPRINGS INTO ACTION AT TUCSON RACEWAY PARK IN ASA SPEED TRUCK CHALLENGE

Source: TRP Media Relations
Date: 04/01/2008

With Spring Fling timelines in place racing got underway on a windy and beautiful Saturday Evening at Tucson Raceway Park. Greg Campbell of Tucson had assembled a large contingent of New Mexico INEX Legends competitors to come experience the four wide racing action and TRP Management rewarded them with lots of seat time which would include timed qualifying, a six lap Trophy Dash, an eight lap heat race and a twenty five lap Feature Event. Thanks Greg!

When qualifying was complete for the NASCAR Lucas Oil Late Models, last weeks winner, Victor Pfluger set on top in his Chevy with the only laps in the fifteens with lap one being a 15.940 followed by a 15.941. Man this kid is good! Duane Hunt Jr. in the only Dodge would qualify second followed by Scott Rueschenberg in the only Ford. The INEX Legends were next up for their two timed laps and the track record holder, Wes Fry, set the standard at 18.249 with Robert Scott and Blake Leuth second and third. The Lucas Oil Trophy Dash was a barn burner for all six laps with pole sitter Rick "The Butler" Butler leading flag to flag and Pfluger whom started last taking second over Rueschenberg.

The INEX Legends Trophy Dash saw John Kerchner from New Mexico lead from the drop of the green until last starting Fry made the inside pass to take the lead and never look back. Fry would take the Trophy over Kerchner and Leuth sporting a new paint scheme on his number 12.

The night's heat races started off with the INEX Bandoleros and Michael "Spike" Cionni would take the win over Andrew Norman and Keith Douglass. Cionni and Norman would spin in the chicane to the delight of the crowd but keep going for a great finish. The INEX Legends were next up and Kerchner would win a close battle with Leuth in heat one and Fry would dominate heat two over Danny Bunyard of New Mexico. The TRP Bomber Lites heat race saw front row starter Lyle Gallegos lead until lap four when Karl Griggs would take the point and lead until the end. Gallegos would hang on for second over Mike Schaffer. With many new Bombers being built, only three cars would contest for the win. Butler, yes the same Butler that won the Late Model Trophy Dash, would lead for the distance over Shawn Perrin and newcomer, Enrique Durazo in his new bright blue Ford. The first of two NASCAR Lucas Oil Late Model heats was more proof that starting out back could bring in a win as Hunt Jr. would start last and finish first in his potent Dodge followed by Ned "Don't Eat the Worm" Champine from Mescal taking a well deserved second over back East visitor, Chris Cooling in the Desert Mountain Medical #15. The second NASCAR Lucas Oil Late Model heat race was Southern California's Wade Riddering leading until lap seven when Rueschenberg would slip by for the win followed by Riddering and Mike Egurola.

After a short intermission during which over two hundred Fort Huachuca and Sierra Vista fans whom were invited by 2007 NASCAR Whelen All-American Arizona State Champion Joe Paladenic, enjoyed the broad selection of food and beverages the INEX Bandoleros would go at it for ten quick laps with Norman taking the win over Cionni and Rookie Douglass. In the INEX Legends feature event, 2007 TRP Rookie of the Year, Blake Leuth led the first nine while Fry was burning through the field, on lap ten Fry would slip by Leuth and check out until a lap twenty three caution caused by Romano Cionni 111 loosing power on the front stretch. After a lengthy caution to get the competitors in their proper positions for the green, white, checkered finish Fry would have a great restart and take the win over Leuth and Kerchner.

The TRP Bomber Lites would take to the track at 8:30 and their ten lap feature would take just four minutes to complete with Karl Griggs starting last and leading by the end of lap one. The tight racing was for fourth position as Griggs would dominate and take another win over Jason Davis and Lyle Gallegos.

The TRP Bombers put on a great show with "The Butler" cleaning up on Perrin and Durazo.

The final Feature of the evening would go green at 9:00 and take just twenty two minutes to complete 50 laps. Rick "The Butler" Butler would lead the first two laps from the pole and Pfluger would seize the lead on lap three and set his rhythm in the high groove as Paladenic would take second by lap six and Mike Egurola would race side by side with Butler for ten laps as Chris Cooling, Duane Hunt Jr., and Scott Rueschenberg waited patiently for the sea to part. Hunt was the first to get by Butler and Egurola making a daring four wide pass in turn 1 on lap seventeen to take third behind Paladenic. Hunt would maintain third for ten laps but tire wear from his Big Dodge horsepower would take its toll and he began to lose positions quickly as Rueschenberg and Cooling in the Crate engine cars kept marching forward with there measly 415 HP.. A late caution to clear many anxious fans from the front straight fence would bunch up the field for a fight to the finish. Pfluger would get a good restart as Paladenic would have his mirrors full of Rueschenberg. The Reusch would slip by on the inside of Paladenic on lap forty three and set sail for Pfluger with a replay of last weeks feature event. At the checkered flag it was Pfluger making it two in a row over closing Rueschenberg and Paladenic getting a well deserved third. In Victory Lane Pfluger thanked the large crowd for coming out and invited them back next week to see the threepete!

We'll See!

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