Photos by Jeremy Pyatskowit
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The start of Pro 2WD that kicked off the action on Sunday at Crandon International Raceway. Photo by Josh Burns |
The 40th Anniversary of Crandon International Speedway's TORC Series racing on Sunday started with the Pro 2WD class, which is stacked with a number of competent drivers capable of winning on any given day. Arguably the biggest news of the day (other than live ABC coverage of the Pro 4x4 race later that day) was that of NASCAR racer Robby Gordon returning to short-course action after his first race at Crandon 20 years ago.
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When the green flag dropped and racers headed into one of off-road short-course racing’s greatest turns, veteran Scott Taylor jumped out to the lead with Gordon chasing close behind in second. By the time the racers crossed the finish line for the first lap, Taylor held off Gordon for the lead, while Ricky Johnson and Rob MacCachren followed in third and fourth, respectively. Unfortunately for Supercross legend Jeremy McGrath, Crandon wasn’t kind to him on Sunday, as a tangle with Evan Evans, Doug Fortin and a few other racers resulted in a busted front right wheel that put him out of the race.
The racers at the front of the pack pretty much remained in place until the midpoint of the race, though Todd LeDuc had worked up into fifth place behind Taylor, Gordon, Johnson and MacCachren. After the restart, Taylor retained his lead but Johnson got by Gordon. Within the next few laps, MacCachren was able to reel in Gordon and eventually overtake him for third. Although Johnson pushed his truck to catch the leader, he was unable to get by Taylor, and the veteran didn’t make any major mistakes to give him the chance. Taylor was able to hold on and take the win, with Johnson finishing in second and MacCachren rounding out the podium in third.
The battle behind them was on for fourth, and LeDuc was able to get by Gordon in the last turn. Gordon didn’t want to quit though, and as LeDuc got ahead of Gordon on the last turn, Gordon held his foot on the gas, caught his bumper fender on LeDuc’s rear end and spun himself out and stopped backwards on the wall near the finish line. Evan Evans was able to sneak by and grab fifth, but Gordon realized his proximity to the finish line, threw the truck in reverse and backed across the finish line to take sixth.
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Scott Taylor led the pack down the backstretch on the restart on his way to the Pro 2WD win. |
Taylor not only took home the win in Pro 2WD today, but he also broke fastest lap record with a lap time of 1:23.084.
“Look at all these great people that are here today, holy mackerel!" Taylor said. "You guys enjoy yourselves today. It really feels great to win here, and I absolutely love coming here. Thirty-six years for me coming to Crandon, and that’s how long I’ve been racing. Man, I tell ya, I’m just grateful that I can still do this.”
TORC co-founder Ricky Johnson was frustrated with second place by happy to have made the podium.
“I figured I should crash the old guy and go for the win,” Johnson said. “No, I really have to congratulate Scott. You know, he had a bad day yesterday. That’s just the mark of a champion – to bounce back."
Although Johnson got close to Taylor, he was never able to get around the veteran, and he didn't want to try anything dirty to get by him.
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Ricky Johnson couldn't catch Scott Taylor and had to settle for second place on Sunday. Photo by Josh Burns |
“I had it at the end, but I just don’t think it’s right to blast a guy,” Johnson said. “I tried to race him clean, I tried to pass him. I had a couple of opportunities, and I made the mistake so I’m here in second, and once again, second place sucks!”
Johnson also acknowledged Gordon’s difficult schedule (that includes a NASCAR race later today), especially considering he had a bad accident while practicing in his Hummer just a few days ago.
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Robby Gordon tried to fight off the charges of Rob MacCachren and Todd LeDuc but couldn't Sunday. Photo by Josh Burns |
“I think a big round of applause is deserved for Roby Gordon,” Johnson said. “What you guys have to understand is Robby had a really big crash [a few days ago] at 120 mph, blew his car over backwards, the right side of his face is all swollen … for him to fly down and fly back to come out here and put on a show because he said he really wants to race at Crandon again, I really want to thank him.”
Rob MacCachren was right there in the hunt, but as has been the case at Crandon, once a driver gets out in front they can often hold onto the lead, and MacCachren wasn't able to find enough flaws in Taylor and Johnson's driving to get by.
“It was absolutely incredible. I had a great seat in the house,” MacCachren said of watching Taylor, Johnson and Gordon battle the first half of the race. “I really appreciate everyone coming out here and watching these races. We’re happy to put on a good show for you.”
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Kyle LeDuc held off Johnny Greaves early in the Pro 4x4 BorgWarner Cup and went on to win the race. |
Just as the cameras starting rolling for ABC’s live coverage of Crandon’s 40th Anniversary, specifically the Kuhmo Pro 4x4 BorgWarner Cup Race, mayhem occurred Crandon's famous turn one. First, Mike Jenkins lost control in the turn (see video here for the crash), hit the side rail and appeared to lose steering as his truck slammed into the rail-wall at the bottom of turn one. While everyone’s attention was focused on Jenkins, a major wreck was occurring on the inside of turn one, which involved Steve Barlow, Mark Jenkins, Steve McCrossan, Jamey Flannery and Adrian Cenni.
