For the first time in rock crawling history, Tracy Jordan pilots his Pro Modified car to a win in the Unlimited Class.

Daren Runion attempts to leap his car to the top of the infamous wall known as Terminator.

The first of four events in the Western National W.E. Rock series was held in Oroville, California, at the Surplus City Jeep Parts Off-Road Park.  The man-made courses constructed in 2009 were strung with banners and cones were laid out to challenge the best rock crawlers in the nation.  The 2000-plus spectators in attendance were treated to spills and thrills, as teams negotiated the tight obstacles and insane climbs the area has to offer.

Coming off of a Grand National victory in 2009, Tracy Jordan was all set up to compete in the Pro Modified class for the 2010 season.  After learning that Brad and Roger Lovell would not be returning to defend their title and Jesse Haines, who was supposed to be competing in a Pro Mod car, switched to the Unlimited class at the last moment, Jordan decided to make the switch too. 

“I want to go where the numbers are and where my passion is,” Jordan said.  “I love showing off what a rear-steer, unlimited car can do.  Once I found out Jesse was competing in the Unlimited Class, I tried to talk Shannon [Campbell] into switching.”

Although Campbell opted to remain in the Pro Mod class, Jordan went on to compete against the other Unlimiteds in his Pro Mod spec’d car.  Going into the shootout at the end of day two and trailing the leader by four points, Jordan worked his SpiderTrax built car like the true professional he is and had a nearly flawless run.  Competing on 37-inch tires in a two-seat chassis, Jordan was able to do something never done in rock crawling by winning the event in his “restricted” car.

Craig Thompson was the only Pro Modified driver to complete the shootout finishing third overall.

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After a rude awakening and lessons learned in his rookie year of competing, Aaron Sykes came into the 2010 season with a rebuilt car and a new respect competitive rock crawling.

Although the first event didn’t go as planned for the veteran rock crawler, Shannon Campbell knows there are three more events to make up valuable championship points.

With the decision made by the Lovell brothers to take the year off to pursue other ventures, the Pro Mod class was open and ready for a new leader to take the reigns.  There were a handful of teams who had a good shot at winning the event, but none were counting their chickens before they hatched.

Quick to jump out into the lead was the Maxxis-sponsored team of Troy Bailey.  Even without his usual spotter giving direction, Bailey was able to best the other nine Pro Mod teams and never lost the lead over the two-day event.  After the only team within reach of defeating Bailey had a costly roll in the shootout, the former Stock Mod Champion secured the win.  Although Bailey has always been in the running, this win marks his first victory in the Pro Mod Class and is sure to put a target on his back for the next event.

W.E. Rock will head to Tucson, Arizona, for the second installment of the 2010 season.  With two strong teams winning in the top tier classes, others have their work cut out for them if they want to be on the running for the championships at the end of the year.

Unlimited Results

1. Tracy Jordan/Jason Jordan
2. Brent Bradshaw/Chris Pablano
3. Matt Messer/John Gabriel
4. Andrew Paulson/Shannon Paulson
5. Robert Mckenney/Jason Berger
6. Todd Young/John Hoffman

Pro Modified Results

1. Troy Bailey/Tommy Ahern
2. Nicole Johnson/Frank Johnson
3. Craig Thompson/Red Dragon
4. Shannon Campbell/Nick Campbell
5. Aaron Sykes/ken Rose
6. Dean Bulloch/Karl Mumford

After holding the lead for two days, Brent Bradshaw saw his lead overtaken in the shootout by the team of Jordan Racing.