Wagner takes fifth place in Speed Truck event

Wagner Speed Truck Event LAS VEGAS– Sixteen year-old driver Jeremiah Wagner scored an impressive fifth place finish Saturday in the 75-lap ASA Speed Truck feature at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The 16-year-old Wagner started on the outside pole of 18-truck field. He charged to the lead on the first lap and was running third on the final lap when he was hit by Joey Licata of Lake Balboa, Calif.

Cole Cabrera of Exeter, Calif., took the lead with four laps remaining to hold off Josh Goshen of Brea, Calif. Licata was third.

Riverside, Calif. driver Randel King was fourth ahead of Wagner, who has won two Speed Truck races both at Irwindale Raceway in Southern California.

The truck was pushing all night long,” said Wagner, who returns to Irwindale Raceway Saturday, Sept. 26.

Wagner’s teammate Chris Birdsong of Las Vegas, who usually drives Late Models at the Bullring, set the track qualifying record with a 16.1 second effort over the one-third mile paved oval. Birdsong was running second and failed to finish the event when his truck caught fire with about 15 laps remaining.

“Chris was headed to a top five finish when his truck caught fire,” explained Wagner. “He blew an oil line and caught fire.”

Wagner and Birdsong are sponsored by Frazee Paint.

Wagner’s racing career started in 2001 when he ran go karts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He has been involved in community service work for LVMS appearing at schools, Nellis Air Force Base, hospitals along with various auto racing facilities.

Wagner’s sponsors this year include Iovino Masonry; Price Pfister; Frazee Paint; Cabinetec; Day Dawn built Wagner Homes; Signs West; Las Vegas Motor Speedway; All Cities Concrete; Woodland Framing; Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix; and Absolute Insurance.

Further information can be found at www.jeremiahwagner.com or www.lvms.com.