TORC-National Racing Series Converges on Crandon International, 24,000 Gather for First Race in the Midwest

Crandon, WI (June 21, 2009)—The Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL came to Crandon International Off Road Raceway for rounds five and six of the 2009 schedule. It was the west coast teams turn to make the 2,000 mile trek to Wisconsin to compete at the most prestigious track on the TORC circuit, in front of over 24,000 fans.

Saturday in the Kumho Tires PRO 4x4 class, Monster Energy's Rick Huseman took both the win and the Oakley Bomb Run Award for the fastest lap time, almost breaking Johnny Greaves 2008 track record. The father son Rockstar team of Kyle and Curt Leduc swept second and third place. In the AMSOIL PRO 2WD class, another two of Rockstars finest- Rob MacCachren and Todd Leduc took first and second place. Red Bull star Ricky Johnson took third place and the Oakley Bomb Run Award for fastest lap. In the Forest County Potawatomi PRO Light class the podium was stacked with talent including winner Marty Hart. Racing veteran Chad Hord took second and the Oakley Bomb Run Award; Steven Federico took third and his first podium of the 2009 season.

Sunday's action in the AMSOIL PRO 4x4 class saw Red Bull's Steve Barlow lead his first race of the season for several laps, before losing the lead in a multi car incident. In the end it was Rick Huseman who swept the weekend by capturing both the win and the Oakley Bomb. In a similar race Barlow's teammate, Ricky Johnson also led most of the Kumho PRO 2WD race, but a punctured tire from contact caused him to finish in fourth place. Scott Taylor took first place and the Oakley Bomb Run Award. Todd Leduc took another weekend podium, this time with a second place finish. Crowd favorite Dan Vanden Heuval rounded out the top three.

The highlight of the weekend was surely The Forest County Potawatomi Chairman's Cup. PRO 4x4 and PRO 2WD trucks battled it out in a shoot-out for the 25,000 dollar cash prize, as well as the coveted Chairman's Cup Trophy. The PRO 2WD driver lined up ahead of the PRO 4x4 class for a few-second head start. Ricky Johnson took the lead and held it throughout with Mike Oberg hot on his tail. In lap two the Wild Man Cenni crashed on the front stretch taking him out of the race. Johnny Greaves also pulled off early in the race. In lap 3 Scott Douglas, Rick Huseman and Mark Jenkins got into each other. Douglas was black flagged for rough driving. In the end Ricky Johnson took his first ever cup win, and became the second PRO 2WD driver in Crandon history to win the Chairman’s Cup. The last PRO 2WD winner was Scott Taylor in 2002.

The next stop on the 2009 TORC race schedule is Bark River International Raceway in Bark River, Michigan for rounds seven and eight. The action will take place over two days, July 11th and 12th.