JoeyD23
#utvunderground
Rockstar Energy / Polaris RZR Wolf Pack
2014 Update & Lucas Oil Regional Races round 2
2014 Update & Lucas Oil Regional Races round 2
The UTV Wolf pack, has been capturing original viral media, releasing photos and race reports since the conception of the Polaris RZR production class at Lucas Oil Regional races with one goal in mind, to see an affordable form of Off-Road Racing. After three years of pushing hard to promote the sport of RZR side by side r$$acing by attending outside events like Sand Sports, Off-Road Expo, Camp RZR, Baja Bonanza, Super-cross and many other event’s spreading the word with a grass roots mentality by consistently releasing videos and photos. The Wolf Pack is clearly one of the hardest most dedicated teams to emerge in Off-Road.
"The Wolf Pack team has done a better job at providing us media than some of the big teams we sponsor"! – Brent Withey (Makita Tools, Marketing Director)
Merrell Media owned by Jeremy and Jason Merrell has been the engine behind the Wolf Pack team’s media program continually setting the bar by producing professional content to bring exposure to the sport and sponsors alike. In 2014 we shouldn’t expect to see anything less from The Merrell Brothers and The Wolf Pack Team. New sponsorships and alliances have brought on new ideas, when the San Diego based Magnum Off-Road’s Danny and Mike Rosenzweig approached the team he wanted to not only build them a competitive race cage, but also create a viral video on the build that showed both the talent’s of Magnum Off-Road and Merrell Media. Miller Welder’s had recently joined the Wolf pack and since Magnum Off-Road already used the best welders in the business it seemed like a perfect opportunity. Here is a short teaser showcasing the Magnum Off-Road / Wolf pack build.
"We wanted to build the lightest, strongest, safest race cage on the market and release a video spot-lighting the wolf pack build" – Danny Rosenzweig (Magnum Off Road, Co-Owner)
The Wolf Pack name emerged from the very first race, they had a 5 car team with only 8 cars total on the track, after taking the top 2 positions on the podium a competitor who placed 3rd said "Everywhere I looked all I could see were Rockstar RZR’s, it was like being chased by a pack of wolves".
In conjunction with Lucas Oil the Wolf pack has helped push this class watching it grow from the first race of 8 UTV’s to a staggering 53 between the XP 900 class and UTV Production 1000 class. The grandstands along with pit’s once scarce have been filled with fans and racers alike.
"Side by side racing is the fastest sector at the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series and I believe we are just scratching the surface" – Ken Johnson (Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series)
The Wolf pack expands their program every year with new sponsors, drivers and racing series. 2014 Jeremy & Jason Merrell racing Lucas Oil Regional Series, Mint – 400 and selected Worcs races. Will Rodgers racing Lucas Oil Regional and Worcs series. Jacob Shaw racing Worcs and selected Lucas Oil regional series. George Hammel racing Lucas Oil Regionals Arizona and selected California series races. Kyle Lucas racing east coast GNCC series.
Drivers have been chosen not only by their racing ability but dedication and heart, talk to any driver on our team they are not only hard working but great individuals on and off the track." -Jeremy Merrell (UTV Wolf Pack Driver/Owner)
The Wolf Pack partners with GMZ Race Product’s, Wolf Pack driver Jacob Shaw dominated several races in the Worcs Series 2012-2013 running GMZ Wheels and Tires with the Wolf Packs similar driving style they felt GMZ Race Products were the best choice.
"We take pride in our program, our sponsors not only make great products but have been the foundation that keep us racing. We are proud to call many of them our personal friends and realize that without these great companies we wouldn’t be able to do what we love." -Jeremy Merrell (UTV Wolf Pack Driver/Owner)
Jacob Shaw arguably one of the most talented racers in the side by side game joins to Wolf Pack to represent them in the Worcs Series racing his XP900 in the Pro Production 1000.
"I’m an aggressive driver and need a product that can withstand my driving style, my GMZ wheels and Tires have never let me down!" – Jacob Shaw (Wolf Pack Driver, Worcs Series)
The Lucas Oil Regionals Round 2 the Wolf pack showed up in full force laying down some of the fastest track times. In the XP900 Class Will Rodgers racing his Magnum built Rockstar RZR qualified 4th and would take that starting position. At the drop of the flag Will immediately charged hard with the GMZ tires hooking up kept him incredibly competitive to secure a 5th place finish. George Hammel Coming off a 3rd place finish in the previous round at Lucas Oil Regionals in AZ ventured out to the Lake Elsinore Lucas Regionals for round 2 to join his Wolf pack team-mates in CA. GMZ provided some great traction and he was able to qualify 8th on the grid of about 20 drivers. George was able to work up to 6th place in the first few laps and was steadily moving forward. About mid way through the race he was hit violently from behind and the damage to the racecar was too severe to finish the race. After the weekend was finished George was in great spirits even after facing the adversity.
"I had a great weekend and increased my speed immensely! I can’t wait to get back out here and race with everyone next round." –George Hammel.
In the UTV Production 1000 class Jeremy and Jason Merrell’s great lap times would put them in the top starting positions. Jason Merrell taking the pole with Jeremy Merrell starting in the 4th position, when the green flag dropped they left all caution in the wind. The #918 Magnum RZR of Jason Merrell was running strong in the front positions, another driver who over shot a turn cut the course in lap 3 came back on the track, to avoid the on coming driver Jason would slow into the corner with the momentum already in place the car kicked up and it landed on its side. The car would get turned back onto its wheels and make a great come back with a lap down the #918 would push hard to start picking off cars one by one as he pushed hard he passed 9 cars to make a finish for 7th place. The #977 Driver Jeremy Merrell in his Magnum RZR would suffer from another driver’s vehicle mishap. As Jeremy pushed hard in the top 5 his battle was door to door from start to finish. As he was battling some of the other Polaris Xp1000 race cars he was making great time when on turn #4 another car would lose a drive belt and make a dead stop in front of Jeremy Merrell as he tried to move around the car it was too late and he hit hard tearing his front end off the side of the vehicle.
Another race has come and gone as, this is real racing and real people living a life around this sport. "We eat sleep and live dirt" Some races are flawless and seem to easy as others seem like nothing can go right. But in the end we are always around great Families, friends, sponsors, fans and people that support our live for this ever growing sport. We would like to thank each and every sponsor for the support they give our team and crew without great companies like this we could not do this thing we love so much. – Jason Merrell (UTV Wolf pack, Co-Founder)
We had some great sponsors come out and show their support this past weekend who we can’t thank enough. Scott Gordinier, Brand Miller, Ron Drugg from GMZ Race Products showed full support with their new GMZ Tire trailer. Mike and Danny Rosenzweig along with the entire Magnum Off-Road crew who stayed late to finish building bumpers. Kyle Tiedeman with Big Gun Exhaust who spent countless hours at the Wolf pack race shop. Randy Anderson and Nick Chalmers from Walker Evans for always helping set up our shocks. Jose Pontifes from Summers Brothers axles who has dedicated late hours at the shop and always goes the extra mile to support us. Proline Wraps for printing last minute graphics. Bill, Brandon and his crew from Kryptonight Industries always there to help with tearing down. We would also like to thank all of our great sponsors that have keep us racing and the Wolf pack team moving forward, Rich Eggett from Rockwell Watches donated his Polaris XP900 for us to race in the Mint 400.
A special thanks to the Polaris racing department and Joey D from UTV Underground we would not be racing with out your support. - Jeremy and Jason Merrell (Wolf pack Motorsports)