Unfortunately, this meant all of the five racers involved were out of the race, leaving a field of only seven remaining Pro 4x4 drivers … and all while ABC cameras were rolling.
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Since ABC was planning to run highlights of the Pro 2WD and Pro Light races, they were able to cut to some of that action while the crashes were cleaned up and the remaining field reset for a restart. While it created a giant mess, fortunately both crashes did not cause any of the drivers serious injury. After a delay, the remaining Pro 4x4s fired off the line for a second time with Curt LeDuc leading his son Kyle, Johnny Greaves and Rick Huseman.
After the first lap, Greaves moved up into the second position after overtaking Kyle LeDuc. Kyle was able to wait for his moment and get by both his father and Greaves to take the lead. For the next few laps, Greaves and Curt LeDuc tried to track down Kyle but were unable, though Huseman did manage to catch Curt to move into third. Going into the halfway point, the remaining seven shook out like in this order: Kyle LeDuc, Greaves, Huseman, Curt LeDuc, Chad Hord, Ken Kincaid, Scott Douglas.
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Second place in the BorgWarner Cup came down to the last turn, and Rick Huseman was able to edge out Curt LeDuc for the silver. Photo by Josh Burns. |
After the restart, the racers stayed in the same order until Greaves lost control in turn and ran off the track. With his vehicle stopped, his vehicle caught on fire and he scrambled to get out as track workers quickly tried to dous the flames. Huseman then moved into second and Curt LeDuc third. Kyle LeDuc just pulled away from the field, and the battle was on for second place barring a breakdown or major miscalculation from the young LeDuc. Huseman, Curt LeDuc and Hord tightened up, and LeDuc was able to get by Huseman at one point to regain second, but as Kyle crossed the finish line first with a giant lead, Huseman was able to get by his father Curt LeDuc on last lap to take second place.
An emotional Kyle LeDuc finally took a minute to sit down after some of the mob of people surrounding him after the BorgWarner Cup win dispersed.
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Kyle LeDuc won the $40,000 prize in the BorgWarner Cup that was covered live on ABC. |
“I got a wreath around my neck, an $8,000 trophy sitting next to a Borg Warner Trophy that me and Indianapolis 500 winners get to celebrate,” LeDuc said after sitting down for the first time after the race. “It's huge, it's Crandon, it's a world championship, it's everything in off-road and I finally got it."
Much like his brother Todd, who had an awesome win the day before in Pro 2WD, Kyle LeDuc felt like he put forth one of his best performances to date in his win of the $40,000 BorgWarner Cup race that was broadcast live on ABC.
“I just felt like, man, we can't be stopped,” he said. “When I have fight in me it makes me run. I ran so hard. I kept it clean, passed Johnny … I passed Johnny Greaves for the BorgWarner cup. It's one of those epic things that not many people get to say or do. I did it. It's just a dream come true.”
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Brian Deegan makes the last corner pass on Casey Currie in Pro Light truck. |
As the FC Potawatomi Pro Light Race racers rocketed into turn one, Casey Currie was leading the pack. Before the racers crossed the finish line, though, Jeff Kincaid had passed Currie to move into the lead. Racers shuffled positions behind the front two, most notably Chad Hord had moved up a few spots into third. By the halfway point, Kincaid was out front, Currie in second, Hord in third and Mark Oberg and Brian Deegan in fourth and fifth, respectively.
As the racers came into turn one after the restart, Kincaid maintained the lead but Hord was gunning after Currie’s second-place spot and was able to overtake him. Deegan was also able to move up a spot to fourth. Up front, Kincaid was able to hold off Hord for the win today, keeping a hold on the class points lead at the same time.
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Jeff Kincaid notched another win on his belt on Sunday in Pro Light. |
“Chad’s a good competitor, and we had a good race on Friday night but we just broke apart on her,” Kincaid said about his loss to Hord in the "Decision at Sundown" race on Friday night. “What we wanted to do was win these last two races, and now we’re World Champion from yesterday and kind of cushioned my points lead today.”
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Kincaid has been blazing fast this weekend in the class. He broke the class record in yesterday’s race, and today he took home another Oakley Bomb Award for posting the fastest lap of the day.
“I got eight of them now, so looking pretty good to get that great big bomb is what I’m looking for,” Kincaid said of his eight Oakley Bomb Awards. The racer with the most bomb awards throughout the season wins a giant bomb trophy at the end of the season. Hord was disappointed he couldn’t challenge Kincaid today, but he was happy he had a good showing.
“I think we came around in fifth, and we just had to pick our way up through it,” Hord said. “Jeff’s definitely fast this weekend. We’re just going to keep working at it. We’ve swapped the points lead back and forth. This weekend was his, hopefully the next one will be mine. We’re just going to keep after it.”
As was the case for a number of races this weekend, the final turn determined one of the podium spots, as Deegan was able to get past Currie to snatch up the final podium spot. Currie has looked fast at times this weekend, but he’s had trouble holding off challengers.
“What’s up Crandon? I’m just stoked to come out here from California and race with the best,” Deegan said. “That was so fun, man, I just love it. I’ll be back for sure.”
