Everything a race fan could ask for, the smell of burning rubber, the squeal of tires rounding the track, a beautiful Arizona night perfect for road racing at the Main track at Firebird International Raceway. Victor is ready and looking forward to the racing action.

The main track has a long straightaway where the car builds an incredible amount of speed. At the end of the straightaway the braking system is relied upon heavily to do its job. The main track also features giant sweeping curves and chicanes (A chicane is a series of tight curves in a road race used to slow cars.), one of the places where Victor typically shows his talent on the race track. Further along the course is the impressive tower turn and the only place on the track with a wall as the outer boundary.

The practice session went smoothly. A tire from a different manufacturer has Victor and his crew adjusting the car for maximum performance. All is looking good and Victor is thrilled to be able to race again. The qualifying race is next and Victor is lined up to start in fourth place. The racing has started and the first four cars pull away from the rest of the field of racers. Victor passes the third place car in the chicanes. The fourth place car now passes him back. It is into the chicanes again and Victor passes back to third. Victor’s lap times are getting faster and all is looking good. The second place car is coming within Victor’s grasp and car owner and crew feel the adrenaline rush that comes when Victor is one with his racing.

Alas it is not to be Victor’s night. The car overheats and the cab fills with smoke. The only option is to bring the car to the pits and try to diagnose the problem. However any time he gets to race and have fun doing what he enjoys is a good night and next race will be better.

A special thanks to car owner Shirl Dickey. Victor’s next race will take place at Firebird International Raceway, June 5th and 6th morning only.

Phoenix-Area Racecar Driver Donates Time to Charity Golf Event
Mooresville, NC
November 6, 2009

2007 ASA Speed Truck Champion and NASCAR hopeful Victor Pfluger will take time away from the racetrack this weekend to attend a charity golf tournament benefiting the Arizona Myeloma Network.

Pfluger is bringing his No. 80 Super Late Model racecar to the McCormick Ranch Golf Course on Saturday, November 7, from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., for the 5th Annual Arizona Myeloma Network Charity Golf Tournament.

The 18-year-old racing standout will meet with tournament participants on the greens at the Black Bear Diner hole to sign autographs and take photos in support of the charity event.

The Arizona Myeloma Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, strives to promote awareness, education and advocacy for improved treatment and quality of life for multiple myeloma patients. The disease, which strikes 20,000 new patients annually, is treatable, but there is no cure.

“It’s a privilege to lend my time to support an organization like the Arizona Myeloma Network in its battle against this debilitating form of cancer,” said Pfluger. “I know the golf tournament will be a fun event and it is also an opportunity for me to meet with fans and supporters of my racing career.”

Pfluger, an Arizona native, has been winning titles and setting records since he first got behind the wheel of a racecar at age 10. His long list of accomplishments includes being the youngest driver in the history of the ASA Speed Truck Challenge to win a feature race and finish the season in the top 5 in points. At age 16, Pfluger won the championship in that series, another youngest-ever accomplishment.

“It’s been a great ride to this point, but I am actively seeking new partners to help take my career to the next level,” Pfluger said. “Motorsports is an amazing marketing tool for any business wanting to create an immediate and long-lasting buzz. There’s nothing like seeing your car in Victory Lane with your logo or message on the hood.”

The 5th Annual Arizona Myeloma Network Charity Golf Tournament is sponsored by the United Association of Pipefitters and Plumbers with well-known celebrity Ray Romano serving as Honorary Chairman. The festive event also includes a continental breakfast, barbecue lunch, awards ceremony and silent auction.

For more information on the Arizona Myeloma Network, visit www.AZMyeloma.org.
What you need to know:

Who: Arizona Racecar Driver Victor Pfluger supporting the Arizona Myeloma Network

What: Driver appearance at the 5th Annual Arizona Myeloma Network Charity Golf Tournament

When: Saturday, November 7, 2009, from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Where: McCormick Ranch Golf Club, 7505 McCormick Parkway, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

Why: Meet-and-greet and autograph session in support of the Arizona Myeloma Network.

