Xtreme Rock Racing fans, here we are in Cortez, Colorado in the shadow of Mesa Verde National park and home of some of the most historical Indian battlefields in the United States. The Battlerock as this area has come to be known by the locals is the site for Round 3 of the XRRA’s 2006 Xtreme Rock Racing Series.

Just minutes before the race starts and the SXOR rig driven by Andrea Calder was having some shifting problems at the start line. On course 1 with the issues resolved the countdown began 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and with a waive of the green flag, the action was underway. Both rigs headed up their first vertical section, on the inside course – Derek Trent made quick work of the lower wall then elected to take the optional route on the upper section of the climb. All was going well and it was looking like a great start to a fast first run of the day when the Battlerock made its first appearance. Just like that the rig was over. On the outside course, Andrea was making good progress, however when she reached the first boulder section, the team was just a touch off line and over she went. With the XRRA’s great staff, a dedicated recovery team, a bucket loader with forks and an excavator on hand recovery efforts flowed smoothly.

As the day progressed we witnessed rollover after rollover and more carnage than any Rock Racing event this season; The Battlerock looked like it may end up the winner of this day. Last years Season Winner, Peter Wells hit the course and showed the crowd of screaming fans why he is the reining champion. Team Wells flat out smoked the entire field with his first run.

Team Red Bull with Becca and Dustin Webster choose to alternate driving and navigating duties, so that each of them could get a turn at the wheel. Dustin also helped out on the microphone any chance he could to promote the drivers and get the crowd even more pumped up.

Retired Rock Crawler Adam “Skinny” Lunn came out to join in the Rock Racing action with a stylin looking 700hp single seat buggy. This was his first time rock racing and in the brutal conditions of The Battlerock, Adam proved he is going to be a top competitor in Xtreme Rock Racing with a 4th place overall finish.

With just about ¼ of the field out with mechanical issues, it was time to reverse the courses for the afternoon action, which includes a table top for some hang time at the finish line. Out of the starting gate the first racers headed through their courses side by side, racing all the way to the huge drop offs on the inside course or the technical tight path of the outside course. Both rigs hit the flats at the same instant and roared towards the tabletop finish with the inside lane just topping out ahead of the other team, and the crowd went nuts.

As the afternoon progressed the teams battled it out between themselves, the rocks and the other teams. It was heard mentioned by some that teams were racing in areas meant to be crawled, with lines that were unforgiving of any error. This is what Xtreme Rock Racing is all about, the blend of multiple disciplines and the opportunity for any vehicle design to have a shot at the top at any given event.

As the final times came in it looked like it was going to be a showdown between Team Wells and Team PHH (Rick Deremo and Rick Gersch). The Team of Ricks has been putting down the fastest runs all day, just to have Peter and Frank Wells edge them out. Team PHH had delivered an almost flawless final run and had only to count the minutes until Team Wells was at the starting line. With Team Wells leading by only 4 seconds heading into their final run. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and hammer down -–Peter Wells attacked the first climb and drove up it like it was a paved road. He was flat out moving, executing every line and turn without effort, into the optional breakover section that had ripped the entire rear-end out of Clint Ellett’s buggy earlier, but proved to be no trouble for the Wells brothers, who were still moving at wicked speeds. Out of the rocks they hit the dirt and blazed towards the next boulder field, but just feet into the giant rocks the team got hung up for what felt like forever but was merely precious seconds, a gasp went through the crowd, was this it, the end to a great run? Peter worked his buggy every which way, back and forth - side to side eating up valuable time on the clock. He finally found his line, hooked up and was on his way. Cheering could be heard throughout the entire canyon. Peter made his way toward the end of the course and roars across the finish with a little kicker at the end. Less than 12 seconds separated First and Second Place and the local farmers from Dove Creek, Colorado – Rick and Rick came out on top.

1. Rick Deremo 7:15:96

2. Peter Wells 7:27:68

3. JT Taylor 9:16:74

4. Adam Lunn 10:16:92

5. Weston Blackie 11:21:77

6. Steve Nantz 11:52:68

7. Jason Berger 12:36:63

8. Shane Chiddix 12:48:99

9. Harrison Beene 13:24:37

10.Brice Rogers 13:53:46

11.Jason Pickett 14:02:06

12.Jason Feuilly 14:29:85

13.Shannon Campbell 14:39:44

14.RJ Brown 14:55:58

15.Aaron Dosenbery 15:02:13

16.Becca Webster 16:42:01

17.Derek Trent 17:23:00

18.Jet Jaffee 18:25:11

19.Dave Smith 18:53:24

20.Mark Munson 21:31:14

21.Robert Lucero 22:44:52

22.Cottin Rodd 23:22:17

23.Ron Christenson 24:24:09

24.Tim Powell 24:46:28

25.Jeremy Parriott 25:32:77

26.Andrea Calder 28:00:00

Andy Weber 28:00:00

Jason Ratcliff 28:00:00

Tony Floyd 28:00:00

Mike McClure 28:00:00

Clint Ellett 28:00:00

Brian Gillespie 28:00:00

Be sure to catch all the PSC Steering sponsored XRRA event coverage here on Off-Road.com. See you at the next Rock Race. www.rockrace.com for more dates and information.