TORC Sportsman Keep the Fans Wanting More!

Frana Makes History in Super Buggy – Stingle Wins Four in a Row –Vanden Heuvel & Chestnut Double Up -  

Super Stock Truck Gets Rowdy

 

Glenview, IL (July 12, 2010) - The first visit to Bark River for the 2010 Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL  Championship saw near perfect weather for Rounds 5 & 6 for the sixty eight Sportsman drivers that took the green flag. The weekend saw  the first ever win in Super Buggy by an all-wheel drive vehicle, and a Light Buggy competitor extend his winning streak to four in a row.

 

The 1.2 mile all-natural terrain track has some additions to the layout since the last visit in 2009. A rather long berm was added to the Cemetery Turn, the table top in front of the spectator area was made taller, and the finish line was also directly in front of the spectators at the crest of the tabletop jump.

 

The entire weekend was broadcast live on the internet thanks to USAC’s incredible production team. Robi Powers and Cheyne Statzny were handling play-by-play while Megan Stanton covered all the podium celebrations. If you were unable to watch the TORC racing live, both days of racing are also archived on www.usacracing.com  for viewing at your convenience.

 

The Bark River Lions Club opened the track up for a practice session Friday evening to go along with the usual Saturday and Sunday morning sessions. The additional time for practice and testing was greatly appreciated by all the participants.

 

Saturday’s Round 5 action began with the Classix division. Dale Chestnut in his 2WD Ford Bronco led flag to flag while a real battle raged for the final spots on the podium. At different times in the six lap event, three different drivers occupied the runner-up spot. At the flag, Randy Pennings grabbed the runner-up position, while Jeffrey Tomlin went past Kurt Schuch on the final lap for third place.

 

The Enduro Trucks were next as Chevrolet took control of the podium. Brent Smith led almost every lap, but Chris Bowser seemed glued to his bumper lap every inch of the way. The final lap saw contact between the two several times, but nothing could unhinge Smith from the top spot. Bowser settled for second as the always tough Matt Ives finished third.

 

The next up was Limited 2.  The 650hp version of a PRO-2 truck really keeps the fans on their feet. The Round 5 action did not disappoint. The first seven laps saw a heated battle between Dan Baudoux and Mike Vanden Heuvel. During the seven laps, Baudoux somehow kept Vanden Heuvel at bay. Then as the two trucks ran side-by side for much of the back section of the track, Baudoux had a tire that was loosing pressure. Then the two champions touched in mid-air as they flew over the Monster Energy Hill. This was enough for Vanden Heuvel to take over the lead and win the round.

 

Meanwhile, the flat tire had great reduced Baudoux’s pace. Suddenly as he approached the final corner, a three way battle for the second spot suddenly appeared. Michael Baker, Rhonda Konitzer, and Dan Baudoux were three wide heading for the Kuhmo Tire finish line. A near photo finish had Konitzer taking second and Baker just edging out Baudoux for third.

 

Light Buggy saw Greg Stingle continue to dominate the class as his Orange Flanagan Stop n Shop Buggy took the top spot. Another Fox Valley resident, Bill Kortens came home second as Jeff Virnig crossed the finish line in third. Bill Kortens recorded fastest lap of the nineteen drivers during the round with an average speed of 55.872mph.

 

Single Buggy saw a battle between longtime competitors, Rhinelander Wisconsin’s Mark Steinhardt, and Escanaba, Michigan’s Brad Erickson continue their long standing rivalry. In Round 5 Steinhardt would finish first with Erickson right on his rear bumper. While all this going on, another Wisconsin native Rob Kinner was battling with Ontario, Canada’s Travis Dinsmore for the final podium spot. At the flag Dinsmore edged out Kinner for the final spot on the box.

 

The Super Stock Truck racers lined up thirteen strong for the land rush start. The first half of the race it was a battle between Iron Mulisha members Danny and Scott Beauchamp. The Beauchamp cousins seem to always find the front of the field. Danny led flag to flag with his black and orange Ford. It looked like Scott Beauchamp in his Chevy would follow his cousin all the way to the finish, but Illinois’ Mitch Dorr had other thoughts. With three laps to go, Dorr manhandled his Ford around Scott to finish the race between the Iron Mulish members.

