ASC/ProTruck Challenge Series Return to Buttonwillow Raceway Park June 5-6 2004
Once again, if you missed the race at Buttonwillow, you really missed a great weekend! Buttonwillow is a very interesting track that can be run with a number of different configurations, and most of the configurations can be run either clockwise, or counterclockwise. This weekend the races were run on configuration #13, counterclockwise. This is the reverse of the course used in April, with the Star Mazda turn excluded, and the "Sweeper" at the exit of the "Esses" used instead.

There was a record number of ASC cars in attendance, eleven in all. Dave Arnheiter, # 33, Mike Arnheiter, # 80, Jeff Glowniak, # 34, Brian Colodny, # 14, Alan Huston, # 5, Scott Ivie, # 47, Steve Carvajal, # 90, and Ed Ochylski, # 55, were the regular drivers participating. Ken Stinnett returned to the ASC ranks with the venerable # 43 car. Most of us just cringe when that car rolls out of the trailer. We also we joined by two new ASC cars, Chris Evans unveiled his gorgeous # 96 car, an ex-Southwest/Northwest Tour car, and Ray Hampton arrived with the beautiful ex-ASA convert, # 64. ProTrucks in attendance were Jim Swartzbaugh, # 17, Nathan Swartzbaugh, # 07, Don Swartzbaugh, #57 Donn Cross, # 41, Mark Cross, # 33, Tim "DOC" Wright, # 7, and Franz Klarer, # 271. The ASC/ProTrucks series was joined this event by the "Super 7's", (6 tube frame Mazda powered race cars), in the hope that they would be able to provide even more racing action and numbers in the field. All together, there were 24 cars entered in the ASC/ProTrucks race.

Friday's test day was relatively uneventful, other than having a few mechanical difficulties, and one incident involving Alan Huston's # 5 being hit by a Porsche GT 3 cup car at the bus stop. Alan's rear end was damaged and the crew was unable to adequately repair all the damage during the weekend. Although he was able to try a couple of the sessions during the weekend, problems continued to prevent him from competing. Ray Hampton was plagued all weekend by oil pan problems on the # 64 car, however he was able to start both races. The #90 of Steve Carvajal had clutch problems intermittently all weekend, but was able to qualify and start on Sunday.

Unlike the race in April, running the track the other direction really spread the field out. In April, the top 10 cars were all within one second on qualifying, but this time, the field was spread over a much wider time frame. Ken Stinnett set a blistering pole speed on Saturday of 1:53:747, followed by Mike Arnheiter, 9/10ths of a second behind. Third was Donn Cross. Scott Ivie, Jeff Glowniak, newcomer Chris Evans, Mark Cross, Nathan Swartzbaugh, Ed Ochelski, and Dave Arnheiter rounded out the top ten.

The race started well with several people attempting to take the lead in turn one. Stinnett calmly let them battle each other, drove through the fighting pack in the first turn and kept the lead at the exit. He lead the race for seven laps until overheating problems caused him to soft pedal the # 43. Mark Cross had stayed within striking distance and overtook him for the lead. Jim Swartzbaugh had moved up from quite a ways back in the pack and was following Donn Cross. Mike Arnheiter was behind the trucks for second in the ASC ranks followed by Scott Ivie and Ed Ochylski. Donn Cross came on the front straight sideways for the final lap, pitching left, then right, and did a great job of saving the truck, even though he ended up in the dirt before the checked flag. He was able to safely re-enter the track in time to beat several cars and trucks to the finish.

Saturday's results were:

Overall:
      1. # 43 Ken Stinnett - ASC
      2. # 33 Mark Cross - PT
      3. # 17 Jim Swartzbaugh - PT

ASC:
      1. # 43 Ken Stinnett
      2. # 80 Mike Arnhiter
      3. # 47 Scott Ivie

ProTrucks:
      1. # 33 Mark Cross
      2. # 17 Jim Swartzbaugh
      3. # 41 Donn Cross

Sunday began with qualifying in the morning. Fast time was set by Mike Arnheiter, #80, (1:54:395), followed by Scott Ivie, # 47, Donn Cross, # 41, Nathan Swartzbaugh, # 57, Jeff Glowniak, # 34, Dave Arnheiter, # 33, Mark Cross, # 33(PT), Jim Swartzbaugh, # 17, Chris Evans, # 96, and Ed Ochylski, # 55 making up the top ten. Interestingly enough, the top ten were separated by 3.2 seconds, and the field was staged by times, but it ended up being two ASC cars on the front row, two trucks, two cars, two trucks, two cars, for the first six rows. Obviously, the cars and trucks are a good match for each other. Ken Stinnett did not make it out for a complete lap in qualifying and had to start from the back.

Scott Ivie got a great start at the drop of the green flag, beating everyone into turn one. He led the race from then on. He was followed by Nathan Swartzbaugh, Mark and Donn Cross, Mike Arnheiter and Jeff Glowniak. The second group was made up of Chris Evans, Ed Ochylski and Jim Swartzbaugh. Steve Carvajal started 11th, but not having raced on Saturday, was on fresh tires. He moved up through the field to sixth overall by lap four. Stinnett, who started last, had moved up to eighth, but still had fuel problems. On lap four, Mark Cross got a little high in the high speed left hand carousel turn, (known as "Talladega"), and went off into the dirt. The top six were bumper-to-bumper most of the way through lap six. At the exit of the "Esses", known as "Cotton Corners", Mike Arnheiter snapped loose. He caught the car as it whipped across the track to the left, then once again across the track to the right. Jeff Glowniak waited until it looked like Mike had gathered the car up before attempting to shoot past for fourth overall, second in ASC. Unfortunately, Arnheiter's # 80 was not through with the whipsaw action just yet, and as the # 34 attempted the pass on the left, the # 80 jerked back that direction. Jeff's right front tire made contact with Mike's left rear tire as it came across to the left. Tire to tire is NEVER a good way to make contact, but this time it launched the # 34 right over the left rear of the # 80 car. The #34 went completely over the top of the # 80, taking most of the bodywork with it. When Jeff's car landed on the other side, it hit hard in the dirt, and slid up to make contact with the tire barrier surrounding the flagging station. Both cars looked awful sitting out there covered with dirt, and the emergency crews responded immediately. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Mike Arnheiter was able to drive his car, minus several body panels to the pits, and Jeff's was brought in on the tow truck. The race was red flagged for the incident, but scheduling time did not allow for the race to be re-started. As per the rules, the positions were reverted to the last green flag lap, but since the #34 nor the # 80 would have been incapable of a re-start they were relegated to the rear of the field. Since the race covered more than half of the time allowed, it was considered by the officials to be a "race" and the points were awarded. Sunday's results were:

Overall:
      1. # 47 Scott Ivie - ASC
      2. # 57 Nathan Swartzbaugh - PT
      3. # 41 Donn Cross - PT

ASC:
      1. # 47 Scott Ivie
      2. # 90 Steve Carvajal
      3. # 96 Chris Evans

ProTrucks:
      1. # 57 Nathan Swartzbaugh
      2. # 41 Donn Cross
      3. # 17 Jim Swartzbaugh

Overall it was a great weekend, with ASC hosting the party Saturday night for all of the volunteers, NASA staff, and ASC/ProTrucks competitors and crew. Pizza and beer was enjoyed under a beautiful summer evening in the heartland of California. The Super 7's were not able to run the lap times of the cars and the trucks at this event, but hopefully, with some modifications, they will be able to join us at future events to add to the racing pleasure. The next race for the series will be a Willow Springs, July 10th and 11th.