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Pfluger Bests Truck Veterans at OSS
Breaking a two race slump, Victor Pfluger stormed back to a 3rd place finish at the ASA
Speedtruck event at Orange Show Speedway on Saturday. A 5th place qualifying time only
6/10th of a second off fast time combined with an inversion to put the young hotshoe on
the outside pole for the start of the 100 lap feature. As the green flag dropped Victor
settled into the second spot for a long ride trailing Darren Young. Forty laps of chasing
the leader and dodging lapped traffic afforded the young driver a lesson in patience. But
it was lap traffic near the halfway point that allowed former Speedtruck champion Lee
Hatch to push past Victor to take the second spot. For the remaining laps Victor driving
his Parker Farms, Mondello Tech Center powerhouse held a strong line and held off Chad
Boat and fast time qualifier Randel King as well as the rest of the Truck Challengers.
Coming from a Karting and background and taking several Dwarf Car honors, Victor has
quickly moved up to Late Models and the Speedtrucks. Last year the Pflugers and
Thunderwave racing joined forces with Chuck Lahorgue of Redding California after being
introduced by the Cattanach race team. "Chuck is a great person to work with and
gives 100 percent to all of his customers" says Victor's father Art. Victor is
grateful for having such a supportive team, "We will never know why Chuck LaHorgue
and Kyle Cattanach decided to take us under their wing last season but it sure has had an
impact on my career”, said Victor. “My dad works all week to try to give me a
great car to take to the track, but it is Chuck that is giving us the setups. At the track
after each run in the Late Model you will see either my dad or I on the phone with Chuck
getting his expertise on how to change the car.”
The ASA Speedtruck series has been a real challenge for Victor and the Thunderwave Racing
Team. Starting the season with two top ten finishes Victor was fated as one of the young
drivers turned away from the Irwindale Speedtruck race due to an insurance debacle. The
fourth race at Tucson was then canceled when the facility changed management. The Las
Vegas race had good potential to continue his top ten finishes, but a cut tire relegated
him to a 12th place finish.
In breaks from the Truck schedule Victor has been traveling. Victor's Late Model program
has been the strong suit all year and at the encouragement of car builder and crewchief
Chuck Lahorgue Victor made the long tow to Northern California to run back to back
weekends at Shasta Speedway Park. The first race was the North State Challenge Series
where an early race tangle in just in front of Victor left him no where to turn and the
damage sustained forced him to end his night. However, spending a week of non-stop work on
the car under the experta tutalage of Lahorgue Victor was ready to take on the seasoned
drivers of the Westcar series. Entering the show as a rookie Victor wowed the officials by
setting the 3rd fastest time which left him primed for the Trophy Dash where he dominated
over more experienced drivers to take the win and cash. But it was the Main Event that
proved Victor's skill. A gas cap mishap forced Victor to a quickstop on the parade lap
dropping him from front runner to a last place start. Despite this the young powerhouse
smoothly, cleanly and patiently wended his way back to a 7th place finish.
Next stop: July 15th at Madera Speedway and a 100 laps around its 1/3 mile oval. Victor is
anxiously waiting for the St. John's Grand Prix on Sept. 2nd. Victor was the youngest
driver in history to win the ASA Speedtruck event at this race. His skill in Karting is
really put to use here at this challenging course.
Victor and Art want to give special thanks to The Parkers of Parker Farms, the Mondellos -
Mondellos Tech Center, Jerry Auck from the Chrome Oasis and many more are constantly in
our thoughts as we are eternally in debt for their efforts.
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