Remember the days of staring out of the window of your algebra class, day-dreaming about someday belting yourself in behind the wheel of a real race car? NASCAR racing has become the #1 American spectator sport, as it has attracted millions of people, both young and old alike. In '95, NASCAR introduced its new premiere racing series, known as the Super Truck Racing Series. The fullsize race trucks eventually became known as the Craftsman Truck Racing Series in 1996, which is still the major sponsor today. Due to its popularity, it filtered down to the grassroots racers. Local tracks began promoting minor-league truck racing.
Jay Rutherford and Mike Face introduced Speed Truck Challenge Racing in 1995, which later became the ASA Speed Truck racing series in 1996. It is now celebrating the 11th season as the leading grassroots truck racing series in North America. Currently, the ASA Speed Truck Challenge Racing Series is being televised on the Versus Network-formerly the Outdoor Life Network-and is viewed in more than 400,000 homes. The '07 racing season takes the ASA Speed Trucks to 10 different tracks for a 12-race schedule. These tracks are located throughout California, Arizona, and Nevada from small 1/4-, 5/16-, 3/8-, and 1/2-mile ovals and 1.7- and 2.1-mile road courses.
Chris Hines is the ASA Speed Truck racing series "Head Crew Chief." He oversees the fabrication and building of the trucks out of Hype Manufacturing and Arrowlang Racing located in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was coaching teenage driver Jacob Hawkins at the beginning of the racing season. After four races, Chris decided to remove the young gun and put seasoned gunslinger, Scott Franchmone from Garden Grove, California, behind the wheel of the #1 Arrowsmith Racing Chevy Colorado.
The Anatomy of an ASA Speed Truck:An ASA Speed Truck chassis is constructed from 2x3-inch mild steel, 0.120-inch wall, rectangular framerails and 1.75-inch-diameter, 0.90-inch wall round tubing. It is gusseted at every corner and intersection of the 12-point rollcage. A four-bar driver-side crash section was also plated to protect the driver from side impact.
The independent front suspension (IFS) was designed by using tubular upper and lower control arms from the authorized racing manufactures, such as AFCO, Lefthander, Joe's, and Howe. Only the factory-style front spindles from Lefthander-no dropped spindles-are permitted. PRO adjustable shocks or Doetsch Tech coilover shocks are allowed. Speedway Engineering aluminum front Hubs and Wilwood 11.750-inch-diameter 0.810-inch-thick vented, steel, brake rotors. A Wilwood hanging clutch and brake peddle assembly was easily mounted to the firewall. The GM OEM steering box, with power steering, is available as 12:1 or 16:1 from AGR or Sweet Manufacturing. The front aluminum wheel hubs from Speedway Engineering and a Lefthander front sway bar complete the front suspension equation. The ASA Speed Truck wheelbase was set at 108-inches.