The ASA Pro Truck Series closed out its season, the 23rd in its history, where it opened the 2013 campaign, Magic Valley Speedway Saturday night with hometown driver Johnny “JP” Pierre taking the win and the season title.
Some around the series would say a lack of patience cost Pierre a lot of points in the series last outing at Magic Valley Speedway back in July when he completed only eight of the scheduled 50-laps in that main event.
That was all behind him this weekend as he came to his home track with the point lead and only needing a mid-pack finish to secure the title.
But Pierre did more than that as he showed great control sitting in third-place for the opening 15 laps of the main event. Dan Doan inherited the pole after two of the series part-time competitors requested to start at the rear of the field so they would not interfere with point battles throughout the field.
Doan led the first quarter of the main event with teammate Alan Larson challenging every lap on the outside.
“I would just about get there and the tires would heat up and I would slip back and ride a few laps and try again,” said Larson. “I knew I was in trouble when I saw Jerry (Rice) in my mirror. He was coming fast and I was losing ground.”
On lap 16 Larson went into three a little hot and Rice saw the opening going three wide through Turn 4 and down the front stretch. Pierre sat back watching it all shake out just waiting to find the right opening and when it was there Pierre came out of it sitting in second behind Doan.
Pierre snagged the lead on lap 23 but fast qualifier and point-lead challenger Hannah Newhouse was coming fast. She made it to the leader’s back bumper on lap 40 and with ten to go the pressure was on.
Several taps by Newhouse reminding Pierre just to say I’m here didn’t rattle the leader as Pierre held on for the win and the 2013 ASA Pro Trucks Championship.
Newhouse did everything she could but came up one position shy in the race for the win and for the championship.
“Johnny deserves it,” said Newhouse. “He has raced a long time and races hard every race.”
Pierre has raced in ASA Pro Trucks series for seven years and had come home second in the championship three times.
“It felt so good coming into the last race of the year being the one being chased not the one chasing,” said Pierre. “I’ve done that three times now and came up short each time.”
Drew Reitsma finished in eighth-place Saturday night allowing him to secure third in the championship standings, a career best. His win at Magic Valley Speedway in July had propelled Reitsma into the championship battle.
A third-place finish in the final event Saturday moved defending champions Scott Luttmer to fourth in the season standings forcing Larson to fifth.
The Top 5 in the final ASA Pro Trucks Championship Point Standings: Johnny Pierre (313 points); Hannah Newhouse (291); Drew Reitsma (216); Scott Luttmer (206); Alan Larson (191).
The ASA Pro Trucks are a purpose built regional touring series featuring fiberglass bodies to replicate the Toyota Tundra, Chevy Silverado and Ford F-150 pick-up trucks. They all sport 350-cubic-inch spec race motors. The series produces great side by side racing with near full field inverts starting the fastest cars in the rear of the field for the 50-lap main events. The series uses a unique realignment following yellow flags known as the Caution Cone. In the event of a caution drivers are given the choice of going above or below the cone creating another place where strategy comes into play.
For the latest news and updates visit www.ASA-Pro-Trucks.com and you can follow the series on Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/asaprotrucks.
A breakdown of ASA Member Track results from this weekend follows:
BIG COUNTRY SPEEDWAY (Cheyenne, WY)
1/5-Mile Asphalt Oval
September 21 Results –
Super Stocks: Tom Evans
Mod 4: Darin Clark
Junkyard Warriors: Natalie Phelps
Late Models: Jade Miller
Grand American Modifieds: Jeff Campbell
Web: http://warconline.com/Big_Country_Speedway.html
EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK (Tampa, FL)
1/3-Mile Clay Oval
September 21 Results –
Late Models: David Schmauss
Limited Late Models: Dale Pope
Street Stocks: Mike Wilson
V-8 Warriors: Jeff Weaver
4-Cylinder Bombers: Raymond Vann
Of Note: Saturday night’s Late Model feature at Easy Bay Raceway Park featured 16 cars and saw David Schmauss, who went to the back of the longest line after an early spin fought his way back to earn his second win of the season.
Web: www.eastbayracewaypark.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/eastbayracewaypark
Twitter: @eastbayracepark
GRUNDY COUNTY SPEEDWAY (Morris, IL)
1/3-Mile High Banked Paved Oval
Divisions: Late Models; Mid-American Sportsman; Street Stocks; 4-Cylinders
Of Note: Grundy County Speedway, which closed out its Friday night Stock car program on September 1closed out its Saturday night Midget program over the weekend… The track will host its annual award program on November 16.
Web: www.grundycountyspeedway.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GrundyCountySpeedway
LONESOME PINE RACEWAY (Coeburn, VA)
3/8-Mile Asphalt Oval
Divisions: Late Models; Mod 4; Super Street; Pure 4; Pure Street; Iron Warriors; Young Guns; Powder Puff
Of Interest: Lonesome Pine Raceway hosted a Modified Motorsports Driving Experience over the weekend.
Web: www.thepineraceway.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Lonesomepineraceway
Twitter: @LPRaceway
MARSHFIELD MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Marshfield, WI)
1/2-Mile Asphalt Oval
Divisions: Super Late Models; Super Stocks; 4-Cylinders; Bandits; 6-Cylinder Rockets
Of Note: Marshfield Motor Speedway hosted its First Annual Car Show over the weekend that featured spectator drags and a burnout competition.
Web: www.marshfieldspeedway.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/53090931911/?fref=ts
Twitter: @MarshfieldMS
MERIDIAN SPEEDWAY (Meridian, ID)
1/4-Mile Asphalt Oval
September 20 Results –
Modifieds: Shelby Stroebel
Sprints: Danny Matthews
Street Stocks: Melissa Weaver
Legends: Zach Blume
September 21 Results –
Sprints: Ryan Newman
Late Models: Dylan Caldwell
Legends: Peyton Saxton
Thunder Dogs: Money Pit/Kennon Irons
Hornets: Rob Powers
Of Note: On Friday, the third annual Alan Stroebel Open Show for Modifieds at Meridian Speedway saw Shelby Stroebel win the race named after his father… Track championships were clinched over the weekend by Travis Anderson (Late Models), Phyl Zubizareta (Legends), Tony Ackerland (Sprints) and Bulldacious/Jemes DeMello (Thunder Dogs).
Web: www.meridianspeedway.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/meridianspeed
NORTH FLORIDA SPEEDWAY (Lake City, FL)
3/8-Mile Semi-Banked Clay Oval
September 21 Results –
Open Wheel Modifieds:
Mini Sprints: Nick Snyder
Sportsman: Brandon Spradley
Box Stocks: Dylan Crews
Pure Stocks: Doran Cheney
Time: Gates open at 5:00 PM; Racing at 7:00 PM
Web: www.northfloridaspeedway.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/northfloridaspeedway
SOUTHERN OREGON SPEEDWAY (White City, OR)
.333-Mile, Semi-Banked Clay Oval
Divisions: Modifieds; Pro Stocks; Super 4s; Sprint Cars, Mini Stocks; Dwarf cars
Time: Gates open at 4:00 PM; Racing at 7:15 PM
Of Note: Saturday night’s Championship Night at Southern Oregon Speedway was postponed due to rain… The event has been rescheduled for this Saturday.
Web: www.sospeedway.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Southern-Oregon-Speedway-Community/148453468499496?ref=ts
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