FIRST WIN FOR TAYLOR CUZICK IN THE ASA TRUCK SERIES MAKES FATHER’S DAY EXTRA SPECIAL FOR HIS DAD
Release Date: 6/23/2010
Santee, CA – June 22nd, 2010 – There is nothing quite like that first win in a series. The 19-year old driver of the Freightliner of Arizona #51, Taylor Cuzick, got to have that exciting feeling Saturday night at TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale. He was beaming in victory lane and most excited to give his dad, Danny, a great Father’s Day gift for all his support in his racing career. Taylor said, "None of this would ever happen without my dad." All the drivers in the ASA Truck Series were happy to have their dad’s involved in their racing and most everyone’s father was in attendance at the race. The series point’s leader, Joey Licata, brought home his Chevy Colorado to another strong second place finish with his dad, Joey, at his side. Rounding out the top five were Mike Herda #18, Jim Putman #12 and Jason Black #9 with the backing of their father’s at the track. Taylor Cuzick , who almost didn’t run his truck this year, lead all 50 laps of green flag racing, kept Joey from getting an opportunity to pass and ran a smart race. Cuzick took at deep breath and said "I had a mirror full of the #71 at times, but my crew, Jerry, Troy and Merriel gave me a great truck" and he was able to finish with a .519 second margin of victory. He also thanked his mom, Peggy, and stepdad, Gary, who always support him and travel all the way from Peoria, Arizona to follow Taylor’s races in the ASA Truck Series. When Cuzick was asked how he felt right after the win, he said "this was a long-time coming and awesome!"
The TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale gave all ‘dad’s’ free admission to the track for Father’s Day and the full grandstands proved that many dads love racing. Mike Herda, who is from Las Vegas, Nevada, is really striving to get his first Rookie-of-the-Year award and finishing top three again puts him in a great position to do just that. Herda was all smiles at post-race tech as his United Nissan crew had to make sure his ASA Truck passed that inspection and wanted to let his dad, Nick, know how thankful he was for his support too. Herda, who was under the direction of Lee Keach of United Nissan this week, said "Lee is a great influence and we have a good fit". Herda plans to run the entire season in the #18 United Nissan and felt "excellent" after another top finish. The remainder of the field was not far behind the leader, Cuzick, as sixth place went to Chris Birdsong (in Jeff Catlin’s #1 truck), #20 Taylor Miinch from Alpine, California finished seventh, Arizona’s Mike Kai in his Dodge Dakota was eighth and Eric Sloan #10 worked all night to tune his truck, but a slow spin at the end had him finishing ninth. Just like the other races this season, the talent, patience and skill of the ASA Truck Series drivers shined through as the race ran 50 laps without a caution, yet found the drivers racing hard, passing three-wide, and fighting for every spot. Great, clean racing is making the series reputation return to it’s’ glory of past seasons and enticing new entries into the ASA Truck Series. Just last week, three different ASA Trucks were purchased and are getting prepared to come racing this season with drivers from a variety of racing like go-karting and modifieds. The ASA Truck Series is an excellent opportunity for drivers of different levels of experience and backgrounds to race side-by-side with both rookies and veterans and still take their race truck home in one piece. That ‘family’ feeling is also growing as the teams are helping each other by sharing set-ups, spare parts and even dinner.
All the drivers in the garages wanted to wish their father’s a happy Father’s Day and can’t wait until the next race on July 10th back at TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale. The series owners are expecting a much larger field for the race three weeks from now as many drivers will make sure they make the last Irwindale race because it’s most of the drivers’ favorite track. Three and four wide racing grooves makes the track a fan favorite as well and the drivers of the ASA Truck Series don’t disappoint the fans. If you would like more information about the series, please contact Todd or Lisa McLauchlan at 619-596-6816. TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale is located just fifteen miles from downtown Los Angeles on the 605 freeway just south of the 210 freeway. Over 11 million people live less than an hour’s drive away, making Toyota Speedway at Irwindale ground zero for business development of the Southern California motorsports marketplace. www.toyotaspeedwayatirwindale.com
Remember to support our series sponsors by using products and services from the following vendors: Jim Van Gordon Racing Engines, Mike Naake Suspension Specialist, VP Racing Fuels, Hoosier Tires, DJ Safety, Frank’s Radios, Starter Guard, Advertising Edge, Mechanix Wear, Mallory/ACCEL/Mr. Gasket, TOYOTA, POLYDyn TX7, Top Notch Flooring, Kollasol Ink, Naake Suspension Specialist, STR, and Luke’s Transmission.
The ASA Trucks are 2,450 pounds, full tube chassis, 108 inch wheelbase, 375 horsepower Van Gordon Racing V-8’s, fired by Mr. Gasket’s - Mallory / ACCEL ignition systems and VP Race Fuel, with 2-speed direct drive transmissions and Speedway Engineering aluminum quick change rear ends on 8-inch Hoosier Racing Tires and Allied Racing Wheels and can reach speeds of 105 MPH at the ˝ mile TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale oval and 150 MPH on the 2.1-mile road course at Firebird International Raceway. The ASA Trucks sport exact replica Norris Racing fiberglass bodies in Chevy S-10, Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger, Dodge Dakota and Toyota Tacoma.
If you would like to find out more about the ASA Truck Series and how your company could be part of the growing excitement across the nation about this dynamic series, contact Todd McLauchlan at 619-596-6816 / mcracers@prodigy.net or go to www.asatruckseries.com. Attractive marketing partnership packages are available for your involvement regionally or nationally, contact Jay Rutherford at Motorsports Marketing LLC, at 760-249-1149 or jay@speedtruck.com.
The ASA Racing program is comprised of more than 35 short tracks around the United States, as well as road racing divisions and regional/national touring race series. For more information, call ASA Racing at 386-258-2221 or send an email to info@ASA-Racing.com. For news and information from all the race tracks, road racing divisions and tours involved in the ASA, visit www.asa-racing.com. ASA™, ASA Racing™ and American Speed Association® are trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC. Racing Speed Associates, LLC is not related to nor affiliated with ASA LATE MODEL SERIES, LLC.
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