Pfluger Competing At Tucson, Appearing on Race 2 Win
Mooresville, NC
October 14, 2009

After a brief stint away from the Tucson Raceway Park action, 18-year-old Victor Pfluger will make a comeback this Saturday night in the NASCAR Super Late Model feature. The 75-lap main event will mark the first time Pfluger will compete in his No. 80 Victor Pfluger Racing machine at Tucson this season.

Former Daytona 500 winner Geoff Bodine will also be featured in the special night of racing, competing against Pfluger and local drivers in the Super Late Model race.

“It’s the first time I’ve been back to the track this year, so it’s a huge deal for me. Racing with Geoff Bodine will be a really good experience too, and hopefully I can pull off another big win,” Pfluger commented.

Pfluger is ready to resume racing at Tucson Raceway Park, as the venue has been good to him in previous years. Last season, Victor picked up an impressive late model win over NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion Ron Hornaday after battling side-by-side with the standout driver for over 30 laps.

“Tucson is a track we’ve been able to just show up and win at in the past, so I’m pretty optimistic about our chances this weekend,” Pfluger added.

Victor will also be featured as a guest on the Race 2 Win radio show this Thursday afternoon, discussing his hopes for this weekend as well as his future. Race 2 Win features top drivers in NASCAR, ARCA, USAR Pro Cup and other racing divisions each week, discussing the latest news in the racing industry. The broadcast runs every Thursday afternoon from 1-3 PM EST and is hosted by Jeff Holtzclaw, Heather Meyer, Blake Feese and Caitlin Shaw. You can listen to the broadcast live at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/race2win

Rising star Victor Pfluger and his racing machine will participate in the Grand Re-Opening of The Citadelle Plaza in Glendale, AZ, this Friday, September 24. The celebration will feature fun, family activities, including a parade of bikes, tricycles and strollers with prizes for some of the most creative entries. Vendors from The Citadelle Plaza will be featured at the event as well, with sales and specials on products as well as delicious dining.

Pfluger will be attending the event with his race car, suited up and ready to greet fans with autographs and photos. Aspiring to race among NASCAR stars, Pfluger has shown great success in his young racing career. In 2008, he scored three wins in his NASCAR super late model, with one of the victories over three-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion Ron Hornaday. The Arizona native’s racing accomplishments caught the eye of NASCAR talent scout David Smith, who ranks Victor fifth among 36 drivers from across the country in the 2009 Local Track category on the prestigious DavidSmithMotorsports.com scouting report.

“I’m really excited about being part of the local community,” Pfluger said. “It will be fun to bring the car out and interact with all the fans. It should be a great night overall.”

The night of fun will begin with the tikes on bikes parade at 4:30 pm, with all other festivities running until 9 pm. For more information on the event, visit www.citadelleplaza.com

Arizona Racer Victor Pfluger Ranks High in Prestigious NASCAR Scouting Report
By Rebecca Gladden
Phoenix, AZ, February 9, 2009 – Arizona native and NASCAR hopeful Victor Pfluger is ranked 5th among 36 drivers from across the country in the 2009 Local Track category on the influential DavidSmithMotorsports.com scouting report.

The ranking represents a significant achievement for the 18-year-old Morristown driver who’s been lighting up racetracks in Arizona and the Southwest since the age of 10. Pfluger ranked 18th in the Local Track category last year.

“I am truly excited to have my efforts recognized by someone as important to NASCAR as David Smith,” said Pfluger. “I am very happy to have moved up his rankings.”

David Smith is a NASCAR talent scout who has provided coverage of top racing prospects since 2001. DavidSmithMotorsports.com is the premier talent scouting website for NASCAR racing prospects. Young drivers from across the country are rated solely on their NASCAR Sprint Cup Series potential. Ratings criteria include on-track success, character traits, adaptability, strength of the current competition, and overall driving ability.

While Victor Pfluger has caught the eye of NASCAR talent scouts and competitors alike, he is actively seeking sponsorship for the 2009 season to take his career to the next level. Without an immediate source of sponsorship funding, Pfluger may not be able to continue the record-setting performances that have been a trademark of his racing career.

In 2005, at age 14, Victor became the youngest driver in ASA Speed Truck history to win a feature race, and he followed that up in 2006 by becoming the youngest driver to finish the year in the top five in points in that series.

