Crandon, WI (May 7, 2009) – The Traxxas TORC Truck Series presented by AMSOIL will appear on ESPN2 and ABC in 2009, TORC officials announced late yesterday. This premier short-course racing series with the top stars in off-road racing has caught on with both extreme sports athletes and traditional racing enthusiasts alike. With appearances by NASCAR star Robby Gordon, along with Supercross legends Ricky Johnson and Jeremy McGrath, this series promises to deliver the most authentic and exciting off-road racing in the US.The 2009 season (click here for pre-season practice video) features eight weekends of "Extreme Truck" racing. ESPN2 will air five rounds with three to appear on ABC, including a live telecast on ABC of the Crandon 40th Anniversary of Off-Road Racing. The season begins at Texas Motor Speedway under the lights on May 15-16 and will be shown on ESPN2 on Sunday, May 24 at 11 a.m. EST. The second round from Perris, Calif., will be shown on ABC on Sunday, June 7th at 5 p.m. EST.
Marty Reid, lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN on ABC's coverage of the Indianapolis 500 and selected NASCAR races, will call all of the Traxxas TORC Truck Series events on ESPN2 and ABC. Assisting will be long-time extreme-sports announcer Tes Sewell with the outstanding Kimberly Pressler as the roaming pit reporter. Pressler is a former Miss USA and has an impressive background in motorsports.
"I have raced all my life," said series co-founder, TORC Truck Series CEO and driver Ricky Johnson. "I went pro in motocross at age 13 and had a great career winning seven major championships. I've raced NASCAR, ARCA, off road and several other forms of pro racing, but nothing touches the adrenaline that flows in short-course off-road racing, and the fans are going to love it. ESPN2 and ABC will be great forums to spread the excitement from the track to motorsports and extreme sports viewers."
The Traxxas TORC Truck Series has its roots in the Midwestern states but has found many followers in the off-road and desert racing communities of the West Coast. By combining the heritage of the Midwestern short-course drivers with the passion and knowledge of desert racers, a strong and viable race product has evolved into a nationwide series with fans from coast-to-coast. This is "Extreme Truck Racing" at its best.
"We look forward to bringing the Traxxas TORC Truck Series to our audience," said Julie Sobieski, ESPN vice president, programming and acquisitions. "We're pleased to be able to add this exciting series to our lineup."
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