The ASA Speedtruck division’s slogan is “We build Champions”, and 14 year old Chad Boat entered the first race of the series with high hopes and a steep learning curve. The last time Chad drove on pavement it was in a 100 pound road racing kart with 20 horsepower, and now he would be challenged with a 2500 pound Dodge Dakota Speedtruck with over 300 horsepower.

Chad and the Billy Boat Performance Exhaust team entered the first race at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, CA with two tests at Tucson Raceway under their belt, but the tight ¼ mile oval at Orange Show provided a different set of challenges. Chad took to the track quickly and through practice was one of the quicker trucks, lapping at times within 2 tenths of a second of the track record. The two lap qualifying proved a little disappointing for Chad, however, as his time of 14.41 seconds put him 16th in the field. His time was good enough to transfer straight to the main event, but not with the starting position he had hoped for. “The truck was a little tight in qualifying, and I think it took a little longer for the tires to come in than I thought. Now I have to come from the back on a track that can be hard to pass, but I will just try and be patient and get a good finish”, Chad said after qualifying.

At the drop of the green flag Chad made a great move and within ten laps had quickly moved into the 12th position, passing eventual second place finisher Scott Dodd. While challenging for the 11th spot, Chad dove to the inside of the #23 truck of Tim Allen. In typical ¼ mile bullring action, the trucks touched, getting Allen out of shape and bringing out the yellow flag. Chad continued unharmed, but ASA rules state both trucks involved in bringing out the yellow must restart at the end of the field, sending Chad back to the 21st position.

Although Chad has little experience in this type of racing, he showed great skill and determination working his way back through the field. He had already moved back up to the 15th position by the half-way point when a cut tire forced him to the pit area. A yellow flag flew at the same time, so the crew was able to changed the tire and get Chad back out on the track, but he did lose three laps to the field, ending any hopes for a top ten finish. Chad moved back out on the track and finished the race, running very competitive speeds and gaining experience. Darrin Young won the race in a last lap shootout with Scott Dodd. Chad finished in the 16th position after a tough night of short track racing.

“I did not get the finish that I wanted, but I did learn a lot about racing these trucks on a short bullring. We had a good truck, but once we got behind and had to go to the back it was hard to move back up. I know I can race at the front of this series and I can’t wait to get to Vegas to race again.”

Chad’s next race with the ASA Speedtruck is April 29th at the 3/8 mile Bullring in Las Vegas.