PROJECT BLUE OVAL FORD FUSION GOES EAST

Source: TRP Media Relations
Date: 07/18/2008

The Project Blue Oval Ford Fusion has already been in Victory Lane at Tucson Raceway Park seven (7) times this season with owner/driver Scott Rueschenberg behind the wheel but Rueschenberg’s commitment to run a limited ASA Late Model schedule this season would mean “The Ruesch” would miss the July 5th race at Tucson Raceway Park and most likely surrender his point lead to last years Champion, Joe Paladenic. As things would work out, Paladenic would win that event and seize the points lead while Rueschenberg competed at the famous I-70 Speedway with his ASA team. The Summer monsoon break at TRP would allow the Desert Mountain Medical team to bring the Blue Oval Fusion east for the summer and put the car to the test against North America’s best Late Models, but the question was who to we put in the Blue Oval Ford Fusion.

Since the start of the 2008 season, Rueschenberg in his Blue Oval Ford Fusion has only been beaten by two drivers, his ASA Late Model teammate and 2007 ASA North Champion, Trent Snyder and 2007 ASA Speedtruck Challenge Champion, young Victor Pfluger. On May 3, 2008 Pfluger narrowly beat Rueschenberg to win the biggest race of his young career while also beating three time Craftsman Series Truck Champion, Ron Hornaday in Tucson Raceway Park’s Hornaday 100 but Pfluger hasn’t raced since due to budget concerns.

With Snyder was already committed, Rueschenberg would tab Pfluger for a one race deal at Concord Motorsports Parks Super Sonic 100 ASA Late Model South series race driving the Desert Mountain Medical Blue Oval Ford Fusion and Pfluger would not disappoint the team with his efforts. After collecting the car from the folks at GAT Racing in Tucson Arizona Pfluger and veteran Crew Chief Chuck LaHorgue would spend a couple of days at Eddie Sharp Racing with help from ESR employee Kyle O’Brien setting the Ford up for Concords unique tri-oval layout. While loading the car for the trip to the raceway the radiator was damaged and the hasty repairs would rob valuable practice time on Friday night leaving Pfluger and team behind the eight ball. Pfluger and the Ford would qualify a conservative 21st and rely on their team’s long race set up strategy to get a good finish. Early on in the 100 lapper Pfluger would get tagged and spun putting him a lap down but he was able to run times close to the leader and keep in contention while waiting out the possibility of a Lucky Dog. As luck would have it, a lap 84 caution would give the team what they needed and put Pfluger back on the lead lap. With just sixteen laps left Pfluger would work his way up to a respectable eleventh place finish among North America’s best. Pfluger was very impressed with the power of the Ford crate engine and equally impressed with the handling of the Lefthander Chassis which were both new experiences for this young driver and he hopes to get another chance behind the wheel of the Blue Oval Ford Fusion.

We would like to thank our project partners whom helped make this project a reality.

Ford Racing, Lefthander Chassis Company, GAT Racing, AFCO, Five Star Bodies, Fire Bottle, Fluidampr, Holley Performance Products, Joe’s Racing Products, Bassett Racing Wheels, Howe Racing Enterprises, Crane Ignition, DynoTech Driveshafts, Longacre Racing, Jones Racing Products and Larry’s Engine and Marine.

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