Then, in 2007, at age 16, Pfluger won the ASA Speed Truck Challenge Championship, again the youngest driver ever to do so. The driver he beat out for the title came back to win it last season – at age 43. Over the years, the ASA has produced many of the finest drivers in stock car racing, including Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch.

In 2008, fresh off his ASA Speed Truck Series Championship, Victor competed in the NASCAR Super Late Model series and scored several wins, including a hard-fought victory against former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Ron Hornaday.

Recessions. Cutbacks. Layoffs. Mergers.
By Rebecca Gladden
December 19, 2008

The NASCAR headlines are not optimistic in terms of the economic forecast.
But when it comes to the sport’s future talent pool, the news is much more uplifting.

Arizona native Victor Pfluger is a just-turned 18-year-old who, in true Western spirit, has his finger on the trigger and his sights set squarely on his target — a full-time NASCAR ride.

Believe me, Pfluger has all the right stuff to make it in the sport today. Possessed of enough poise and personality to please any sponsor, he also has a passion for pedal-down driving that’s reflected in his remarkable racing resume.

“I love the competition,” Victor told me in an exclusive interview. “There is no other feeling like taking a car and running it on the ragged edge. It’s a feeling that is hard to put into words.”

The young racer’s most impressive accomplishment to date occurred this season at Tucson Raceway Park — the very track where Benny Parsons once spotted a talented young driver and brought him to the attention of Jack Roush.

That driver was Greg Biffle.

Last summer, driving a car he’d never raced before, Pfluger muscled past three-time NASCAR Truck Series Champion Ron Hornaday for a win in the ASA Late Model South Series at TRP.

“I didn’t have equal equipment to Ron,” Pfluger said. “He had a better car. It took me 35 laps running three-wide with him and his teammate before I was able to pass him for the win. He was a class act after the race. He congratulated me and even signed my trophy.”

After observing the NASCAR veteran’s driving firsthand, Pfluger now lists Hornaday as his racing hero and for good reason: “He races hard and he isn’t afraid to use his car to get to the front.”

The same could be said of Pfluger.

His accomplishments in the ASA Speed Truck series include a list of “youngest-ever” records reminiscent of NASCAR stars like Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch as they rose through the ranks.

“I got started in racing when my family and I attended a NASCAR Race at Phoenix International Raceway,” Victor recalls. “We saw a stand for the Bob Bondurant Driving School and got interested in karts. At the time, I was only ten, so I wasn’t allowed to participate in the Bondurant school. My parents bought me my first kart and we went racing.”

At age 14, Pfluger became the youngest-ever driver in ASA Speed Trucks to win a feature race. The following year, he was the youngest ever in that series to finish the season in the top five in points.

Then, at age 16, Victor won the ASA Speed Truck Championship – again the youngest ever to do so. The series has produced many of NASCAR’s most competitive drivers, including Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch.

This year, fresh off his record-setting championship, Pfluger competed in the NASCAR Super Late Model Series, notching several more wins and building his reputation as a tenacious competitor.

Though he’s been scouted by some of the biggest race teams in NASCAR, Victor understands the financial reality of making it into big-time auto racing.

Coming from a family of very modest means – his father is a truck driver, Victor is desperately searching for sponsorship money to be able to race again this year. “I would like to find a sponsor so I can keep my career moving forward. This season, I would like to run a mix of races with the Camping World Series, ASA Midwest Tour and ASA Late Models. Eventually, I would like to be picked up by a Camping World Truck team and work my way up to Sprint Cup.”

An exceptional student who made the honor roll throughout high school and graduated early to devote more time to racing, Victor isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty working toward his goals. “From preparing cars and equipment to building our race hauler up, I don’t have much time for anything else. I don’t really have a lot of time outside of racing.”

Growing up in Arizona, Pfluger spent a lot of time competing against 2008 Cup Series driver Michael McDowell, a fellow desert dweller who is now one of his closest friends. Though he’s taken something from every driver he’s competed against, Victor says he doesn’t pattern himself after anyone in particular. “I like to think I pattern myself after the best aspects of all the best drivers. But I like to think I have developed these traits myself, through the help of my team, rather than copying someone else.”