 

The history making Super Buggy racer was the final race on Saturday’s schedule. On any given day at least four or five drivers in this class have an honest shot at the win. This day was no different, except John Frana had a good feeling about his very unique all-wheel drive creation. The morning practice session saw Frana turn the quick lap of the class. So when the green flag was waved everyone had their eyes on the #7 BrandName Super Buggies. After a brief battle with Steve Krieman at the start, Frana led flag to flag for his first ever Super Buggy victory. Not only was it a first time win for the driver, but for an all-wheel drive vehicle in the class. Second place went to Championship point’s leader CJ Greaves, as Steve Krieman finish in third.

 

Sunday’s Round 6 action was just as awesome. A check with the weatherman, had race official making a change to the schedule in order to get the PRO racing completed before any rain hit the area. This meant the Super Stock Trucks and the Super Buggies would end the day’s festivities instead of the PRO trucks.

 

The Classix hit the track first as Dale Chestnut went back to back with another win. Robert Weiland rebounded from a Round 5 DNF to come in second. Veteran competitor from Crandon, Wisconsin Bill Wilson finished third.

 

The Enduro Truck race saw Brent Smith’s brother Brock behind the wheel of the black and gold Chevy. The Smith Brother’s Chevy held the top spot until the halfway point of the race when the engine expired. Matt Ives took over the lead and held all the way to the finish. Chris Bowser was the runner-up again. Matt Dale took the final spot on the podium for the first time this year.

 

The Limited 2 round began, once again, as a battle between Dan Baudoux and Mike Vanden Heuvel. This time Baudoux had a drivetrain failure early on giving Vanden Heuvel the win. Rhonda Konitzer came across the finish a strong second as Don Williams took third.

 

The nineteen driver Single Buggy was a carbon copy of Saturday’s Round 5. Greg Stingle jumped into the lead and never looked back. Bill Kortens finished second and Jeff Virnig third.

 

The Single Buggy race saw Mark Steinhardt trying to run down Brad Erickson. This time Erickson took the win as “Steiny” was runner up. Fourth place finisher in Round 5, Rob Kinner also had a close battle with Travis Dinsmore, with Kinner taking the final podium spot.

 

The Super Stock Truck race was very interesting to say the least. The land rush start saw a several trucks coming together as Mitch Dorr’s Ford  ended up on the bed of Don Demeny’s Dodge. By the time Dorr got rolling again the other twelve trucks were well on there way down the track.

 

At the front of the pack Chris Bowser was keeping Eric Ruppel at bay as Danny and Scott Beauchamp were trying to occupy the same third place position. Eventually Danny would have to come in to change a flat tire.

 

Then with two laps to go, caution was thrown out the door, so to speak. Scott Beauchamp pushed Ruppel wide in a corner just as Bowser’s truck lost an engine. This put Beauchamp first, Ruppel second, and with an amazing comeback Don Demeny third. On the final lap, Dorr had moved into fourth right on Demeny’s bumper. The final lap saw Dorr making contact with the Demeny. No matter how hard Dorr tried, nothing could rattle Demeny in his yellow Dodge. At the finish it was Scott Beauchamp first, Eric Ruppel second, and Don Demeny third. 

(On a side note after the race, disparaging thoughts, as well as heated words were exchanged within the Super Stock Truck pit area. Round 6 was a very aggressive race.)

 

The final race of the day was Super Buggy. The questions on everyone’s mind was, “Could Frana repeat or would CJ Greaves win another one?” Well, the answer was Steve Krieman. The last half of the race was a battle between Frana, Schwalbe, Greaves, and Krieman. With two laps to go Frana spun out ending his chance. Schwalbe seemed content with third place after a rough time early in the season, but Krieman and Greaves went wheel to wheel all race long. Both took turns with the lead, but when the checkered flag fell. It was Steve Krieman first, CJ Greaves second, and Scott Schwalbe third. This way Krieman’s first win in a long time. His last win was during his 2007 championship winning season.

 

Somehow the rain held off and great racing was witnessed by the one largest July crowds for a Bark River off-road event.  The spectator hill and grandstands were packed, the campground was overflowing, and good time was had by all.

 

The 2010 Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL World Tour heads about 120 miles south to the Oshkosh Speedzone in Oshkosh, Wisconsin for Sportsman Rounds 7 and 8. If the racing and activity at Bark River are any indication what to expect, you don’t want to miss it. If you can’t attend the July 23-24 evenings of racing, you can watch it live online at www.usacracing.com or www.torcseries.com.

- Mike Reusche, MTG – mtgraphics@ymail.com