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| FASTRUCK Opens season with a wild affair at USA! | Rick Bristol
March 27th
Orlando FL. - The ASA/FASTRUCK series opened its season at the very popular USA International Speedway Saturday afternoon. Over 50 trucks made a showing at the tech line on Friday, but after some practices several would be sidelined with mechanical problems. Saturday's qualifying would have the potent #5 off Jimmy Gill show the way with a lap of 24.2 seconds to take quick qualifier honors. That would be short lived however as he would draw the #12 for inversion. The top five qualifiers were Gill 24.237, Brian Luloff 24.495,Sean Bass 24.502, Dustin Skinner 24.595 and Shawn Icely 24.680.
A pre race autograph session allowed fans to come down and meet the drivers and take a look at these exciting trucks, everyone had a great time.
The drivers then buckled in for the scheduled 75 lap or 75 minute event sponsored by Spartan Staffing/Workforce. Gary Foxworth would be the pole sitter after the inversion with south Florida's George Morales along side. Forty-four of the truckers took the green flag and it did not take long for the heated battles to unfold around the big 3/4 mile super speedway. The first caution of the day would fly for Eddie Moran who pounded the inside wall on the front stretch, he would be done for the day. During that caution period some tempers began to sizzle between Dustin Skinner and Todd Bontrager right on the front stretch in front of the huge crowd. Skinner spun Bontrager into the grass and that would draw a black flag for both drivers from race director Burt Thomas. " We are not going to put up with any of that type of stuff on the track and specially under the caution " said Thomas. " We will look at all of this and take disciplinary action if warranted" he added.
Defending champion Tommy King would lead for a while until contact between he and soon to be leader Brain Luloff that would cut down King's left front tire and send him pit side. Leading was not the place to be as problems would side line Luloff later in the race as Marty Zehr would take the lead. Five more cautions would be shown and finally a red flag condition as the #92 of Heather Lunsford spun and slid on its side the length of the front stretch. Heather was unhurt but that would cause the race to end at lap 54 as the time limit ran out.
At the checkers it would be Marty Zehr taking a very big win. " I have to thank my son Dalton for letting me drive his truck here tonight, he will running this truck in the FASTKIDS division this year" said Zehr. Fast Qualifier Gill made a pit stop early in the event and would restart near the back of the big field and would come all the way back to the second spot at race end. That would earn him the Hard Charger award. Tim Shaffnier would checkered in solid third place after a strong race. Apparent fourth place finisher George Gorham who charged from the back also was disqualified in tech when the motor did not meet FASTRUCK specifications. That would move Shawn Icely up to the fourth spot with young David Pollen Jr. rounding out the top five. Pollen Jr. who was the ASA Winter Heat champion was honored before the ASA race by Mark Martin. Mark's son Matt was also awarded his FASTKIDS championship hardware as well with dad in attendance.
Rounding out the top ten were Donald Davis,James Wright III,George Morales,Bobby Owens and Al Nuemann.
The next event for the FASTRUCK series will be Saturday night April 10th at the Audurndale Speedway. The FASTKIDS will also be in action that night.
Also look for a big announcement coming soon for a July 4th weekend event being finalized as this is written. For more information on the FASTRUCK and FASTKIDS series visit the web site at fastruckinc.com
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