While hoping for a career in NASCAR’s postmodern era, Victor doesn’t hold back when it comes to one rule he’d like to see changed.

“Personally, I hate the top 35 in points being locked into the field. I think it should be, ‘take the top 43 on time and that’s your field.’”

Spoken like a true racer.

Pfluger Nails 6th Place Finish in US Army 150

In a car out-classed by most of the field, the young driver from Morristown, AZ had to rely on his skills and a bit of luck to even finish the 150 lap, 2 hour marathon that was the inaugural US Army 150 at Shasta Raceway Park in Anderson, CA. With an unexpectedly unremarkable qualifying time that marked him to 15th out of the 27 entries, and a pack-back finish in the qualifying main event on Saturday things could only get better for the feature event on Sunday. And it did.

From a deeply mired 19th position start Pfluger had one thing in mind: this is a long race, and it is all about patience and working a steady pace forward. It was a combination of hard runs on the outside in turns 3 and 4 and full-bore straight-away dashes that kept his car climbing up the ladder. Out horsepowered by as much as 200hp by many competitors it was clearly the setup and the driving savvy that moved him forward instead of being shuffled to the back.

By about 1/4 way thru the race Pfluger had moved up 5 positions and was racing hard with the 25x of Eric Williamson when contact was made coming out of turn 4. The resulting melee saw officials to put Victor to the back of the train. Now, a lot of drivers lose their cool and concentration when this sort of thing happens, but not Pfluger. If anything his instincts seem to hone and focus on maintaining complete control of his emotions and his car. This unique characteristic certainly served him well this time as he quickly worked his way back up thru traffic. Aided by the inevitable attrition rate that so many cars on a short track can generate, the #Z2 car owned by Jerry Blaco was once more on the move the front.

As action started to heat up in the later stages of the event the Parker Farms, Copperstate Tires car showed its mettle as the top-running cars of Howard Ford and Randy Houston (both having the same luck of having to come from the back of the field) struggled a bit to put a passing move on Victor.

When all was said and done only 15 cars crossed the checkered flag, at that many were several laps down, but Pfluger’s “little black car that could” showed that it isn’t always about horsepower and expensive gear, but sometimes skill can play a part. Local boy Steven Gannon, many-time Shasta Raceway track champion in just about every division took home the giant eagle trophy as he edged out a win over Randy Houston who had battled back to second.

Victor and Scott Winters in Qualifying Main

Saturday saw Victor’s first run in a Modified. Team friend Rick Fasano told Victor if he could fix his idle Modified, he could take it to the Open Show to run. Though a challenge, Victor went to work, and once the car arrived in California crew-chief and mentor Chuck Lahorgue helped ge the team get the car prepped for Shasta’s unique configurations. This car turned out to be a testament to Chuck’s ability, as Victor wheeled the car to a 17th place, mid-pack qualifying time well ahead of some very seasoned veterans. Speaking of which, there were some of the top names in Modfied racing gathered for this, the Western Modified Nationals, including Scott Winters, Guy Young, Kevin Brink, David Furia, Norm Boucher, and Clint Bowers. Saturday evening’s main event saw Victor starting second position, in front of Winters, Kramm, and Scott Winters. The Racing 4 Reasons #80 Modified held its ground for more than a dozen laps only dropping to third after a hard-fought pass by Andy Field. But all too soon contact on the track ended Victor’s run early as a tap from behind sent him spinning in to the concrete wall edge at the track exit in turn one.

Shaken and bit bruised, Victor was towed off the track. Time didn’t permit a complete fix on the car in time for the main events on Sunday, but the experience he gained was immeasurable.

The Project Blue Oval Ford Fusion has already been in Victory Lane at Tucson Raceway Park seven (7) times this season with owner/driver Scott Rueschenberg behind the wheel but Rueschenberg’s commitment to run a limited ASA Late Model schedule this season would mean “The Ruesch” would miss the July 5th race at Tucson Raceway Park and most likely surrender his point lead to last years Champion, Joe Paladenic. As things would work out, Paladenic would win that event and seize the points lead while Rueschenberg competed at the famous I-70 Speedway with his ASA team. The Summer monsoon break at TRP would allow the Desert Mountain Medical team to bring the Blue Oval Fusion east for the summer and put the car to the test against North America’s best Late Models, but the question was who to we put in the Blue Oval Ford Fusion.

