United Nissan ASA Speed Truck Team—What Victory is Made Of
In 2006, the United Nissan team managed to enter the winner’s circle in the ASA Speed Truck Challenge. Nissan has two trucks, one was driven by Darren Young, and one was by Lee Hatch. Although the former was able to gain seven wins compared to the latter’s three wins, the team managed to achieve victory over 40 other contenders.
Hatch and Young provide the driving skill and their teammates provide the mechanical expertise. The United Nissan team is owned by Lee Keach and Don Forman, of Las Vegas. They have a story that is very similar to that of Richard Childress, insofar as they loved to race and were drivers but had more talent and ability to run a race team, and other business obligations prevented them from being full-time racers. So they assembled a team of people who get the job done from a mechanical perspective. With that support system in place, Young and Hatch are doing the job behind the wheel.
The competition is so close in the ASA Speed Truck Challenge that over 90 percent of the field has a legitimate shot at winning any given race. From an equipment perspective, the ASA has done a great job keeping the field as even as possible. There were no technological advantages from one team to the next. (The trucks were that close). The rules preclude the ability to just buy a win through aggressive part replacement. The differences boil down to preparation and the team working together to make sure the driver has the right truck to get the job done. Chassis tuning is at a premium in this series. Very seldom does a winner arrive in Victory Circle alone. In auto racing today, winning is more often than not a team event. (Reference: stock car racing)