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Doug Fortin rebounded from a DNF to take the Pro Super Buggy win at Crandon on Sunday. |
Yesterday’s Pro Buggy race looked like Doug Fortin’s to lose, as he jumped out to an early lead but suffered mechanical issues that took him out of the race. Once out front on Sunday, however, Fortin didn’t relinquish his lead or fall victim to mechanical gremlins in the Monster Energy Pro Super Buggy race.
Tim Lemons, in a points battle for the overall with Shawn Morris entering the race, jumped out to the early lead with Morris right on his tail and Fortin in third. The top three remained locked in formation for the next few laps until Fortin made his move on Morris to overtake second, and then before the end of the fourth lap he passed Lemons to take the lead. Fortin led until the mandatory restart, with Lemons in second and Steve Krieman in third.
Fortin again jumped out the lead on the restart and never looked back. The battle was on for second from there on out, with Steve Krieman holding down second place while Lemons was in third and Morris in fourth. Morris’ engine had been producing a small trail of smoke for a few laps, and he slowly but surely started to fall off the pace. When the checkered flag waved, Fortin took the win, Krieman was in second and last year’s class champion John Mason was in third.
“I love Crandon. It’s a nice, fast track. It’s a lot of fun, “ Fortin said after the race, noting that he wanted to get out front but waited for his moment. “I wanted to stay clean, so I waited for a clean pass.”
Though Lemons finished ahead of Morris in Sunday’s race, Morris was unofficially named the overall Super Buggy Class Champion after the race.
“It don’t get any sweeter than that,” he said.
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Wesley Frehse took home the final 1600 Light Buggy race of the year. |
In the Miller Welders 1600 Light Buggy race on Sunday at Crandon, Wesley Frehse jumped out to the early lead and held onto it until the mandatory restart. There was a bit of jockeying for position behind the leader, but at the half it was Matt Gerald who held onto the second-place spot with Jamie Kleikamp in third.
After the restart, Gerald challenged Frehse for the lead but was unable to overtake him. Greg Stingle moved into third, taking advantage of some commotion happening just behind the leaders in a crash at turn two. The top three pulled away from the pack and each battled for position, but Gerald and Stingle weren’t able to advance their positions.
Coming into the final turn, the three racers were in a tight battle, and Gerald made a last-ditch effort to get around Frehse, running into his backside and almost shoving him off course, but Frehse held his spot and the top three finished in the same order they ran since the halfway point. With both Frehse and Gerald going into the race tied in points, the battle between them was also for the overall TORC championship.
“Matt was right there,” Frehse said. “I had to protect my line all race.”
Gerald said he hoped Frehse was going to wash out in the final turn and he could sneak under, but he didn’t give up enough room for him to get by and he had to settle for second.
“I clipped him in the last corner, but no harm no foul,” Gerald said.
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John Fitzgerald doubled up with another win at Crandon in 1600 Buggy. |
The Sara Lee Buns 1600 Buggy race saw a racer in John Fitzgerald out front early. Fitzgerald set a solid pace and pulled away from the competition. By the halfway mark, Fitzgerald held the lead over second-place Mike Seefeldt and Brad Erickson in third.
On the restart, Fitzgerald retained his position out front, but Erickson was able to make a move on Seefeldt and take over second place, which Seefeldt tried to take back on the final turn before the start/finish but was unable. Erickson then set his sights on Fitzgerald but was unable to get by him.
“All I had to do was come out and make wins,” Fitzgerald said after winning his second race of the weekend.
Erickson kept trying to get my Fitzgerald during the race, seeing mistakes and openings but making a few of his own.
“These classes are so close,” he said. “I closed in on him, but I made mistakes."
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Mike Seefeldt was pushing Fitzgerald before the halfway point but couldn’t get back past Erickson to challenger for the lead. It was miraculous he made the start line after his race yesterday.
“We had a terrible race yesterday, got pushed up into the wall,” Seefeldt said at the finish, explaining that he and the team were up ‘til midnight rebuilding the front end. He also noted that he gave Fitzgerald a nudge on the restart to let him know he was coming for him, and Fitzgerald gave him the number-one sign.
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Scott Beauchamp sailed to victory winning the Stock Truck Cup race and also taking the season title. |
The final race of the day was the Mole Lake Casino Stock Truck Cup Race, which would award a cool $10,000 to the winner. Al Konitzer jumped out to the early lead and held off the other races to the halfway point. Coming in just behind him at half was Mitch Dorr, Scott Beauchamp and cousin Dan Beauchamp.
After the restart, Scott Beauchamp made a move into second and started pressuring Konitzer for the lead. Beauchamp overtook him as the two bumped doors after coming out of high-speed turn one, and a few turns later Konitzer was limping off the course with a missing front left tire. Beauchamp was able to take the lead and never look back. Dan Beauchamp finished in second, while Eric Ruppel finished in third place. With many trucks with a few points of each other heading into the race, Scott Beauchamp’s win was just enough to edge out Ruppel by one point for the TORC Series Championship in Stock Truck.
“We knew it was going to come down to the last lap on Sunday at Crandon,” Ruppel said after the race. “One point is tough, but he deserves it.”