08/20/2019
2019 Polaris RZR Pro Rock/UTV Race #4 at Windrock Park had a super tight 8 mile race course mapped through a private portion of this enormous ORV property in the mountains of Tennessee outside of Knoxville. After prior bad luck this season we were hoping for a better race.
Arrived early Friday morning with plenty of time to Pre-run the race course. Pre-running went pretty smooth as the course was again almost entirely tight single-track with only a few rock ledges and optional hill climbs to make a pass. The car was running hotter than normal but it was over 100 degrees out and humid. After the quick shake down we headed to qualifying course to get it done early and out of the way so we could recoup some lost sleep from the long drive there. The qualifying course was a short 1/4 mile figure 8 loop in front of the massive hill climbs that crossed through a very tight wooded section in the middle to a sweeping off camber jump back around to the start/finish.
We pulled up to qualify and was advised there was no pre-running the qualifying course. So without much further thought off we went. Quick sprint into the trees, bounced between a few and out, then looped back into the trees, then off the jump and around to finish in 38 seconds. Smooth and steady. Ended up setting a time faster than almost half the unlimited class cars and a Top place qualifying time in Stock class!!
7am drivers meeting we were updated our class would be run after the unlimited class due to some course changes and to keep good flow. Race Start. We were first off the line to head on course, open air ahead and set myself into a conservative pace with the next car leaving the line 30 seconds behind. Made it about 6 miles to the first rock ledge and then saw the 2nd position car of Gresser hot on my heels. As we crested the top of 2nd rock rock ledge we put the hammer down 🙂 Car temps started climbing as we increased our distance from the racers behind. We had to get the car to cool down or risk blowing the motor, so we made the decision to pull in the pits and have it checked out. So after a stop in the pits and a cool down splash, we set off again, luckily never seeing another competitor. Kept the pace going all the way to finish in 1st Place!!
Huge thanks to Oates for spending his summer break and weekends to help rebuild and prep the car. Your time and hard work has certainly payed off. Thanks for the great co-driving as well. Could not have done it without you!!!
Thanks to a great pit crew Greg Stoudt, Jay Andrews, Chris May, Gary Bean, Drew Goldie, Will Harris and Jody Hickman!!
Congrats again to Gresser on his 2nd place finish and Roger King taking 3rd Place. You guys just keep pushing us to get better, faster and racing smarter. Thanks to Kevin Cox for putting on the “best send it” during qualifying!! You sure put on a show!!
Thanks to all our friends and family who made it out to support me. Really appreciate you rooting me on!!
Another stellar Pro Rock Race, hats off to the crew that make it happen.
Only just a few weeks away for the next Polaris RZR Pro Rock Racing event September 7th at Mine Made Paradise Adventure Park in Hebron, Kentucky. See ya there!!
Thanks to all our Sponsors that make it possible.
BFGoodrich Tires
Trail-Gear
FOX shocks
GotPropane.com
ToyTec Lifts
Raceline Wheels
PCI Race Radios
Marlin Crawler
Branik Motorsports
WabFab Off-Road LLC
RuffStuff Specialties
Andersson Supply LTD