Paul Bonaccorsi wins Rookie of the Year.
...of MLB?
No, of ASASTC.
The 48-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga was named Rookie of the Year in the ASA Speed Truck Challenge today. It's quite an honor for the former SPEED World Challenge GT contender. From Bill McCloud of the ASA Speed Truck Challenge:
Bonaccorsi, who currently sits in a remarkable fifth position in the ASA STC Championship points' race going into the dramatic last race of the season at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, where there is a real tossup for how the top five will finish; took his eyes off of Rookie of the Year title several races ago. "I knew we had a pretty good chance of wrapping it up early," said a smiling Bonaccorsi. "At that point, it was all about trying to win the championship, and if it wouldn't have been for a couple tough things in two races, we may have tested the championship winner, Darren Young."Bonaccorsi, a long-time driver, particularly focusing on road course driving in the past, utilized that sweeping, staying-down-low in the corners motion to make up huge ground on the less experienced drivers in most of the events.
Over the 2008 season, Bonaccorsi showed tough talent on the track as a rookie against many other more experienced drivers by setting Fastest Qualifying once, five Top Five finishes and finishing in the top of the field the balance of the season. He clinched the competition with 53 rookie points over his closest challenger, Joey Licata Jr. in the #71 Throttle Racing Products / Anarchy Clothing Chevy Colorado with 39. Paul continued to show everyone around him that he was not to be counted out of any race and showed a smooth consistency that was very impressive to his competitors and staying out of trouble.
Fans can see the taped-for-television dramatic finish to the ASA Speed Truck Challenge series 2008 season at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale on Saturday evening, October 25th.