JoeyD23
#utvunderground
June 27th Lake Elsinore, Ca.– Just like any other race day, we clocked out from work as soon as we could, to get down to the track early on Friday to stay focused early since we know we need to work harder to keep winning. Tommy went out and hit practice for 5 laps and our Polaris XP1000 was just working awesome and we had very minor set up changes to make for qualifying.
Saturday morning came quick and we were both down on the track early and already cleaning the car for qualifying. We have a plan every time we enter the track and qualifying went just as planned. Tommy pulled the Pole Position on the last lap, landing him a front row start for the main…. and we were stoked! We were very excited to race the main event, since we have poured all our time and money into the set up on this stock XP1000, and it is finally feeling perfect for our driver Tommy. It was a hot afternoon in Elsinore and the track smells like wet race soil… the XP1000 class lined up and took their parade lap, then the green flag drops and their all off wide open into turn #1!
The battle with the top 3 was back and forth, but I talked to tommy over the radios and we stayed cool. Tommy was hit from the side, rear and every which way with guys eager to make a pass. We stayed collected with the front group until the mandatory caution waived, then I told Tommy it’s time to turn it up! The green flagged dropped for the final time and Tommy never looked back, pedal to the floor boards the whole way. He even lost brakes with 3 laps to go, but with only turn #3 that needed brakes or you would lose time, he used the gas to steer and the engine to brake pulling all the way through the checkered flag for another 1st place finish, making it 3 in a row and a 2nd place finish to start the season opener, landing him in 1st for the Championship and only 3 races left….
We were screaming to each other on the radios, we were so excited! We really could not believe all our hard work and efforts are finally paying off and we couldn’t have done this without each other… we both play big roles in making a good combination work and happy to be racing together.
June 28th, Del Mar Fair, San Diego, Ca. (Terracross)– Now this started very early around 6am when we headed out to the Del Mar Fairgrounds, and less than 2 hours from our shop. We had no time to change any of our set up since we had the tread rip off the front 2 tire on our double axle trailer and no shops were open then and ones that were did not have our size, so you know how we do it….. We charged the last 35 miles without any tread on the front trailer tires and running on wires. We made it just in time to get in a set up before the first race took off. Our race had so many cars they had to split the class into 2 races to make the main.
Tommy made the main event but was turned upside down by a bad choice from a driver behind him, resulting in them braking and Tommy lost time, on a very short 5 lap race. He battled hard and pushed the front Factory backed drivers to the finish. It was super rough having a low short course set up car going over tractor tires and big ruts. Tommy trailed in very close for a tight 4th place finish. It definitely wasn’t what we are set up for or the finish we hoped for in front of that crowd, but we had a blast! Thanks to Joe and Joey to set up a chance to get more racers out to a great event!
Tommy and I know we don’t have the shiniest set up out there or as pretty graphics on the write ups as some drivers, but we are real and race from our hearts. We have worked hard and started UTV Racing in 2006 but took a few years off. We finally dialed in our XP1000 this year and Tommy feels comfortable driving it, and it’s good to see new and old faces again. There are no secrets in racing, just hard work, late nights, good prep, good racecar, a good driver, and of course lady luck…. which you hope makes for a #1 combination.
Huge thanks from the support we get from the companies below!
Pro Armor for our support and days off to race...
GBC Tires keeping us on the right track...
SB Fabworks Race Prep...
Team IMG Motorsports...
Method Race Wheels for sticking with us...
Walker Evans for the dialed in shocks…
Yoshimura for the support, knowledge, and kick butt exhaust...
Motul Lubricants making our engine run in tip top shape...
Assault UTV for our radius rods and tire rods...
Manyk Energy Drink keeping us awake to get ready on late nights…
Quadtech keeping the insides of our wheels spotless with the NEW B Flaps…
Skat-Trak tires and impellers for your support on the track and on our jetskis...
The Vinyl Shop for our graphics and always pulling through...
...and of course utvYOU, UTVunderground, 4wheeldirt, and UTVguide for keeping the industry alive and covering this sport!