Since the start of the 2008 season, Rueschenberg in his Blue Oval Ford Fusion has only been beaten by two drivers, his ASA Late Model teammate and 2007 ASA North Champion, Trent Snyder and 2007 ASA Speedtruck Challenge Champion, young Victor Pfluger. On May 3, 2008 Pfluger narrowly beat Rueschenberg to win the biggest race of his young career while also beating three time Craftsman Series Truck Champion, Ron Hornaday in Tucson Raceway Park’s Hornaday 100 but Pfluger hasn’t raced since due to budget concerns.

With Snyder was already committed, Rueschenberg would tab Pfluger for a one race deal at Concord Motorsports Parks Super Sonic 100 ASA Late Model South series race driving the Desert Mountain Medical Blue Oval Ford Fusion and Pfluger would not disappoint the team with his efforts. After collecting the car from the folks at GAT Racing in Tucson Arizona Pfluger and veteran Crew Chief Chuck LaHorgue would spend a couple of days at Eddie Sharp Racing with help from ESR employee Kyle O’Brien setting the Ford up for Concords unique tri-oval layout. While loading the car for the trip to the raceway the radiator was damaged and the hasty repairs would rob valuable practice time on Friday night leaving Pfluger and team behind the eight ball.

Pfluger and the Ford would qualify a conservative 21st and rely on their team’s long race set up strategy to get a good finish. Early on in the 100 lapper Pfluger would get tagged and spun putting him a lap down but he was able to run times close to the leader and keep in contention while waiting out the possibility of a Lucky Dog. As luck would have it, a lap 84 caution would give the team what they needed and put Pfluger back on the lead lap. With just sixteen laps left Pfluger would work his way up to a respectable eleventh place finish among North America’s best. Pfluger was very impressed with the power of the Ford crate engine and equally impressed with the handling of the Lefthander Chassis which were both new experiences for this young driver and he hopes to get another chance behind the wheel of the Blue Oval Ford Fusion.

We would like to thank our project partners whom helped make this project a reality.

Ford Racing, Lefthander Chassis Company, GAT Racing, AFCO, Five Star Bodies, Fire Bottle, Fluidampr, Holley Performance Products, Joe’s Racing Products, Bassett Racing Wheels, Howe Racing Enterprises, Crane Ignition, DynoTech Driveshafts, Longacre Racing, Jones Racing Products and Larry’s Engine and Marine.

April 27, 2008
The Parker Farms, Copperstate Tire, Monte Carlo ran the April 5th and April 19th Tucson events. The April 5th event was not our best night, but there were a lot of factors out of our control.

As we move on to the April 19th event things brighten somewhat. Qualified 2nd by .09 seconds. Finished 3rd. Two years ago we would have been ecstatic about a 3rd and now, we find ourselves somewhat disappointed. The worst of the night was the on track unintentional contact between our car and the 13 which resulted in the 13 spinning and hitting the outside wall and we continued on with only minor paint damage.

The 13 car of course being the only car that we are somewhat friendly with. All parties agreed that it was a racing incident and we will all move on to brighter moments. Victor was put to the back of the field for the incident. Victor had to use up his tires to get back to 3rd and therefore couldn’t push any harder for the win.

We had decided to sit out the April 26th event do to busy schedules and lack of funding, but the track is having issues with car count so they have offered 2 free tires for that date which of course was enough for Victor and I to agree to attend the event.

The May 3rd date will find Craftsmen Truck driver Ron Hornaday competing in a late model with us. We hope that you can attend this event as it should bring a large car turn out and be a good opportunity for Victor. It would be great to have a large fan section to support us on this occasion. Hoping to have Chuck LaHorgue attend, but I haven’t been able to confirm the date with him at this point.
Let us know if you need anymore information. Hope everyone can attend.
Thanks again for your support.
Art Pfluger